"Certainly it must be granted, that the doctrine that commands obedience to the supreme power, _though in things contrary to Nature_, even to suffer death, which is the highest injustice that can be done a man, rather than make an opposition to the supreme power [is reasonable[16]], because the death of one or some few private persons is a less evil than _disturbing the whole government_; that law must needs be understood to forbid the doing or saying anything to disturb the government, the rather because the obeying that law cannot be pretended to be against Nature: and the Doctor's refusing to obey that implicit law is the reason for which he is now prosecuted; though he would have it believed that the reason he is now prosecuted was for the doctrine he asserted of obedience to the supreme power; which he might have preached as long as he had pleased, and the Commons would have taken no offence at it, if he had stopped there, and not have taken upon him, on that pretence or occasion, to have cast odious colors upon the Revolution." * * * * * General Stanhope was among the managers. He begins his speech by a reference to the opinion of his fellow-managers, which he hoped had put beyond all doubt the limits and qualifications that the Commons had placed to their doctrines concerning the Revolution; yet, not satisfied with this general reference, after condemning the principle of non-resistance, which is asserted in the sermon _without any exception_, and stating, that, under the specious pretence of preaching a peaceable doctrine, Sacheverell and the Jacobites meant, in reality, to excite a rebellion in favor of the Pretender, he explicitly limits his ideas of resistance with the boundaries laid down by his colleagues, and by Mr. Burke. * * * * * _General Stanhope._ [Sidenote: Rights of the subject and the crown equally legal.] "The Constitution of England is founded upon _compact_; and the subjects of this kingdom have, in their several public and private capacities, _as_ legal a title to what are their rights by law _as_ a prince to the possession of his crown. [Sidenote: Justice of resistance founded on necessity.] "Your Lordships, and most that hear me, are witnesses, and must remember the _necessities_ of those times which brought about the Revolution: that _no other_ remedy was left to preserve our religion and liberties; _that resistance was_ necessary, _and consequently just_." "Had the Doctor, in the remaining part of his sermon, preached up peace, quietness, and the like, and shown how happy we are under her Majesty's administration, and exhorted obedience to it, he had never been called to answer a charge at your Lordships' bar. But the tenor of all his subsequent discourse is one continued invective against the government." * * * * *