Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/84

 differs from those of, , and ; and then draw such Conclusions, as may be consistent with these Distinctions.

1. We may lay it down as a fundamental Truth generally acknowledged, that the political Constitution of, in its main Outline, is better modeled than those of , , or. The legislative and executive Powers are more equally balanced, and more clearly distinguished. Now, if Laws could support themselves, it would follow, that this political State must therefore be of longer Duration. But as it hath been made appear, that the Duration of free States depends not so much on their mere Form, as on the Manners and Principles which support them; so, nothing can be decided concerning the Duration of the British State, from its mere external Model.

2. The Christian Religion, established in, is, in its own Nature, far