Page:St. Paul's behaviour towards the civil magistrate.pdf/14

 3. If they still repeat the old question. Who shall judge of the invasion of privileges? Let the same St. Paul answer them, who in the capacity of a subject, more than once, is recorded (in the short history we have of his actions to have presumed to judge concerning his own privileges against the invasion of the magistrate; and to have done this as by a right belonging to every member of the same society. His Christianity did not make him forget that he was Roman: and as a Roman he judged that he had the privileges of a Roman: and these his christianity did not oblige him to give up to any mortal, as long as he could with honour keep them. The possibility of his mistaking in this, in which he acted not as an apostle, was no argument to him, against this right: nor did the weakness of other men's judgements prevail with him not to set them an example of judging in the like circumstances. What confusion, what disorder, say some, must ensue, subjects be allowed to judge concerning the invasion of their own rights and privileges. But let them believe St. Paul for once, this much more misery must ensue upon human society, if it be a settled point that the executive powers may absolutely, and without controul, determine what they please concerning the inferior part of the world. If any one ask where he saith this; I answer