BOOK III PART II
losophy.
But here an English reader will be apt to
enquire concerning that famous revolution,
which has had such a happy influence on our
constitution, and has been attended with such
mighty consequences. We have already re-
marked, that in the case of enormous tyranny
and oppression, it is lawful to take arms even
against supreme power; and that as govern-
ment is a mere human invention for mutual ad-
vantage and security, it no longer imposes any
obligation, either natural or moral, when once
it ceases to have that tendency. But though
this general principle be authorized by com-
mon sense, and the practice of all ages, it is
certainly impossible for the laws, or even for
philosophy, to establish any particular rules, by
which we may know when resistance is law-