higher law

noun

an ethical or religious principle considered as taking precedence over the laws of society, and to which one may appeal in order to justify disobedience to a constitution or enacted law with which it conflicts.

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Next was explained to him the higher law of the Tarykat, or "path" to perfection.

We require some solid ground for our belief in this higher law.

There is a To-morrow after to-day, and a Higher Law which crushes all fugitive slave bills into their kindred dust.

They shrank apprehensively from the phrase in one of his speeches that "there is a higher law than the Constitution."

The lex talionis has been abolished by the law of civilization and the higher law of the gospel.

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