always too much of the Pro and Con in it.

Do not we fee, that, after fpending ourfelves in long-winded Ratiocinations on human Society, its Institution, and Appendages, fome cannot perceive any Warrant for Monarchy, whilft others are all for it, and imagine it to include as much Happiness as can be our Portion. Afk both these Parties, and, though diametrically oppofite, they will fay, they have carefully weighed Things in the Balance of Reason: Thus, as in War, they both fight with the fame Weapons, but cannever be fure of Victory, that depending on Skill, Dextery, Courage, and Accidents. Nor is Victory itself a fure Mark of the Justice of a Cause; this being of no manner of Weight in it. And I may fafely affirm human Reafonings to be the Arms, with which Nature furnishes Men, almoft at their Birth, to defend themselves, and on Occafion, by a prudent. Attack, to prevent. the Incurfions of any, who might attempt to force the Barricadoes of Juftice, in order to annoy us..

EVERY one has the like Arms, though not all of the fame Temper: Some also are polished

polished and ornamented; others quite plain, and even rufty; and these in different Degrees: But it is the strong Arm, the warm Heart, the cool Head, and especially the dextrous Hand, which gives the Superiority: Yet is not this at all declarative of Right, Right, Juftice, and Equity: It happens but too often, that an aukward Reasoner fhall foil the moft fenfible Man, by the Help of Prejudice, Cabal, or Authority.

THOUGH the Doctrine of lodging the Government of States with the People had never been advanced, it was very natural, that fome of the innumerable Pofitions, which the learned modern Civilians have laid down as the Bafis of all Polities, fhould look that Way: Yet is its Abfurdity at once palpably laid open by this fingle Reflection, that it is like trufting the Children with the paternal Prerogative: And was there ever fuch an Incongruity? I am very well aware, that they will rack their Brains for fcholaftic Diftinctions, as Subterfuges against the invincible Gripe of Truth: But all their pitiful Artifices betray the Weaknefs of their Cause.

MAN

MANKIND began in a fingle Father, whom Nature taught to govern his Children, at that Time the only People in the World, and to whom Oeconomy was no lefs neceffary as a Father, than Politics as a Sovereign. Before this Father died, the Family grew infinitely augmented, as it was to people the Earth. His Children found it neceffary to feparate; and then, a general Government becoming impracticable, several particular ones were to commence on the fame Plan, the Separation being by Families under their natural Heads. If then the Doctrine of a popular Sovereignty might take Place in the present Times, as the effential Bafis of all Political Government, it ought, by a Parity of Reason, to have obtained in the first Ages of the World: And confequently the Children were the natural Depofitaries of the parental Power over their own Fathers. How extravagant and

this!

abfurd is

IF even Nature, in this Cafe, was to be thrown afide, and Violence and Corruption, which have indeed made ftrange Havock of it, called in, it would not mend the Matter a whit: For, fhould an ambitious Conqueror be

enabled

enabled by Success in War to play the Tyrant over his Neighbours, will it be faid, that then the Sovereignty refided in Slaves? Now, what History informs us of any other Political Governments than the abovementioned, both alike disfavourable to Democracy?

PASSING over at prefent the Tranfaction of of Thefeus at Athens, I obferve, that the Children, as well as Slaves, are faid, by the untimely Death of a Father, or the Murder of a Tyrant, to be reinftated in their natural Right and Independency: Reinftated in what they never were in Poffeffion of Poffi® bly, other Rights may be acquired, as by Do nation, Contract, or Conqueft: I would fain know, what these have to do in the two fup. pofed Cafes: The Relation is, I own, past my Comprehenfion. I fee, in the primitive Church, the People, jointly with the Clergy, chufing their Bifhops: But who ever ima gined the episcopal Power to be originally in the People? I see Mofes ordering the People to felect fix Men out of each Tribe, for conftituting feventy-two Judges under him; but I do not in the leaft perceive that every Individual of all the Tribes had a Right to be his own Judge after this Election. What can be anfwered

*Twered to Numb. xi. 25. And the Lord came down in a Cloud, and spake unto Mofes, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it to the feventy Elders? among the People.

it

did not diftribute

L

CHAP. XI.

ET me be allowed a further Exainination of this Delufion, as it is not without its Palliatives.

NOTHING is more common than Haorangues on the equal Portion of natural Liberty among Men, every Creature of a human Shape having its Contingent: Yet, if it be afked, In what confifts this Liberty? All the Answer is, in determining his own Will by an inward independent Principle: But this their only Anfwer is very exceptionable: For to what Purpose determine the Will to act, or not act, or be paffive, if Power and Ability be wanting? And this being too often the Cafe, every Man might fall into the Madness of willing an Impoffibility; whereas, to avoid Folly and Mifery, it is what is feasible and lawful, and