and in practice they were observed as rules.(53)If,on any occasion,it was thought proper to make a shew of proving them,it was rather for form's sake than for any thing else:and that,rather in the way of memento or instruction to acquiescing auditors,than in the way of proof against opponents.On such an occasion the common place retinue of phrases was at hand;Justice,Right Reason required it,the Law of Nature commanded it,and so forth;all which are but so many ways of intimating that a man is firmly persuaded of the truth of this or that moral proposition,though he either thinks he need not,or finds he can't,tell why.Men were too obviously and too generally interested in the observance of these rules to entertain doubts concerning the force of any arguments they saw employed in their supportIt is an old observation how Interest smooths the road to Faith.
39.A compact,then,it was said,was made by the King and People:the terms of it were to this effect.The People,on their part,promised to the King a general obedience.The King,on his part,promised to govern the people in such a particular manner always,as should be subservient to their happiness.I insist not on the words:I undertake only for the sense;as far as an imaginary engagement,so loosely and so variously worded by those who have imagined it,is capable of any decided signification.
Assuming then,as a general rule,that prom ises,when made,ought to be observed;and,as a point of fact,that a promise to this effect in particular had been made by the party in question,men were more ready to deem themselves qualified to judge when it was such a promise was broken,than to decide directly and avowedly on the delicate question,when it was that a King acted so far in opposition to the happiness of his people,that it were better no longer to obey him.