Page:Whole works of joseph butler.djvu/255

224 obligations. Yet many amongst us seem not to consider it as any obligation at all. This doubtless is in a great measure, owing to dissoluteness and corruption of manners; but I think it is partly owing to their having reduced it to nothing in theory; whereas this obligation ought to be put upon the same footing with all other general ones, which are not absolute and without exception: and our submission is due in all cases, but those which we really discern to be exceptions to this general rule. And they who are perpetually displaying the exceptions, though they do not indeed contradict the meaning of any particular text of Scripture, which surely intended to make no alteration in men's civil rights, yet they go against the general tenor of Scripture. For the Scripture, throughout the whole of it, commands submission; supposing men apt enough of themselves to make the exceptions, and not to need being continually reminded of them. Now if we are really under any obligations of duty at all to magistrates, honour and respect, in our behaviour towards them, must doubtless be their due. And they who refuse to pay them this small and easy regard, who "despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities," Jude 8, should seriously ask themselves, what restrains them from any other instance whatever of undutifulness? And if it be principle, why not from this? Indeed, free government supposes that the conduct of affairs may be inquired into and spoken of with freedom. Yet surely this should be done with decency, for the sake of liberty itself: for its honour, and its security. But be it done as it will, it is a very different thing from libelling, and endeavouring to vilify the persons of such as are in authority. It will be hard to find an instance, in which a serious man could calmly satisfy himself in doing this. It is in no case necessary, and, in every case, of very pernicious tendency. But the immorality of it increases, in proportion to the integrity and superior rank of the persons thus treated. It is therefore in the highest degree immoral, when it extends to