Second Dialogue

Summary

First Court Maxim: That monarchy is the best form of government

Philalethes: I confess at court we are so employed in our factions and intrigues; in laying snares for our enemies and avoiding those that are laid for us; in finding ways to supplant our competitors, and render those who have power to do us good propitious to us; to get money to supply the vastness of our expenses, and contrive how to spend with pleasure what we have got; that we seldom have leisure to examine the truth of things. But a venerable divine of my acquaintance, my ghostly father, whose learning and merit has advanced him to one of the richest bishoprics in England, assures me of these things as certainly true, and I cannot doubt of what he asserts.

Eunomius: does this reverend prelate only affirm or does he give reasons why you should think these things true?

Philalethes: he does not often trouble himself with disputes, but says it is enough for a subject to know that he ought to obey the king and a layman is to believe the clergy. But with me he goes farther and says: By the principles of nature and reason man cannot live well unless joined in society with others. Such societies cannot be maintained but by such rules as we call laws. Such laws cannot be made unless somebody has power of making them. And the agent must be suitable to the act performed by him.