Wesley Corpus

What Minister is permitted to follow his own conscience in the execution of his office? to put man in mind to be “subject to principalities and powers?” to “fear God and honour the King?” Who is suffered (whatever his conscience may dictate) to “pray for the King, and all that are in authority?” There is no civil liberty. No man hath any security, either for his goods, or for his person; but is daily liable to have his goods spoiled or taken away, without either law or form of law, and to suffer the most cruel outrage as to his person, such as many would account worse than death. And there is no legal method wherein he can obtain redress for whatever loss or outrage he has sustained. 20. Do not you observe, wherever these bawlers for liberty govern, there is the vilest slavery? No man there can say that his goods are his own. They are absolutely at the dis posal of the mob, or the Congress. No man can say that his tongue is his own. If he say a word for the King, what will follow * No man can say that his body is his own. He may be imprisoned whenever our lords the Congress please. They are as absolute as the Emperor of Morocco: Their will is the sole law. No man can say his life is his own. Those who have the disposal of his substance, who have the disposal of his liberty, have the disposal of his life also. And of this they have given recent proofs. It is true, they do not themselves cut throats; they do not soil their own fingers; but their friends the mob are always ready. Thus is real liberty, in all its branches, given up for that poor shadow, independency! a phantom which does not, in fact, exist in any civilized nation under heaven It never did, and never will, being wholly inconsistent with the very idea of government. And to what a condition are these poor colonies brought, by quitting the substance for the shadow ! “Do you ask,” says a gentleman who writes from Philadelphia, “what is the present state of these provinces? You may see it upon Ezekiel's roll; such is the condition of this country: “It is written within and without, lamentation, and mourning, and woe.’” ThE INHABITANTS OF ENGLAND. 137 21.