The Duty of Allegiance, Table of contents – Editors note
THE CONTENTS.
Chap. 1. OF the Difficulties in the way of the Present Allegiance, and the ways of taking them off.
The Allegiance required. Difficulties against it from several Commandments. All suppose a rightful Competitor, to whom Subjects are under a contrary Obligation. The ways of taking off these Difficulties.
Cahp. 2. Of the Nature of Authority, and how Convey'd from God.
The Pleas of Allegiance from Possession, or a King de Facto. Whether this removes the Difficulties. Of the Nature of Authority, and its being distinct from External Strength. How carryed from God to the Person authorized.
Chap. 3. Authority goes by Rightful Titles.
This proved. 1. From the Nature of Right, and Authority. 2. From God that gives it. 3. And from the command that carries it. By Higher Powers, St. Paul means Rightful Powers. The Romans then were such. Objections answered from Scripture, requiring Obedience to Present Powers. Not blaming it to Usurpers. From our Saviours shewing the Coyn. From the Command to the Jews to submit to the Babylonians. From perplexities of Conscience if tyed to Rightful Titles. 4. From our own Laws. Of the ways of human Right, which are to convey Authority.
Chap. 4. Obedience to Rightful Authority, not tyed to actual Administration of Government.
What Obedience is payable to a Rightful King, out of actual Administration. The dueness thereof to such, proved by six Arguments. A Proof of the same from our own Laws. The Statute of H. 7. cleared, and his Authorities from Law consider'd. Treason not against a mere King in Fact. Who to take cognizance of King's Rights.
Chap. 5. Of the Author's Right, by Providential Possession, without other Title. It destroys the Obligations by Right and Wrong.
Of his Right by Providential Possession, without other Title. It destroys the Obligations by Right and Wrong, 1. Among Kings. Iustifying their detaining each other's Right, when they have unjustly got them. Proofs against this. And of the Case of Joash. And justifying the unrighteous Attempts to get them. The calamitousness hereof to Kings. It brings in Mr. Hobbs's state of War. 2. From Kings towards their Subjects, justifying their illegal Invasions. 3. Among private Persons.
Chap. 6. This Right by mere Providential Possession disproved by other Arguments.
This shown Secondly from the use of Providence. What the part of Providence is in unrighteous Actions. Thirdly from our own Laws. Fourthly from the Opinion of the Primitive Church, and of the Church of England, on Competition between Legal Owners, and Usurping Possessors. Of the Case of our late Usurpations. Of Bishop Overal's Convocation Book as to this point.
Chap. 7. Of his Scripture Proofs, and some of his Reasons, for his Right by Providential Possession.
An Answer to his Scripture Proofs. His Reasons for the same, are 1. Its giving the most intelligible Account, of fetching Authority of Governors from God. This considered. 2. Its necessity for Defence of the Doctrine of Passive Obedience; which is Answered. 3. Or to maintain God's Authority in setting up, or removing Kings; which is cleared.
Chap. 8. Of his Remaining Reasons for the same.
4. His Fourth Reason for it is, because else we should limit God's Providence in Governing Kings, and Protecting injured Subjects; this Answered. 5. To preserve human Societies, and Government upon any Changes; which is considered and cleared. 6. Its Answering all the Ends of Government, for Security both of Prince and Subjects; which also is examined. Of his Distinction between Maintaining and Defending, and Restoring in the Oath of Allegiance. Without translation of Legal-Right, all the first-mentioned Difficulties in Force against transferring Allegiance.
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SInce the writing and sending away of this Answer, the Reverend Author has published A Vindication of his Case of Allegiance, &c. In Reply to an Answer to a late Pamphlet, intituled, Obedience and Submission to the Present Government, demonstrated from Bishop Overal's Convocation Book, &c.
I see no Cause to alter any thing in the foregoing Papers, from any Matter he has suggested in this Vindication. Nor do I apprehend, That to an intelligent and attent Reader of these Papers, any great Difficulty will be raised by any thing he says therein, against any of those Arguments which I have here urged against him. What I sincerely seek in this Dispute, is to clear up Truth and Righteousness, not (I bless God) a Criminal and Contemptible Affectation, of being thought able to maintain a Cause. And accordingly, my Business is to reduce the Debate of his Case of Allegiance to Principles; to establish and clear up such, as are opposite unto his; and fairly to examine, and answer his Arguments: Which is a Thing, that he tells his Answerer, (p. 80.) in the Conclusion of his Vindication, He is at leisure now to consider. If, upon consideration of what I here offer to him, he shall find nothing but Truth and Reason in these Papers; like a Man that is Conscientiously Studious in these Disputes, how he may do Honor to the Laws and Truths of God, more than how he may come off without seeming to be worsted in his Argument; I hope he will give God Thanks for the same, and Heartily and Joyfully embrace and acquiesce therein. But if he think still, that he has not only Show and Evasion, but solid Reason and Truth, to reply in further Maintenance of his own Opinion, I shall be like to hear from him. And then, as by God's Grace, I shall apply my self sincerely to seek Truth, not Victory, in considering what he shall offer anew. So as for any of those Evasions in his Vindication, which concerns any Argument here urged against him; I think it will not cost much Pains to shew the Weakness of them, if he think fit to insist upon them. And in the mean time, I shall leave the consideration of his Vindication to that Learned Author, whose Book has occasioned, and who is particularly concerned in it.
End of the text · John Kettlewell, The Duty of Allegiance (1691)