§. 230. Nor let any one say that mischief can arise from hence as often as it
shall please a busy head or turbulent spirit to desire the alteration of the
government. It is true such men may stir whenever they please, but it will be
only to their own just ruin and perdition. For till the mischief be grown
general, and the ill designs of the rulers become visible, or their attempts
sensible to the greater part, the people, who are more disposed to suffer than
right themselves by resistance, are not apt to stir. The examples of particular
injustice or oppression of here and there an unfortunate man moves them not.
But if they universally have a persuasion grounded upon manifest evidence that
designs are carrying on against their liberties, and the general course and
tendency of things cannot but give them strong suspicions of the evil intention
of their governors, who is to be blamed for it? Who can help it if they, who
might avoid it, bring themselves into this suspicion? Are the people to be
blamed if they have the sense of rational creatures, and can think of things no
otherwise than as they find and feel them? And is it not rather their fault who
put things in such a posture that they would not have them thought as they are?
I grant that the pride, ambition, and turbulency of private men have sometimes
caused great disorders in commonwealths, and factions have been fatal to states
and kingdoms. But whether the mischief hath oftener begun in the people's
wantonness, and a desire to cast off the lawful authority of their rulers, or
in the rulers' insolence and endeavours to get and exercise an arbitrary power
over their people, whether oppression or disobedience gave the first rise to
the disorder, I leave it to impartial history to determine. This I am sure,
whoever, either ruler or subject, by force goes about to invade the rights of
either prince or people, and lays the foundation for overturning the
constitution and frame of any just government, he is guilty of the greatest
crime I think a man is capable of, being to answer for all those mischiefs of
blood, rapine, and desolation, which the breaking to pieces of governments
bring on a country; and he who does it is justly to be esteemed the common
enemy and pest of mankind, and is to be treated accordingly.
