Most men, indeed,
as well as most sects in religion, think themselves in possession of
all truth, and that wherever others differ from them, it is so far
error. Steele, a Protestant, in a dedication, tells the Pope, that
the only difference between our two churches in their opinions of the
certainty of their doctrine, is, the Romish Church is _infallible_,
and the Church of England is _never in the wrong._ But, though many
private Persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as
of that of their Sect, few express it so naturally as a certain
French Lady, who, in a little dispute with her sister, said, "But I
meet with nobody but myself that is _always_ in the right." _"Je ne
trouve que moi qui aie toujours raison."_
In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with
all its faults, -- if they are such; because I think a general
Government necessary for us, and there is no _form_ of government but
what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I
believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a
course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have
done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need
despotic government, being incapable of any other.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56