Question

details
no additional details were added for this assignment.
view submission
read the passage

excerpt from an exposition upon the 13th
chapter of revelation
adapted for educational purposes
by john cotton

john cotton was an influential civil and religious
leader in the massachusetts bay colony during
the seventeenth century. in this excerpt from an
exposition upon the 13th chapter of revelation,
cotton explains the importance of limiting
governmental power because human beings are,
by nature, corrupt. at the same time, cotton
asserts that human beings cannot be allowed
total freedom or liberty because of their
corruption

message to...

\and so for children, and servants, or
any others you are to deal with, give
them the liberty and authority you
would have them use.\

\whatever power he has received, he
has a corrupt nature that will improve it
in one thing or other...\

\if you pinch the sea of its liberty,
though it be walls of stone or brass, it
will beat them down.\

\they will certainly lead the spirit of a
man out of his way sooner or later.\

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the passage's main idea: John Cotton argues human nature is corrupt, so total liberty can't be allowed. We match this to the options:

• First option: Talks about giving liberty/authority – contradicts the passage (passage says limit liberty due to corruption).
• Second option: "Whatever power he has received, he has a corrupt nature that will improve it in one thing or other..." – This aligns with the passage’s claim that human nature is corrupt (implying power + corruption = misuse, so liberty must be limited).
• Third option: Uses a sea metaphor, not about human nature/corruption.
• Fourth option: Talks about leading a spirit astray, not about human corruption and limiting liberty.

Answer:

The second option: "Whatever power he has received, he has a corrupt nature that will improve it in one thing or other..."