Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/162

 necessary, for the Security of public Freedom. Till this be effected, in Spite of all temporary Remedies, Licentiousness and Faction, tho' checked for a Time, will ever be gathering new Strength, and returning to the Charge with redoubled Fury.

This Reform, to some, may appear easy to effect: By others it will be derided, as wholly impracticable. Perhaps the Truth may lie between these two Opinions: To throw the Manners and Principles of a Nation into any new Channel, is certainly a Work of no small Difficulty.—On the other Hand, we seem to have many Materials lying round us, ready to be converted into the Means of this great Work. A pure and rational Religion; a generous System of Policy, founded on that Religion; Manners, tho' apparently degenerating, yet by no Means generally profligate; much true Religion, Integrity, and Honour among the middle Ranks; many Instances of domestic Worth among the higher; and in Spite of the