Obj. 14. But it is Disobedience.
Answ. Disobedience to a Lawful Command is a grievous Crime, and a great Sin; but it may be a great duty to disobey an unlawful Command. Obedience is due as far as the Law requires, and something farther; a particular person must suffer rather than the Honour and Majesty of the Prince should be brought into Contempt; for though the Law does not bind to this, yet Conscience and Reason do, the publick Interest must be promoted; Scandal prevented, and the Government secured from Contempt, though it prejudice some particular person; for such Contempt may arise from a just refusal of Obedience in some small and single Instances, and may be of worse consequence to the publick than a private Injury, but if the thing commanded tend to destroy the Government, or introduce a general Calamity, Disobedience be∣comes a Duty, and such commands (in this government) are morally, politically, and divinely powerless; and the Disobedient, in such a Case, does the King as good Service, as he that discovers Treason; for he gives him Notice that his Foot is enter∣ing into a Snare, and that his preservation stands in desisting, and repenting if he would but heed it: And if the Disobedience be once good, the higher it goes the better it is continuing still good; it is absurd to go from good to worse extensively. Disobedi∣ence that is good, is still better as it is more likely to prevent the Evil: And then Disobedience defensive, is doubtless better than passive; for that would introduce the Evil Voluntarily, that is, they that were not willing to do it themselves, were yet willing to let others do it; and how far that can clear them I see not. For though it is not a downright consenting to subvert the Government, yet it is a consenting that it shall be done, rather than they will run the hazard to defend it, or prevent it; which is but Pilate-like, to wash the Hands of what their Hearts tell them they are Accessary to.