Page:St. Paul's behaviour towards the civil magistrate.pdf/12

 part of one who had a just sense of the privileges of his citizenship here on earth, as well as of that citizenship in Heaven, which he speaks of to the Philippians and Ephesians. And why should it be thought unworthy of any other Preachers of the Gospel, to imitate so great an example, in the same great concern for the good of human society? To proceed,

2. Let St. Paul himself answer all those who have, on his authority, pretended to exalt the executive powers above all laws and above the very ends of that office for which they were instituted. He, it is plain, knew nothing of this; nor did he carry the obligation of a quiet submission to any such instances as were contrary to the design of that office. Let them learn from himself that when he speaks highly of magistrates it is of such who are gods indeed in human society; such as maintain the character and dignity of their station by answering ends of it; and that when they descend to invade the privileges they were ordained to guard, he knew no such profound  to be due to them. Let them learn him that the laws of the Roman state were above the executive power; and that  authority of the magistrate could not  that law, which was against the written  or oblige him to comply with what  injurious to his civil privileges. Let