tOpIC I | rights-based Government 119DOcumEnT 5.2 Jonathan Mayhew, “Discourse concerning
Unlimited Submission and non-Resistance
to the higher Powers”
1750Jonathan Mayhew (1720–1766), a prominent Boston Congregational minister, gave the
following sermon on the anniversary of the execution of Charles I (1649). Charles I (1600–
1649) was executed during the English Civil War (1642–1651), when Puritan Parliamen-
tary forces overthrew the king and instituted the Commonwealth of England, Scotland,
and Ireland (1649–1660).The essence of government, I mean good government, and this is the govern-
ment the apostle [Paul] treats of, consists in making good laws, and in the wise
and just execution of them—laws attempered [formed] to the common welfare
of the governed. And if this be in fact done, it is evidently, in itself, a thing of
no consequence what the particular form of government is; whether the legis-
lative and executive power be lodged in one and the same person, or in differ-
ent persons; whether in one person, which is called a monarchy; whether in a
few—whether in many, so as to constitute a republic; or in three co-ordinate
branches, in such manner as to make the government partake of each of these
forms, and to be, at the same time, essentially different from them all. If the end
be attained, it is enough. But no form of government seems to be so unlikely to
accomplish this end as absolute monarchy; nor is there any one which has so
little pretence to a divine original, unless it be in this sense, that God first per-
mitted it into, and thereby overturned, the commonwealth of Israel, as a curse
or punishment on that people, for their folly and wickedness particularly, in
desiring such a government.Alden Bradford, ed., Memoir of the Life and Writings of Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, D.C.: Pastor
of the West Church and Society in Boston, from June, 1747, to July, 1766 (Boston, MA: C. C.
Little, 1838), 110.pr aCtICING historical thinking
Identify: According to Mayhew, what is the relationship between legislative and
executive powers?
Analyze: Why would Mayhew claim that an absolute monarchy is “unlikely” to
accomplish the aim of government?
Evaluate: How does Mayhew’s vision of government build on John Locke’s view
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