On Liberty, by John Winthrop (excerpts)

[When John Winthrop was deputy-governor of Massachusetts in 1645, he and his fellow magistrates interfered in a local election. A dispute flared up, prompting the magistrates to drag some of their critics into court and to summon others. The magistrates, in turn, were impeached for having exceeded their powers. The controversy raged for three months until Winthrop won, having been fully acquitted while his opponents faced fines. He gave this speech afterward.]

...The great questions that have troubled the country are about [1] the authority of the magistrates and [2] the liberty of the people.

It is yourselves who have called us to this office, and, being called by you, we have our authority from God, in way of an ordinance such as hath the image of God eminently stamped upon it (the contempt and violation whereof hath been vindicated with examples of divine vengeance) ... The covenant between you and us is the oath you have taken of us, which is to this purpose: that we shall govern you and judge your causes by the rules of God's laws and our own...

For the other point concerning liberty, I observe a great mistake in the country about that. There is a twofold liberty, natural (I mean as our nature is now corrupt) and civil (or federal). The first is common to man with beasts and other creatures. By this, man - as he stands in relation to man simply - hath liberty to do what he lists. It is a liberty to evil as well as to good. This liberty is incompatible and inconsistent with authority and cannot endure the least restraint of the most just authority. The exercise and maintaining of this liberty makes men grow more evil and in time to be worse than brute beasts ...

The other kind of liberty I call civil, or federal. It may also be termed moral, in reference to the covenant between God and man ... This liberty is the proper end and object of authority and cannot subsist without it; and it is a liberty to that only which is good, just, and honest ... Whatsoever crosseth this is not authority but a distemper thereof. This liberty is maintained and exercised in a way of subjection to authority. It is of the same kind of liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. The women's own choice makes...a man her husband; yet, being so chosen, he is her lord, and she is to be subject to him, yet in a way of liberty, not of bondage; and a true wife accounts her subjection her honor and freedom and would not think her condition safe and free but in her subjection to her husband's authority. Such is the liberty of the church under the authority of Christ, her king and husband ...[W]hether her lord smiles upon her and embraceth her in his arms, or whether he frowns, or rebukes, or smites her, she apprehends the sweetness of his love in all, and is refreshed, supported, and instructed by every such dispensation of his authority over her...

On the other side, ye know who they are that complain of this yoke and say, "Let us break their bands ... [W]e will not have this man to rule over us." Even so, brethren, it will be between you and your magistrates. If you want to stand for your natural corrupt liberties, and will do what is good in your own eyes, you will not endure the least weight of authority, but will murmur and oppose and be always striving to shake off that yoke. But if you will be satisfied to enjoy such civil and lawful liberties, such as Christ allows you, then will you quietly and cheerfully submit unto that authority which is set over you, in all the administrations of it, for your good. Wherein, if we fail at any time, we hope we shall be willing (by God's assistance) to hearken to good advice from any of you, or in any other way of God; so shall your liberties be preserved in upholding the honor and power of authority amongst you.