MODERN POLICY. 287 



scrutinies and severe inquiries they deserve ; or 

 been examined by the test of God's word, and 

 national laws : all the rest are but ugly conse- 

 quences of that absurdity we first granted ; ac- 

 cording to the ancient philosophic maxim, 'Evo? 



PRINCIPLE IX. 



The Politician must ivave all Relations, both sacred and 

 civil, and swim to his design, though in a Sea of Blood. 



Such as study to be great by any means, must 

 by all means forget to be good ; and they that 

 will usurp dominion over others, must first be- 

 come slaves to the worst of tyrants, a lust after 

 greatness. 



Crescit interea Roma Albce ruinis, begins one 

 of the Decads ; that the walls of Rome were 

 cemented with blood, is known and commended 

 by Machiavel;* although the superstructure 

 was brave, yet, if we search the foundation, we 

 shall find it laid in the red ruins of her wasted 

 neighbours; that the first founder became a 



* Upon Liv. 1. 2. c. 3. Thebe maritum, Timoleon fratrem, 

 Cassius filium, hoc jure intcrfccere. 



