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Show ( 20 ) ( 2I nil‘ters? Is civil difcrefiozz the rule of our go~ vernment? W herein does civil di/Erez‘ioiz differ from will, the. law of tyrants? And will any minif'ter of this country fay, " I am not con- " verfant in this kind offubtilties, the extent and " foundation of thefe rights," and therefore will govern by this unconditional power, the mere force of civil dgfi‘rez‘iofl? This can never be: but I have {aid that I found allertions Without the {hadow of proof, and precedents importing no authority, but upholding error; and this obliges me to he more circumfiantial. .The {object is a deep one; and the confideration of it the molt interefiing of any that ever fell un- der political contemplation. It is no lefs than to know whether our civil exiftence has any real foundation; or whether, as it is {aid of the fea, it be without a bottom. Perhaps I may be loft in the depths of refearch: but if I am, Icarry this contblation with me, thatI fink in the caufe of truth. I have this hope, however, of prefervation about me, that I {hall nOt dive into myfleries, nor yet venture among the quickfands of metaphyfical abflraétions. The conflitution of my country is the ground on which I with to fland, and if I gain this Jhore, my fafety prefent will reward the dangers pail. ) Mr. Burke having given us his creed in the fiipremacy of parliament, next applies its 2m- z'imz'z‘ed power to and over the American Colo~ mics; and then tells us what the fupremacy of parliament is in England. I {hall confider the laf't firfi, namely the fupremacy of Parliament in England, as a major propolition in which the minor is contained. He fays (in order to thew " the compleatnefs of the legillative au" Lhority of parliament over 2/52": kingdom") that " if any thing can be fuppofed out of the power " of human legiflature, it is religion: I admit, " however, that the eflablifhed religion ofthis "‘ country has been three or four times altered " by» act of parliament; and therefore that a " Pratute binds even in that cafe." This is conclufive as to Mr. Burke's idea both with refpeé'r to the unlimited rig/22‘ as well as the unlimited power of parliament: but whilit he is {harp even to a point for the general sin/innit?! right of parliament, he adduces fome cafes to blunt the edge of its power over this kingdom. He fays, " But we may fafely affirm, that notwith" {landing this apparent omnipotence, it would " be now found as impoflible for king and par" liament to change the eftablilhed religion of " this country, as it was to King James alone, " when he attempted to make fuch an altera," tion without a parliament." Further: " .I Mr. ' B 3 " fee |