Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 6.djvu/77

Rh ; for, since government is necessary to mankind, they believe that the common size of human understanding, is fitted to some station or other; and that providence never intended to make the management of publick affairs, a mystery to be comprehended only by a few persons of sublime genius, of which there seldom are three born in an age: but they suppose truth, justice, temperance, and the like, to be in every man's power; the practice of which virtues, assisted by experience and a good intention, would qualify any man for the service of his country, except where a course of study is required. But they thought the want of moral virtues, was so far from being supplied by superiour endowments of the mind, that employments could never be put into such dangerous hands, as those of persons so qualified; and at least, that the mistakes committed by ignorance, in a virtuous disposition, would never be of such fatal consequence to the public weal, as the practices of a man, whose inclinations led him to be corrupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to multiply, and defend his corruptions.

In like manner, the disbelief of a divine providence, renders a man uncapable of holding any publick station; for, since kings avow themselves to be the deputies of providence, the Lilliputians think nothing can be more absurd, than for a prince to employ such men as disown the authority, under which he acts.

In relating these, and the following laws, I would only be understood to mean the original institutions, and not the most scandalous corruptions, into which these people are fallen by the degenerate nature of man. For, as to that infamous practice of acquiring Rh