Again, the consent of a subject to sovereign power, is contained in these words, “I authorize, or take upon me, all his actions”; in which there is no restriction at all, of his own former natural liberty: for by allowing him to “kill me,” I am not bound to kill myself when he commands me. It is one thing to say, “kill me, or my fellow, if you please”; another thing to say, “I will kill myself, or my fellow.” It followeth therefore, that,

No man is bound by the words themselves, either to kill himself, or any other man; and consequently, that the obligation a man may sometimes have, upon the command of the sovereign to execute any dangerous or dishonourable office, dependeth not on the words of our submission; but on the intention, which is to be understood by the end thereof. When therefore our refusal to obey, frustrates the end for which the sovereignty was ordained; then there is no liberty to refuse: otherwise there is.