Page:Gondibert, an heroick poem - William Davenant (1651).djvu/52

 very manners and weak constitution, as well as insolent appetite; so Divines (that are made vehement with contemplating the dignitie of the Offended, (which is God) more than the frailtie of the Offender) govern as if men could be made Angels, ere they come to Heaven.

Great Ministers of Law think likewise that Leaders of Armies are like ill Physitians; onely fit for desperate cures, whose boldness calls in the assistance of Fortune, during the fears and troubles of Art; Yet the health they give to a distemper'd State is not more accidental, than the preservation of it is uncertain; because they often grow vain with success, and encourage a restor'd State to such hazards, as shew like irregularitie of life in other recover'd bodies; such as the cautious and ancient gravitie of Law disswaded: For Law (whose temperate design is safetie) rather prevents by constancie of Medicine (like a continu'd Diet) diseases in the bodie politick, than depends after a permitted Sickness upon the chance of recoverie. They think States-men strive to be as much Judges of Law as themselves; being chief Ministers of Law, are Judges of the People, and that even good States-men pervert the Law more than evil Judges: For Law was anciently meant a defensive Armour, and the People took it as from the Magazine of Justice, to keep them safe from each others violence; but SatesStates [sic]-men use it as offensive Arms, with which in forraging to get relief for Supream Power, they often wound the Publick.

Thus we have first observ'd the Four chief aids of Government, (Religion, Arms, Policie, and Law) defectively appli'd, and then we have found them weak by an emulous war amongst themselves: it follows next, we should introduce to strengthen those principal aids (stil making the People our direct object) some collateral help; which I will safely presume to consist in Poesie.

We have observ'd that the People since the latter time of Christian Religion, are more unquiet than in former