Jonathan Mayhew
Jonathan Mayhew was born at Martha's Vineyard on October 8, 1720 and died July 9, 1766. He was a noted American Congregational minister at Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts.
Congregationalist minister and Harvard graduate, Jonathan Mayhew, is considered by many to be the prophet of the American Revolution. In 1750 Mayhew published a sermon entitled "A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers" in which he addressed the issue of obedience to a higher authority as required by Romans 13, stating,
"That no civil rulers are to be obeyed when they enjoin things that are inconsistent with the commands of God.... All commands running counter to the declared will of the Supreme Legislator of heaven and earth are null and void, and therefore disobedience to them is a duty, not a crime."
Rev. Jonathan Mayhew continued:
"From whence it follows, that as soon as the prince sets himself up above law, he loses the king in the tyrant. He does, to all intents and purposes, unking himself by acting out of and beyond that sphere which the constitution allows him to move in; and in such cases he has no more right to be obeyed than any inferior officer who acts beyond his commission."
Mayhew warned:
"A spirit of domination is always to be guarded against, both in church and state, even in times of the greatest security, — such as the present is among us, at least as to the latter. Those nations who are now groaning under the iron sceptre of tyranny were once free; so they might probably have remained, by a seasonable precaution against despotic measures. Civil tyranny is usually small in its beginning, like "the drop of a bucket," till at length, like a mighty torrent, or the raging waves of the sea, it bears down all before it, and deluges whole countries and empires." (A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers, Jonathan Mayhew, 1750, pp. 37, 38, 45, Preface p. 2) ...
The eminent jurist and American patriot St. George Tucker said,
"The right of self-defense is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction." (in Blackstone's Commentaries, St. George Tucker, 1803, p. 300)
Popular passages
Page 112 - For every kind of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of things in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind; but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Appears in 670 books from 1714-2008
Page 25 - Its office is to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good for its purpose.
Appears in 388 books from 1806-2007
Page 396 - For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet ; and if there be any other commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour : therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Appears in 824 books from 1722-2007
Page 169 - Heaven first taught letters for some wretch's aid, Some banish'd lover, or some captive maid ; They live, they speak, they breathe what love inspires, Warm from the soul, and faithful to its fires ; The virgin's wish without her fears impart, Excuse the blush, and pour out all the heart, Speed the soft intercourse from soul to soul, And waft a sigh from Indus to the Pole.
Appears in 281 books from 1777-2007
Page 109 - The only reason of the institution of civil government, and the only rational ground of submission to it, is the common safety and utility. If, therefore, in any case, the common safety and utility would not be promoted by submission to government, but the contrary, there is no ground or motive for obedience and submission, but for the contrary.
Appears in 41 books from 1821-2006
Page 128 - For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men : as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Appears in 382 books from 1805-2008
Page 36 - WE then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation...
Appears in 225 books from 1715-2007
Page 43 - When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say. There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth: but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Appears in 140 books from 1805-2007
Page 430 - I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Appears in 902 books from 1765-2008
Page 101 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Appears in 434 books from 1750-2007