This Fancy gives us to understand, that Secrets of State are not
properly the Bus’ness of the _Schools_, and in truth it is a _Topick_
too, that does as little become the _Pulpit_; for _Politicks_ are
matter of _Practice_ rather then of _Notion_: Beside, that the Rules of
_Government_ and those of _Religion_, Abstractedly consider’d, have very
little Affinity one with the other: For the Wisdom of this World, or that
which we call _Civil Prudence_, does not at all Concern it self in the
Question of _Virtue_ or of _Conscience_. From hence it may be Infer’d,
that Ministers of State, Priests, and Philosophers, should do well to
keep their Respective Professions, without Invading the Province one of
another. Here’s a Check put upon the Definition of a _Tyrant_; not so
much for the _False Doctrine_ of the Position, as for the _Scandal_ of
Exposing Majesty, by the _Innuendo_ of so Irreverend a Truth; for the
Character of a Crown’d Head ought to be kept Sacred, let the Person be
what he will. Here is likewise another Hint of Caution to us, that in
all Liberties of this Nature, we keep clear of the Present Times, and be
still looking another way, whatever we mean.
As to the Definition of a _Tyrant_ it self, let it be Candidly taken, and
the Drift of it is this; the common Safety of King and People is wrapt
up in the Well-being of each other. The _Prince_ intends his _Own_ Good
in that of the _People_; and at the same time, the Good of the _People_
in that of _Himself_; for they stand or Fall together: But then there’s
One Tenderness of Care and Duty, and another of Personal Inclination, or
(if I may so Call it) Infirmity; and _That’s_ Aristotle’s _Tyrant_, where
a Ruler Indulges his Private Appetite, and Sacrifices his People to his
Passions or his Pleasures.