Page:A memoir of Granville Sharp.djvu/91

Rh repelli non potest;" force consists in such a power as you cannot resist. "Servitus est constitutio juris gentium, qua, quis, domino alieno, contra naturam subjicitur." Inst. Lib. 1, Tit. 3. Leg. 2. Slavery is a regulation of the law of nations, by which any body, is unnaturally subjected to the dominion of another.

"Crudelis etiam necessario judicabitur lex quæ servitutem augmentat, et minuit libertatem: nam pro ea, natura semper implorat humana. Quia, ab homine pro vitio introducta est servitus. Sed libertas, a Deo, hominis est indita natura. Quare ipsa ab homine sublata, semper redire gliscit, ut facit omne quod libertati naturali privatur. Quo impius et crudelis judicandus est qui libertati non favet. Hac considerantia, Angliæ jura, in omni casu, libertati dant favorem." Chancellor Fortescue, De laudibus Legum. c. 42, p. 101. The law therefore, which supports slavery, and opposes liberty, must necessarily be condemned as cruel: for every feeling of human nature advocates liberty. Slavery is introduced through human wickedness; but God advocates liberty by the nature which he has given to man. Wherefore, liberty torn from man, always seeks to return to him; and it is the same with every thing, which is dedepriveddeprived [sic] of its native freedom. On this account it is, that the man who does not favor liberty, must be regarded as impious and cruel; and hence the English law always favors liberty. "Ratio legis, est animus legis." The resonableness of the law, is the soul of the law. Jenks' Cent. 45. "Scribitur hæc lex in corde cujuslibet hominis, docens eum quid agendum, et quid ugiendum: et quod rationis, in corde scribitur, idio deleri non potest, nec enim recepit mutationem ex loco nec tempore, sed ubique et inter omnes homines, servari debet. Nam jura naturalia, immutabilia sunt; et ratio immutationis, est quod recipiunt naturam rei pro fundamenta, quæ semper eadem est, et ubique." Doct. and Stud., c. 2. This law is written upon the heart of every man, teaching him what to choose and what to refuse. What is written by reason in the heart, cannot be effaced; neither is it liable to change from either place or time, but ought to be preserved every where by all men. For the laws of nature are immutable; and the reason of their immutability is this, that they have for their foundation, the nature of things, which is always and every where the same. "Contra eam non est præscriptio vel oppositum statutum, sive consuetudo, et si aliqua fiant, non sunt statuta, sive consuetudines, sed corruptela." Doct. and Stud. B. 5. Against this there is no prescription or statute, or usage; and should any be enacted, they would not be statutes, or usages, but corrupt customs.