Page:Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission.djvu/48

 people, it is generally allowed, that the people may get redres, by reitance, if other methods prove ineffectual. And if any officers in a kingly government, go beyond the limits of that power which they have derived from the crown, (the uppoed original ource of all power and authority in the tate) and attempt, illegally, to take away the properties and lives of their fellow ubjects, they may be forcibly reited, at leat till application can be made to the crown. But as to the overeign himelf, he may not be reited in any cae; nor any of his officers, while they confine themelves within the bounds which he has precribed to them. This is, I think, a true ketch of the principles of thoe who defend the doctrine of paive obedience and nonreitance. Now there is nothing in Scripture which upports this cheme of political principles. As to the paage under conideration, the apotle here peaks of civil rulers in general; of all perons in common, veted with authority for the good of ociety, without any particular reference to one form of government, more than to another; or to the upreme power in any particular tate, more than to ubordinate powers. The apotle does not concern himelf with the different forms of government. This he uppoes left intirely to human prudence