[ xxv ]
tendered, from time to time, to the consideration and acceptance of mankind) proves, by comparative demonstration, that the Maxims of the foreign Civilians, whereby they set up the mere Will of fallible earthly Princes as Law, (viz. Quod Principi placuit habet vigorem Legis — Stet pro ratione voluntas — &c. substituting Will for Reason,) are IMPIOUS AND UNJUST, since even the ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE, to whole WILL alone such deference is justly due, hath not so dealt with his creature, Man, enforcing his Will for his Reason; but, on the contrary, hath mercifully condescended to convince us (his frail mortal subjects) that REASON is his WILL, and that he hath limited (if I may be allowed such an expression) even his own infinite Power by the eternal rules of Justice and Righteousness, which (our own natural Reason teaches us) can never fail! and therefore, as true Freedom consists in the certainty of known Laws, so the most perfect Liberty must necessarily subsist under the Government of the Almighty; who has appealed by his prophets from time to time, in the most affecting man-ner
