But the fear of God being always the same, is a very steady principle of loyalty. It secures the obedience of subjects in many cases, where the laws either do not reach them, or cannot be executed upon them; and keeps them true to the interest of their soveraign, when other considerations might induce them
to betray or desert it. Even they who would persuade us that there is no such being as God, or if there be, that he observes not what passes here below, cannot but own that the fear of him is a principle very friendly to government, and of great use to dispose men to be peaceable and submissive to those who are in authority.
The more inexcusable were the actors in this days horrid tragedy, who made the fear of God the cloak of treason; and in direct contradiction to the precept of St. Peter, set themselves to resist [E]every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, turning faith into faction, and religion into rebellion: who under a specious pretext of reforming the Church, filled their native country with blood and desolation, trampled upon its laws, and triumphed in the ruin of its constitution: who fasted and prayed, not for the safety of the King, and all that were in authority, that under them they might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty;
but for strife and debate, and to stir up sedition and insurrection against those whom God had set over them: who, professing a mighty reverence for the divine majesty, rushed upon the most abominable perjuries; first of all violating the oaths which they had taken to the King and established government, by entring into illegal covenants and engagements, and illegally imposing them upon others; and then breaking loose from these also, when they were no longer for their turn: who, with a shew of more than ordinary sanctity and concern for the honour of God, practised all the diabolical arts of defamation and calumny against his image and representative; and not contented with slandering the foot-steps of the Lord's anointed, and blackening his character, deprived him of his royal dignity, barbarously insulted his sacred person, and at length imbrued their hands in the blood of a king, who was an illustrious example to his subjects of genuine piety and sobriety, and meekness and patience, and all other christian vertues: who lastly
proceeded to this high pitch of disloyalty and impiety, when all grievances had been long ago redressed, and the King had passed such acts, as will be everlasting monuments of his fatherly affection and tenderness for his people; when he had to the great prejudice of his own interests granted several things, which his subjects could not with justice demand, nor ask with any degree of modesty; nay, when he had consented to part with the best and most considerable branches of his royal authority, and to leave to himself little more than the title of a King: in doing which, as he went beyond the example of his predecessors, so it is to be hoped he will never be followed by any of his successors.
[E] 1 Pet. ii. 13.
But tho' the fear of God was the pretended inducement to all these villanies; yet nothing can be more certain than that they are truly to be ascribed to the want of it. Wherefore none ought to cast of a principle absolutely necessary to the very being of government, meerly because the external profession
of it has been abused to the worst Purposes by crafty and ill-designing men, who were destitute of the inward power of it. On the contrary, it is our duty not to let it rest upon the surface of our tongues, but to give it admittance into our breasts, and to implant it deeply in our hearts; and then it will not fail to bring forth the fruits of peaceableness and submission, of obedience and loyalty to the Government under which the merciful providence of almighty God hath placed us; and to restrain us from all seditious and traiterous practices, and from all approaches towards them. For they who would avoid any Crime, must be careful to avoid the steps that lead to it. For which reason the wise king to keep his son from engaging in designs against the State directs him not to meddle with Changers, or, according to our translation, with them that are given to change.
In which direction, it was not the intention of king Solomon, to condemn all changes in the laws and government of a kingdom. The supreme power, which
in every independent State, is lodged somewhere or other, manifestly implies a power to make such alterations as shall from time to time be judg'd convenient and advantageous. And in the different circumstances of the publick affairs, some changes in the laws will be often necessary, or very expedient; and when they are made be sufficient authority, it is without controversy the duty of subjects to submit to them. And even private persons, when the present laws of their country are very inconvenient and prejudicial to the interests of the people, may lawfully desire an alteration of them, and may commendably endeavour to effect it in a legal manner, by making humble and dutiful application to those who are vested with the legislative power.