\ MODERN POLICY. 291 



the example of a Roman, or Turk, or Christian, 

 if unlawful ; such precedents may perchance 

 baffle the vulgar (in whose creed you may insert 

 what you please,) but will be very cold answers, 

 when we appear before a severe tribunal : it 

 concerns us rather to observe, how ambition 

 claims kindred with every other vice, stoops 

 and takes up every sin that lies in its way ; and, 

 if upon inquiry we find it to be indeed such a 

 complicated mischief, it will become us studi- 

 ously to shun it ourselves, and seriously to de- 

 test it in others. 



PRINCIPLE X. 



A general Innovation contributes much to the Growth and 



Security of Usurpation. 



We may receive this as a tradition, handed to 

 us from the great patriarchs of policy, attested 

 by the practice of the subtilest times; I pre- 

 sume it may be grounded upon these, or the 

 like persuasions. 



1. Because such an innovation raises the 

 dust, and begets a cloud for the main design ; 



u2 



