A97353:409
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
There being three kinds of Government amongst men, Absolute Monarchy, Aristocracy and Democracy, and ⟨p. 82⟩all these having their particular conveniences, and inconveniences; the experience and wisdom of your ancestors hath so moulded this out of a Mixture of these, as to give to this Kingdom (as far as humane prudence can provide) the conveniences of all three without the inconveniences of any one, as long as the balance hangs even between the three Estates, and they run jointly on in their proper Channel (begetting Verdure and fertility in the meadows on both sides) and the over[…]lowing of either on either side raise no deluge or inundation. The ill of Absolute Monarchy is Tyranny: The ill of Aristocracy is faction and division: The ills of Democracy are tumults, violence and licentiousness. The good of Monarchy is the Uniting of a Nation under one head to resist invasion from abroad, and insurrection at home: The good of Aristocracy is the conjunction of Council of the ablest persons of a State for the public benefit. The good of Democracy is Liberty, and the Courage and Industry which Liberty begets.
There being three kinds of Government amongst men, Absolute Monarchy, Aristocracy and Democracy, and ⟨p. 82⟩all these having their particular conveniencies, and inconveniencies; the experience and wisdom of your ancestors hath so molded this out of a Mixture of these, as to give to this Kingdom (as far as humane prudence can provide) the conveniencies of all three without the inconveniencies of any one, as long as the ballance hangs even between the three Estates, and they run joyntly on in their proper Channel (begetting Verdure and fertility in the meadows on both sides) and the over〈…〉lowing of either on either side raise no deluge or inundation. The ill of Absolute Monarchy is Tyranny: The ill of Aristocracy is faction and division: The ills of Democracy are tumults, violence and licentiousness. The good of Monarchy is the Uniting of a Nation under one head to resist invasion from abroad, and insurrection at home: The good of Aristocracy is the conjunction of Council of the ablest persons of a State for the publick benefit. The good of Democracy is Liberty, and the Courage and Industry which Liberty begets.