Page:St. Paul's behaviour towards the civil magistrate.pdf/20

 That when the inconveniences of absolute monarchy made men first fly to laws for refuge, they should ever fly back again from what they must acknowledge their happiness, and call for that absolute power to dispense with these laws, which these laws were purposely designed and instituted to controul and confine? But thus it is even at this day, after the experience of so many ages; even amongst ourselves, after so grateful and pleasing a taste of the blessings of a legal constitution; even under the most uncorrupt, unblameable administration of justice and equity that ever any nation was blessed with. But, to return,

6. St. Paul's behaviour should, methinks, upon second consideration, make some persons a little more cautious of affirming, absolute monarchy, invested with a power above all the encroachments of written laws, to be the only form agreeable to the will of God: nay if you can hear it without smiling, the most beneficial to the subject. For let any one tell me, whether, upon this principle, it had not been the duty of St. Paul to have taken the opportunity offered him of owning the superior power of the magistrate; of acknowledging the little use of laws to human society; and of shewing the Christian religion to be a great friend, though not to the lawless confusion of the multitude, yet to the lawless power of the