Wesley Corpus

Whoever is born in any civilized country, is, so long as he continues therein, whether he chooses it or no, subject to the laws and to the supreme governors of that country. Whoever is born in England, France, or Holland, is subject to their respective Governors; and “must needs be subject to the power, as to the ordinance of God, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake.” He has no right at all to be independent, or governed only by himself; but is in duty bound to be governed by the powers that be, according to the laws of the country. And he that is thus governed, not by himself, but the laws, is, in the general sense of mankind, a free man; not that there ever existed any original compact between them and those Governors. But the want of this does not make him a slave, nor is any impeachment to his liberty; and yet this free man is, by virtue of those laws, liable to be deprived, in some cases of his goods; in others, of his personal freedom, or even of his life. And all this time he enjoys such a measure of liberty, as the condition of civilized nations allows; but no independency: That chimera is not found; no, not in the wilds of Africa or America. Although, therefore, these subtle metaphysical pleas for universal independency appear beautiful in speculation, yet it never was, neither can be, reduced to practice. It is in vain to attempt it: Sensus moresque repugnant, Atque ipsa utilitas, justi prope mater et aqui.* 15. Let us, however, give a fair hearing to these pleas, as they are urged by this masterly writer; and it may be worth while to trace the matter to the foundation, surveying it part by part: “Any will, distinct from that of the majority of a community, which claims a power of making laws for it, produces servitude. This lays the line between liberty and slavery.” (Page 5.) I must beg leave to stop you on the threshold. All this I totally deny; and require solid, rational proof of these assertions; for they are by no means self-evident. “From what has been said, it is obvious, that all civil government, as far as it is free, is the creature of the people. It originates with them; it is conducted by their direction.