The duties of man - tr. by E.A. Venturi Author:Giuseppe Mazzini Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IIT. THE LAW. You live. Therefore you have a Law of life. There is no life without its law. Whatever thing exists, exists in a certain method, acco... more »rding to certain conditions, and is governed by a certain law. The mineral world is governed by a law of aggregation; the vegetable by a law of development ; the stars are ruled by a law of motion. Your life is governed by a law higher and nobler than these, even as you are superior to all other created earthly things. To develope yourselves, and act and live according to your law, is your first, or rather your sole Duty. God gave you life: God therefore gave you the Law. God is the sole Lawgiver to the human race.His law is the sole law you are bound to obey. Human laws are only good and valid in so far as they conform to, explain, and apply the Law of God. They are evil whensoever they contrast with or oppose it, and it is then not only your right, but your duty to disobey and abolish them. He who shall best explain the Law of God, and best apply it to human things, is your legitimate ruler. Love him, and follow him. But you have not, and cannot have, any Master save God Himself. To accept any other is to be unfaithful and rebellious to Him. The foundation of all morality therefore, the regulation of all your acts and duties, and the measure of your responsibility, is to be found in the knowledge of your law of life, of the Law of God. It is also your defence against the unjust laws which the tyranny of one man, or many men, may seek to impose upon you. Unless you know this Law, you may not pretend to the name or the rights of men. All rights have their origin in a law, and while you are unable to invoke this law, you may be tyrantsor slaves— tyrants if you are strong, the slaves of the stronger if y...« less