William Blackstone

2013-07-09 Law and Liberty

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

July 9, 2013

This is a letter to our friends –

Law … a rule of action

“… And it is that rule of action, which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.” [Sir William Blackstone, 1723 – 1780, “Commentaries”]

Blackstone is known as, “The father of the legal profession”. He speaks of “Natural Law” and “Revealed Law”.

Natural law is discovered by observation and reason. “Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, for he is entirely a dependent being. … And consequently, as man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything, it is necessary that he should in all points conform to his Maker’s will.”

Revealed law is given by direct revelation. “The doctrines thus discovered are to be found only in the Holy Scriptures. …

“These precepts, when revealed, are found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature. … Yet undoubtedly the revealed law is of infinitely more authenticity than [natural law].” The one being direct divine revelation. The other being discovered by observation and human reason.

There is power in the simplicity and truth of these words.

For the one who is choosing to deny that, “man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything,” – revealed law (the Holy Bible) says you are a fool.

Natural law, discovered by your own observation and reason, will lead you to the same conclusions – IF you will be honest with yourself. “Intelligent design” all around you shouts the existence of something greater than time and chance! Your dependence upon such a “First Cause” obliges you to submit. Likewise, your relationship with others, obliges you to treat them as you would be treated – IF you hope to enjoy peace and prosperity.

I know of nothing that does not have a set of laws (rules of action) to govern (i.e. direct, regulate, control, restrain). “The laws of nature and of nature’s God” will reveal them.

Just laws come with blessings and penalties. Live within them and prosper. Step outside them into chaos! “Even a dumb dog don’t kiss a hot stove twice!

American society has become so passive about their God endowed liberty that the great majority are unaware we are on the brink of chaos and totalitarianism. I will agree in advance to accept a better set of laws than those set forth in “Revealed Law”. Not to do so would be foolish.

Today we have set aside the Bible as a law standard. What have we to measure right and wrong, if it is not “the laws of nature and of nature’s God”? You, like everything that exists, will be governed by something.

Live under God’s law of liberty – or – You will be a slave under another man’s law.

CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!

[Joshua 24:15]

2013-07-09 Law and Liberty Read More »

Musings of an Old Political Warhorse

–By Ben Gilmore

Nero fiddled while Rome burned. It is so easy to get caught up in trivia and miss focusing upon the critical thing(s). If we go into hyper-inflation and trucks and trains no longer deliver goods, we won’t even be able to buy condoms!

The critical focus of the current issue — The president does not have the authority to dictate what can be supplied by stores or insurance companies. His authority and that of his administration is limited by the U.S. Constitution.

The members of Congress and the Supreme Court are failing in their oaths to protect and preserve that Constitution by not yanking on his leash!

One authoritative step outside those limits becomes tyranny. Accepting such tyranny makes slaves of free men. He was “hired” to work within the predefined limits of the job.

The Tea Party freshmen elected in 2010 were not given a vote in their congressional leadership (Speaker John Bohner). Yet he took office because of the majority they created. As a result, they were “neutered” in many respects, by politicians more interested in status quo than “sudden and relentless reform!” ( To quote Gov. Sarah Palin).

Many folks say they are tired of “endless political bickering.” It appears to me they, and most bickering politicians, miss the critical point. America is in the final stages of a decades-long battle between liberty and slavery.

Forget “Politics is the art of compromise”. Liberty and slavery cannot exist at the same time! There is no compromise with slavery!

John Locke [1632 – 1704] had a profound impact upon America, as Colonial pastors preached the truths in his writings.

“… [W]hat state all Men are naturally in, and that is, a State of perfect Freedom, to order their Actions, and dispose of their Possessions, and Persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the Law of Nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the Will of any other man.”

The earth is a stage, upon which God has placed man, to act out his destiny. If you were the only one on the “stage”, you would discover that God had abundantly supplied everything you needed to sustain your life – “A state of Perfect freedom”.

“The State of Nature has a Law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone : And Reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty or Possessions.”

Another English writer, William Blackstone [1723 – 1780] , “Father of the Legal profession”, wrote of this Law of Nature in “Commentaries”.

“He [God] laid down certain immutable laws of human nature, whereby that free will is in some degree regulated and restrained, and gave him also the faculty of reason to discover the purport (i.e. “design or meaning”)of those laws.”

Blackstone continues to define another set of laws – “Revealed Law”.

“The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are found only in the Holy Scriptures. These precepts, when revealed, are found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature, as they tend in all their consequences to man’s felicity. (i.e. “great happiness”) … Yet undoubtedly the revealed law is of infinitely more authenticity than … natural law.”

Blackstone makes the point that “Natural Law” and “Revealed Law” will never be in conflict, because they come from the same source (God). One more quote from John Locke, that our forefathers understood well.

“For Men being all the Workmanship of one Omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker : whose Workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one another’s Pleasure”

Lastly, consider the “Declaration of Independence”:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…”

This is a time for every American to set aside bickering and pride. Each of us has a different task to perform in defense of our corporate liberty. No doubt, each task will come with a price. One requiring a change in priorities.

There is no place on the fence. Choose your side and prepare to battle for the soul of America.

For His-story & Government
Ben Gilmore

[Contact Ben]

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Ben Gilmore 1929-2023

On March 30, 2023 Ben Gilmore, the co-founder of ACHStudyGroups (co-founded with his wife Fran), went to be with the Lord in Glory.

A Memorial: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/BenGilmore/