afk. If a certain Sett of Notions had been SER M. embraced in thofe Days, fome of his Fellow- VI. Chriftians might perhaps have informed Him, that the Laws were but a dead Letter; that what the Executive Power ordained was Law, tho' contrary to all the Laws then in force; that He who was but a Subject, was no proper Judge of his own Rights, and ought not to give fo ill a Precedent to other Subjects, as might encourage them to dare to judge when their Privileges were invaded; and much more, that He, being a Chriftian, and an Apofile, a Follower of a crucified Mafter, and a Preacher of the Doctrine of the Cross, ought not to fhew any Concern about worldly Rights and Privileges; but think it a Glory rather to give them up to the Invasion of his Superiors. Thus, I fay, might fome Chriftians have taught St. Paul to have behaved himself. But He, we find, was of another Opinion; and had very different Sentiments concerning these Matters. He thought it no Argument of a Chriftian Spirit, to fuffer any thing which he could honourably avoid; and He thought it' honourable to plead the Privileges of a Subject against the Encroachments of the Higher Powers: And fo He appeals to the Laws, and claims the Right of being used by the Execu tive Power, no otherwise than as they direct.

SERM. 2. If we follow him a little farther, we VI. fhall find Him, in the next Chapter, brought,

by Order of the fame Chief Captain, before the Chief Priests, and Council of the fews, to fee how he could acquit himself to Them. Upon his declaring his Sincerity, and Uprightness, the High-prieft Ananias commanded them that food by, to fmite Him on the Mouth. St. Paul's Reply was very fevere, God fall fmite thee, thou whited Wall: For fitteft thou there to judge me after the Law, and commandeft me to be Smitten contrary to the Law? ver. 3. And tho' He afterwards repented of the reproach ful Word he gave the High-prieft in his Anger ; yet he repented not of the juft Sense he had, of the illegal Indignity offered him; or of his Zeal against all fuch Magiftrates as acted against the End of their Office, and against thofe Laws by which they ought to be governed in the Execution of it. Here again it is evident, that this great Apostle had the Spirit of Liberty in him; and thought that thofe Laws which were made for the Security and Guard of it, were not to be difpenfed with, at the Pleasure of those whofe Bufinefs it was to execute them. Here again we find him pretending to know, and judge of, his own Civil Privileges; and not tamely fubmitting to the Violation of them. If fome Chriftians of later

Ages

VI.

Ages had lived in his Time, and been Witnes- SE R M. fes of this, they would not only have said, Revileft thou God's High-priest? but would have asked him, how He, being a Subject, and a Chriftian, could answer to his own Conscience, his thinking any Subjects fit Judges of the Invafion of their own Privileges? They would have reprehended him feverely for placing himself above his Judges, and turning the World upfide down; for making Subjects Rulers, and Rulers Subjects, as they love to fpeak, by this prepofterous Way of pleading his Privileges, even whilst he stood before a Court of Judicature. But it is very plain, that, as no Man was more zealous for the Honour and Veneration of fuch Magiftrates as answer the Ends of their Office, which is the Good of Human Society: fo no Man could express a more hearty Dislike of those who acted a contrary Part; or a greater Concern for the Temporal good Eftate of Subjects, even amidst his continual Labours and Cares for the Eternal Happiness of all Men. Once more,

3. If we look back as far as the xvith Chap. we shall find a yet greater Proof of this. The Magiftrates of Philippi commanded Paul and Silas to be beaten with many Stripes, and caft into Prison, ver. 23. but the next Morning fent to the Keeper of the Prifon to let them go, I 2

ver.

VI.

SERM.ver. 35. St. Paul's Anfwer is very obfervable, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have caft us into Prifon: And now do they thrust us out privily? Nay, verily, but let them come themselves and fetch us out. He was just now delivered out of Prison by a wonderful Shock of the Earth about it; and fo might have escaped before this Release was brought from the Magiftrates: But after fuch a good-natured Meffage from them, one would think, He might have quietly departed. It would have been but the Compliance of a Subject with a lawful Request of his Superiors. Yet this great Apostle did not think it honourable to go away, without expreffing fome Refentment against the Invafion of the Privileges of the Subject, which the Magiftrates had been guilty of; and without pleading the Cause of injured Inferiors. He continues refolute till thefe Magiftrates themselves had waited upon him, and defired him to depart out of the City, ver. 39. And here again, How would fome, who pretend to found their Notions of these Matters upon this very Apoftle, have reprehended any other Man in the fame Circumstances? Answereft thou the Vicegerents of God fo? Where is the profound Respect due to that Order inftituted by God himself? Where is the Senfe of the Duty of Subjects? Nay, where

is

VI.

is Government itself, if Subjects may be allowed to s ERM. judge of the Invafion of their own Privileges; if Laws must be placed above the Determinations of the Executive Power? But above all, where can there be a Stop, when Obedience is refused to a lawful Injunction of the Magiftrate, and to what might without Sin be complied with? Whom therefore fhall we follow? Those who speak after this manner, or St. Paul; who knew, as well as they, the Duty owing to Magiftrates, and yet gave not up his own Judgment to them? But tho' a Subject, and acting the Part of a Subject, took upon him (by what these Perfons might perhaps call a ftubborn Behaviour) to bring the Magiftrates themselves to a Sense of that Invasion they had made upon the Rights and Privileges of Roman Subjects; and this, tho' the Invafion appears to have been made merely through an hasty Mistake. Of so great Confequence did He think it to oppose one fingle Inftance of illegal Oppreffion!

Thus have I given you a true Account of the most remarkable Paffages recorded concerning St. Paul's Behaviour, with Refpect to his Civil Privileges; and to thofe Magiftrates, before whom he had occafion to appear. If any one say, that all this relates only to Deputed, or Inferior Magiftrates, not to the Supreme

I 3