§. 210. But if all the world shall observe pretences of one kind, and actions
of another, arts used to elude the law, and the trust of prerogative (which is
an arbitrary power in some things left in the prince's hand to do good, not
harm, to the people) employed contrary to the end for which it was given; if
the people shall find the ministers and subordinate magistrates chosen,
suitable to such ends, and favoured or laid by proportionably as they promote
or oppose them; if they see several experiments made of arbitrary power, and
that religion underhand favoured, though publicly proclaimed against, which is
readiest to introduce it, and the operators in it supported as much as may be;
and when that cannot be done, yet approved still, and liked the better, and a
long train of acting show the counsels all tending that way, how can a man any
more hinder himself from being persuaded in his own mind which way things are
going; or, from casting about how to save himself, than he could from believing
the captain of a ship he was in was carrying him and the rest of the company to
Algiers, when he found him always steering that course, though cross winds,
leaks in his ship, and want of men and provisions did often force him to turn
his course another way for some time, which he steadily returned to again as
soon as the wind, weather, and other circumstances would let him?
