be not mifapply'd in particular Countries. Though Non-Refiftance or Paffive Obedience be a Duty to all Subjects, and under all Governments, yet it is not expreffed the fame way in all Places; but both the Objects, and the Inftances of it, do vary in different Nations, according to the different Models of their Government.

To speak this as plainly as I can. As the Laws of the Land are the Measures of our Active Obedience; fo are also the fame Laws the Measures of our Submiffion. And as we are not bound to obey, but where the Laws and Conftitution require our Obedience; fo neither are we bound to Submit, but as the Laws and Conftitution do require our Submission,

Taking now this to be the true stating of the Doctrine of Paffive Obedience, as I verily believe it is, I do not fee what colour of Reafon can be offer'd against it. Sure I am, the common Pretence, that it tends to introduce Tyranny, and Arbitrary Government, and to make People Slaves, is quite out of Doors: For you fee, it makes no Princes Abfolute, where, by the Conftitution, they were not fo before. Nor doth it deftroy any Liberty of the Subjects that they were before in poffeffion of. All that it doth, is to preferve and fecure the National Settlement in the fame Pofture, and upon the fame

Foot,

Foot, in and upon which it is already establish'd. And this is fo true, that there is not a Common-wealth in the World fo free, but that these Doctrines of Non-refistance and Paffive Obedience muft for ever be taught there, as neceffary even for the Prefervation of their Liberties.

As for what this Doctrine imports among us, and in our Conftitution, or how far it is to be extended or limited, it belongs not to me to determine: But thus much the Occafion of this Day's Meeting will not only warrant me, but oblige me to fay upon this Head, and it is all the Application I fhall now make, namely,

That, by all the Laws of this Land, the Perfon of the KING is Sacred and Inviolable; and, That to attempt his Life in any Way, or upon any Pretence, always was and is High-Treafon. And if fo, what are we to think of that Fact which was on this Day committed upon the Person of our late Sovereign, of Bleffed Memory, King Charles I, taking it with all its Circumstances? Why certainly, how flight foever fome People among us may make of it, 'twas a moft barbarous Murther; a Violation of the Laws of GOD and Man, a Scandal to the Proteftant Religion, and a Reproach to the People of England; whiff the impious Rage of a few ftands

im

imputed by our Adverfaries to the whole Nation. All this I may fay of this Fact; for it is no more than is faid of it by the Lords and Commons of England, in that A&t of Parliament which appoints the keeping of this Day as a perpetual Faft.

I am fenfible how uneafie fome are at the mentioning of this; and how gladly they would have both the Thing, and the Memorial of it, forgot among us. I muft confefs, I could wish fo too, provided we were fure that GOD had forgot it; fo, I mean, forgot it, as that we were no longer obnoxious to his Judgments, upon the Account of that Innocent Blood: And provided likewise, in the fecond place, that thofe Factious, Republican Principles which have once over-turn'd our Government, and brought an Excellent Prince to an unhappy End, were fo far forgot among us, as that there was no Danger from them of ever having this or the like Tragedy acted again in our Nation. But fo long as we have Apprehenfions from either of thefe Things, fo long it will be fit for us to remember this Fact, and this Day; and both to implore the Mercy of God, that neither the Guilt of that Sacred and Innocent Blood, nor those other Sins by which God was provoked to deliver up both us and our King into the Hands of cruel and unreafonable Men, may, at any time hereafter, be vifited upon us, or our Pofterity: And like

wife

1

wife to fuffer our felves to be put in mind of that Duty which, by St. Paul's Authority, I have been all this while infifting on, namely, to be fubject to Principalities and Powers, and to obey Magiftrates: Or, if you will rather take it in the Words of Solomon, Prov. xxiv. 21. To fear the Lord and the King, and not to meddle with them that are given to Change.

SER

SERMON III.

Preach'd before the

KING

IN

St. JAMES's Chapel,

On Palm-Sunday, March 24. 1999

St. JOHN xx. 29.

-Blessed are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed.

T

HESE are our Saviour's Words
to St. Thomas after his Refurre

Єtion. The Occafion of them was
this: The other Difciples had affured
Thomas, that our Saviour was risen from
the Dead, and that he had in Person ap-
peared to them. Thomas would not be-
lieve this upon their Report, but required
Report,
VOL. II.
farther