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he has no authority； there he is no king； and may be resisted： for
wheresoever the authority ceases； the king ceases too； and becomes
like other men who have no authority。 And these two cases that he
instances differ little from those above mentioned； to be
destructive to governments； only that he has omitted the principle
from which his doctrine flows； and that is the breach of trust in
not preserving the form of government agreed on； and in not
intending the end of government itself； which is the public good and
preservation of property。 When a king has dethroned himself； and put
himself in a state of war with his people； what shall hinder them from
prosecuting him who is no king； as they would any other man； who has
put himself into a state of war with them； Barclay； and those of his
opinion； would do well to tell us。 Bilson； a bishop of our Church； and
a great stickler for the power and prerogative of princes； does； if
I mistake not； in his treatise of 〃Christian Subjection；〃
acknowledge that princes may forfeit their power and their title to
the obedience of their subjects； and if there needed authority in a
case where reason is so plain； I could send my reader to Bracton；
Fortescue； and the author of the 〃Mirror；〃 and others； writers that
cannot be suspected to be ignorant of our government； or enemies to
it。 But I thought Hooker alone might be enough to satisfy those men
who； relying on him for their ecclesiastical polity； are by a
strange fate carried to deny those principles upon which he builds it。
Whether they are herein made the tools of cunninger workmen； to pull
down their own fabric； they were best look。 This I am sure； their
civil policy is so new； so dangerous； and so destructive to both
rulers and people； that as former ages never could bear the
broaching of it； so it may be hoped those to come； redeemed from the
impositions of these Egyptian under…taskmasters； will abhor the memory
of such servile flatterers； who； whilst it seemed to serve their turn；
resolved all government into absolute tyranny； and would have all
men born to what their mean souls fitted them… slavery。
240。 Here it is like the common question will be made： Who shall
be judge whether the prince or legislative act contrary to their
trust？ This； perhaps； ill…affected and factious men may spread amongst
the people； when the prince only makes use of his due prerogative。
To this I reply； The people shall be judge； for who shall be judge
whether his trustee or deputy acts well and according to the trust
reposed in him； but he who deputes him and must； by having deputed
him； have still a power to discard him when he fails in his trust？
If this be reasonable in particular cases of private men； why should
it be otherwise in that of the greatest moment； where the welfare of
millions is concerned and also where the evil； if not prevented； is
greater； and the redress very difficult； dear； and dangerous？
241。 But； farther； this question； Who shall be judge？ cannot mean
that there is no judge at all。 For where there is no judicature on
earth to decide controversies amongst men； God in heaven is judge。
He alone； it is true； is judge of the right。 But every man is judge
for himself； as in all other cases so in this； whether another hath
put himself into a state of war with him； and whether he should appeal
to the supreme judge； as Jephtha did。
242。 If a controversy arise betwixt a prince and some of the
people in a matter where the law is silent or doubtful； and the
thing be of great consequence； I should think the proper umpire in
such a case should be the body of the people。 For in such cases
where the prince hath a trust reposed in him； and is dispensed from
the common； ordinary rules of the law； there； if any men find
themselves aggrieved； and think the prince acts contrary to； or beyond
that trust； who so proper to judge as the body of the people （who at
first lodged that trust in him） how far they meant it should extend？
But if the prince； or whoever they be in the administration； decline
that way of determination； the appeal then lies nowhere but to Heaven。
Force between either persons who have no known superior on earth or；
which permits no appeal to a judge on earth； being properly a state of
war； wherein the appeal lies only to heaven； and in that state the
injured party must judge for himself when he will think fit to make
use of that appeal and put himself upon it。
243。 To conclude。 The power that every individual gave the society
when he entered into it can never revert to the individuals again；
as long as the society lasts； but will always remain in the community；
because without this there can be no community… no commonwealth； which
is contrary to the original agreement； so also when the society hath
placed the legislative in any assembly of men； to continue in them and
their successors； with direction and authority for providing such
successors； the legislative can never revert to the people whilst that
government lasts： because； having provided a legislative with power to
continue for ever； they have given up their political power to the
legislative； and cannot resume it。 But if they have set limits to
the duration of their legislative； and made this supreme power in
any person or assembly only temporary； or else when； by the
miscarriages of those in authority； it is forfeited； upon the
forfeiture of their rulers； or at the determination of the time set；
it reverts to the society； and the people have a right to act as
supreme； and continue the legislative in themselves or place it in a
new form； or new hands； as they think good。
THE END
。