xvi ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS.

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No obedience, too, is owed by any one, where the consequence must be a

violation of his duty to God, .100

The duty of civil obedience is prescribed in the New Testament in strongterms, because of the overwhelming evils of anarchy and revolution, . 101The right of revolution begins, at the point where civil obedience ceases to

be a virtue,.101

What this point is, those who undertake a revolution must judge for them-selves, .101

Mr. Burke quoted in illustration of this subject, .101

Our Declaration of Independence has marked the right and duty of resistancewith as much definiteness as seems practicable,.102

CHAPTER I. Moral Duties of Rulers of every Grade.

Rulers of every grade occupy a common ground, and sustain a common re-lation to their country, from which spring important moral duties, . . .103

It is their duty to guard themselves against faction and party spirit, which

have been the bane of all free governments,.103

The peculiar facilities for usefulness, which they enjoy, are a great moral *trust, and it is their duty to use them to advance the interests of educa-tion, good morals, humanity, religion, &e.,.106

The dignity of office, by an easy transition, passes over to him who fills it;and, therefore, rulers are especially bound, in conscience, to see that theirexample in private be salutary in its tendency and influence, .... 108

CHAPTER II. Duties of the Citizens towards the Civil Magis-trate.

The New Testament ranks these among the most important moral duties, 110Civil governors are entitled to a fair, candid, and even favorable representa-tion of their sentiments, conduct, and official measures,.Ill

They are entitled, too, to a fair and reasonable active support, until their

conduct has been such as to forfeit a liberal confidence,.112

Even when an administration comes into office against our wishes and en-deavours, they are still entitled to be judged by their measures, . . . 112

A line of distinction reasonably definite, drawn between a factious and a prin-cipled opposition,.113

The sentiments of Mr. John Quincy Adams on this subject, cited, . . . 114

CHAPTER III. The Duty of the Citizen in regard to the Ex-ercise of the Elective Franchise.

It is the duty of the citizen to exercise the elective franchise with integrity

and discretion,.115

The elective franchise is rightly regarded as a public trust ,.115

In this country, this trust is one of much dignity and importance, . . . 116

It is an abuse of this trust to exercise it in furtherance of any private and

selfish end, .116

Two questions of practical difficulty discussed. 1. How far a man mayrightfully act with a party in times of public excitement. 2. How far,and in what ways, he may attempt to influence the votes of other electors, 116Several practices common at elections animadverted on,.118