But before he can attempt to ruin this damnable opinion of two independent powers, he telleth us; page vi., “It will be necessary to shew what is contained in the idea of government” Now, it is to be understood, that this refined way of speaking was introduced by Mr. Locke; after whom the author limpeth as fast as he is able.  All the former philosophers in the world, from the age of Socrates to ours, would have ignorantly put the question, Quid est imperium?  But now it seemeth we must vary our phrase; and, since our modern improvement of human understanding, instead of desiring a philosopher to describe or define a mouse-trap, or tell me what it is; I must gravely ask, what is contained in the idea of a mouse-trap?  But then to observe how deeply this new way of putting questions to a man’s self, maketh him enter into the nature of things; his present business is to show us, what is contained in the idea of government.  The company knoweth nothing of the matter, and would gladly be instructed; which he doth in the following words, p. 5.

“It would be in vain for one intelligent being to pretend to set rules to the actions of another, if he had it not in his power to reward the compliance with, or punish the deviations from, his rules by some good, or evil, which is not the natural consequence of those actions; since the forbidding men to do or forbear an action on the account of that convenience or inconvenience which attendeth it, whether he who forbids it will or no, can be no more than advice.”

I shall not often draw such long quotations as this, which I could not forbear to offer as a specimen of the propriety and perspicuity of this author’s style.  And, indeed, what a light breaketh out upon us all, as soon as we have read these words!  How thoroughly are we instructed in the whole nature of government?  What mighty truths are here discovered; and how clearly conveyed to our understandings?  And therefore let us melt this refined jargon into the old style for the improvement of such, who are not enough conversant in the new.

If the author were one who used to talk like one of us, he would have spoke in this manner:  “I think it necessary to give a full and perfect definition of government, such as will shew the nature and all the properties of it; and my definition is thus:  One man will never cure another of stealing horses, merely by minding him of the pains he hath taken, the cold he hath got, and the shoe-leather he hath lost in stealing that horse; nay, to warn him, that the horse may kick or fling him, or cost him more than he is worth in hay and oats, can be no more than advice.  For the gallows is not the natural effect of robbing on the highway, as heat is of fire:  and therefore, if you will govern a man, you must find out some other way of punishment, than what he will inflict upon himself.”