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You and I were taught that God governs the world and ⟨that⟩ nobody has any power in it but, ſuch as he gives them: ⟨There⟩ is no power but of God: and our Saviour allowed it (illegible text)en in Pontius Pilate, the Roman Judge. But you are to ⟨believe⟩ now, out of the French Bible, that all power is of ⟨the⟩ people, that is, of you and I, Thomas and John Bull. ⟨But⟩ if the people in any great national queſtion of ⟨diffculty⟩, which is very poſſible, ſhould be divided into two ⟨halves⟩, who are the people then, John? They that lay (illegible text)ld of a ſword firſt, and get to be ſtrongeſt, will always ⟨call⟩ themſelves the people, and the reſt muſt go to be ⟨hanged⟩, or loſe their heads. If you and I ſhould quarrel ⟨about⟩ our rights, and there were no law above us, then ⟨there’s⟩ People Thomas againſt People John, and we muſt ⟨ſettle⟩ it by a civil war; for when there’s no law, there’s ⟨nothing⟩ left but the ſword or the halter to ſettle all ⟨differences⟩: ſo I muſt cut your throat or you muſt cut mine. ⟨That⟩ is what always comes of the power of the people, as is now in France; where all queſtions have been carried ⟨by⟩ cutting off heads, and hanging people upon lamp irons; ⟨and⟩ then, you know, they that are hanged can give no ⟨vote⟩, and they that are left are all of a mind. But, ⟨however⟩, they are as far off from being ſettled now as ⟨they⟩ were four years ago; and one of their new Kings ⟨(⟩Marat) ſaid they muſt have two hundred and eighty ⟨thousand⟩ more heads off before they ſhould be right.
Now for their wiſe notions about Government. As all ⟨power⟩ is in the people, they ſay there can be no lawful ⟨government⟩ but what the people make. When all power ⟨is⟩ taken from thoſe who are now entitled to it by law, and ⟨put⟩ into the hands of the mob armed with pikes and ⟨daggers⟩, that’s a Conſtitution, John. Then out of this, the ⟨rabid⟩ mob raiſes what they call Organs and Fanctions, and ⟨makes⟩ a Government; but they have been as it is in France ⟨for⟩ four years, and though they have worked very hard ⟨ſometimes⟩, they have hardly got to the beginning yet.— ⟨And⟩ now have you not ſenſe enough to ſee what a fine ⟨contrivance⟩ this is for plundering every gentleman of his ⟨property⟩, his houſe, his land, his goods, and his money, ⟨under⟩ a pretence that every thing belongs to the Nation?
