Page:St. Paul's behaviour towards the civil magistrate.pdf/3

 Acts xxii. 25. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

being my design to speak something at this time concerning the nature of laws, and the great advantage of them to the well being of human society, I think it not improper to found what I have to say upon the behaviour of St. Paul, as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, with respect to his civil privileges, and to his civil superiors and judges. And I chuse to do so, because this will at once give us some light into the true interpretation of the doctrine, delivered by himself and others in the New Testament, concerning Government; and lead us into some useful observations relating to the happiness of human society.

I. I propose to give you a brief view of the behaviour of St. Paul, as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, with respect to those civil rights and privileges, to which the laws of the Roman or Jewish state entitled him; and to those civil