Nothing can contribute more to the stability of a state than a clear and comprehensive view of the relation which subsists between the people and those whom they have appointed for their governors."-BISHOP WATSON. "As to government, we must observe three things therein, very distinguishable: THE CONSTITUTION OF POWER IN GENERAL, must be severed from THE LIMITATION OF IT TO THIS OR THAT FORM; and the form also must be severed from THE DESIGNATION OF IT TO THIS OR THAT PERSON."-JUS POPULI. "Though I have learned to obey as far as lawfully I may, my judgment is exceeding far from being enslaved; and according to that, by God's assistance, shall be my practice; which, if it run counter to the prescriptions of authority, shall cheerfully submit to the censures thereof."-OWEN. . We desire to give unto Christ that which is His, and unto all lawful authority what is THEIR, DUE; but if any man shall impose upon us any thing that we see not to be commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, we should in His strength rather embrace all reproaches and tortures of men, to be stript of all outward comforts, and if it were possible die a thousand deaths, rather than to do any thing against the least tittle of the truth of God, or against the light of our own consciences."-CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES. 1643. "Government ought to be supported; no person who knows what the terms mean will deny it. Government may be rightly resisted; no friend to the revolution, or to the title by which the House of Hanover sits on the throne of the three kingdoms, will deny it."-BISHOP WATSON. "Cursed for ever be that doctrine which countenances disobedience to magistrates: Our dispute at this time is not about obedience, but the measure of obedience."-JUS POPULI. LAW OF CHRIST RESPECTING CIVIL OBEDIENCE ESPECIALLY IN THE PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE. BY JOHN BROWN, D.D., Minister of the United Associate Congregation, Broughton Place, Edinburgh; ΑΠΟΔΟΤΕ ΤΑ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΤΩ ΘΕΩ- SOCIETY FOR THE LIBERATION OF RELIGION AND ARTHUR MIALL, 18, BOUVERIE STREET, FLEET STREET. ADVERTISEMENT. The present Edition, without the Supplementary "Notes" of the "Law of Christ respecting Civil Obedience," is printed from the last edition which was published in the Author's lifetime. The Committee of the "Liberation Society" have pleasure in expressing their indebtedness to Dr. Brown's representatives for the cordial permission which they have given for this re-publication. 2, SERJEANT'S INN, August, 1866. THE circumstances which rendered the composition, and publication, first from the pulpit, and then from the press, of the following Exposition, less a matter of choice than of necessity, are notorious in this city, and are fully detailed in the appended documents. It is enough, to say here, that an accusation of having violated the law of Christ, contained in the subject of the Exposition, and of having endeavoured to cloak that violation by a corrupt misinterpretation of the law itself,-an accusation publicly made, not anonymously, but by an individual, who, for more than forty years, has figured, more or less prominently, in the religious history of Scotland, who is understood to possess considerable influence over one portion of public opinion, and whose age and rank in life seemed to forbid the supposition of hot-headed rashness or vulgar exaggeration, in any charge he might think it his duty to bring forward, was, with unprecedented activity, circulated throughout the city, copies of it having been handed to almost every |