A discourse concerning supreme power and common right at first calculated for the year 1641, and now thought fit to be published / by a person of quality.

OBJECTION VI.

Object. 6. Well, if it be not lawful to countenance or any way support an unjust Power, it is not lawful to pay Taxes, Cu∣stoms, Excise, &c. when imposed, and to maintain a War against a Just Title.

Answ. Every Voluntary Act herein is sinful, and not to be done; in that the matter, manner, and end ought to be good in every Action. And in this case, though it may be in some cases lawful to submit to such Payments, I ought ra∣ther to dye than do any thing willing∣ly that may advance those ends for which it is designed.

But then if the demand of it comes seconded with a Power and direction to levy ten times as much if refused, the state of the question is altered and di∣rects me to an act of prudence in choose∣ing the less evil of punishment, (which will be rather a weakening than strength to the Usurper, who would make an advantage by my refusal,) without con∣tracting the guilt of the Tyrants misap∣plying

it. For the compulsion in the Law it self looks only at the money, not the employment of it, and directs my choice to what is least penal; and takes off all just cause of scandal, when my in∣tentions in paying are as far distant from his in receiving as Heaven from Hell. And though this particular case be hardly to be found amongst the Casuists, it is thus resolved in other Notions; to which I will propose a Parallel or two for illustra∣tion (never questioned or condemned by any I suppose as unlawful) having Universal Consent and Practise for it. But first I shall answer another Obje∣ction.