Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/38

 Hence, then, it appears, that this Principle of Conscience stands in Need of a Guide, in the same Degree as those Principles on which it is founded. If it be founded on the Religion of a free State, it will generally coincide with the Principles of Freedom: If its Foundations are laid in the mere Principle of Honour, its Dictates will be fantastic as those of its Parent; and will therefore require a parallel Regulation.

Each of these Principles, singly taken, is of Power, in some Degree or other, to strengthen the Basis of civil Liberty. On their united Influence, added to the Force of pre-established Habits of Thought and Manners, public Freedom might seem to arise on immoveable and everlasting Foundations.

But as the Nature of Man, even in his most virtuous State, is imperfect and inconsistent; so, in Spite of the most salutary Institutions, some Defects will intrude. Hence, from an unavoidable Alloy of