Much of the Mifery, undergone by these Nations, was owing to that unhappy Proneness, which there is in Mankind, not only to magnify the real Inconveniencies of their Condition, but to add imaginary ones to them. And their own ill Conduct is always the last Thing on which they charge them; that of their Superiors, usually the first. For these Inconveniencies, they flatter themselves in the next Place, there must be fome Remedy: and then, whatever Scheme for Reformation either their own Imagination presents, or any Body else suggests, they embrace it immediately, run hastily away with it; and foon grow too vehement, ever to confider, whether it be not. impracticable or ineffectual, unjust or pernici-. ous. Indeed to be absolutely against all Changes, is either great Folly, or great Wickedness.. Things may have been wrong conftituted originally: they may have degenerated fince : they may be attended now with different Circumstances; and Alterations may both be reafonable to cure present Complaints, and necessary to prevent worse Disorders. But still the general Presumption should always be in Favour of what is established: and no Innovations, greater than need, ought ever to be attempted. Interest, Opinion, Resentment, Warmth of Temper, place different Things before different Persons, in very strong Lights : too strong perhaps to fee them distinctly; at least, to observe every Thing connected with them. On these Views however they boldly

act: heat one another, sometimes by Concurrence, sometimes by Opposition: doubt nothing in themselves, suspect nothing in those who join with them, pardon nothing in those who differ from them: destroy the Quiet of Numbers who have not deferved it, as well as their own: and all to do Mischief, it may be, instead of Good; even though they intend Good. For not only Projects, that look plaufible to fuch Perfons, may be very hurtful notwithstanding; perhaps to Themselves, perhaps to Others, who have an equal Right to be confidered: but fuppofing them innocent, fuppofing them beneficial; yet attempting them rafhly, may do unknown Harm, should they miscarry; and cost infinitely too dear, should they fucceed. If a Nation is to be put into a Ferment for them; and the Multitude called in, to be vehement about Matters, of which they are no Judges: this in itself is a dreadful Evil; and may possibly rise to a destructive Height. For in fome Circumstances it is much easier to inflame Perfons, than to foresee when they will cool: and there is one Point of yet greater Importance than reforming Faults, preserving Reverence to Authority. If this be once loft, poffibly a blamelefs Conduct of Affairs, which yet no Body can ever promife, may not restore it: and unless it be restored, every Thing will be levelled. Sooner or later indeed, God knows how long it may be first, some fort of Order muft return: but, without the peculiar Interpofition

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fition of a kind Providence, the beautiful Order of a Free Government will not. And it ought to be well confidered, that Persons who begin with moderate and most laudable Intentions, may forget Themselves, may be entangled with Others, may be led or driven into doing what they greatly disapprove; or may lose all Power of stopping Mischief, when it is once set to work; and have nothing left, but to perish with the Ship in the Storm, which they have helped to raise. These Dangers indeed cannot be Reasons for complying with every Thing: for in vain will Heaven have restored to us our happy Form of Government, if we suffer it to be a Form only. But they are powerful Reasons for thinking coolly what deserves Opposition, and oppofing it with Temper: for confidering who are the Persons really to blame, in what Degree upon the whole they are so, and how difficult it is not to be so: for redressing Grievances by no other than regular Methods; and waiting for Opportunities, not forcing them: for examining faithfully the Purity of our own Intentions; for asking ourselves often, how far we mean to go; and observing carefully, what those Persons aim at, with whom we are engaged : for weighing well what Remedies the publick Constitution will bear, under what it will be likely to sink; and seriously recollecting, how great Multitudes have their Fate involved in that of the Whole. There can be no Cautions more evidently just than these; though we had not had Experience to teach us so awfully, that for want of regarding them in the Times now before us, no one Scheme ended as it was designed at first. Every Thing was proposed to be reformed into Perfection: every Thing, inftead of that, was compleatly brought to Ruin: and happy did Men think themselves, with very good Cause, when at last they were able to get back into the Situation, which they had imagined before to be so intolerable. Now all these Things happened unto them for Enfamples: and they are written for our Admonition *.

Nor let it be replied, that though the bold Attempts for Reformation and Liberty mifcarried then, they may fucceed another Time. Let us rather reflect, that though the Confufion and Slavery, which they introduced, proved but temporary then, the next Trial may perpetuate them. Liberty is a Blessing of fuch unspeakable Value, that no Wonder if the very Name of it be dear to Men: but the Name misapplied was fatal to our Forefathers; and may be fo to Us. Licentiousness of Speech and Writing, a favourite and most entertaining Species of Liberty to the Inconfiderate, had the Effects amongst Them, which it must have every where: not only of injuring particular Persons in the most sensible manner; but of destroying that Regard to Stations and Offices, Ranks and Orders of Men, which must be

preserved, or Society must be diffolved. For when once contending Parties, by their mutual Accusations and Aspersions, have taught the People to think ill, or meanly, of all Perfons that are, or can be their Governors; what remains for them, but to think in the same manner of Government itself, and treat it accordingly? Confidering indeed, how artfully Men have learnt to disguise these Enormities, there may perhaps be no effectual Method of reftraining them by Law, without very great Danger of hurtful Consequences from the Restraint. But to take this Advantage for being guilty of them, is a most ungenerous Use of Freedom against such as wish it well; and a most unwife one, against such as do not. All good Men therefore should labour unanimoufly to keep down this bad Spirit, each on his own Side; for in vain do we exclaim against what we indulge: and to discounte nance it so strongly by expreffing their private Abhorrence of it, that there may be no Reafon, and no Pretence, if poffible, for a publick Provision against it. Liberty cannot be supported, any more than Power, but by exercifing it with Moderation. And they that overturn either, by carrying it to extravagant Heights, after fuch Warning as Providence hath given us, must neither expect any Remedy, nor much Pity.

But indeed there are Persons, who seem almost to think, that Liberty cannot be extend

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