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242 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
our hereditary evil dispositions, so that each is inclined
by nature to discover the mote which is in his brother’s
eye, and to neglect the beam which is in his own eye.’
Proud and evil-disposed minds delight in criticising and
blaming others; whereas a generous and well-disposed
man, who thinks as a christian, explains every thing
favourably according to circumstances, that is, he knows
how to excuse those faults, which are committed by error,
and only to resent those which are done of design and
deliberation.
"III. I would observe, that the same observations apply
to the public administration of government. No govern
ment is exempt from fault ; the faults, indeed, of the best
government are often numerous, and volumes might be
written in detailing them. If, for example, I were to
describe all the faults and errors which, I am informed,
have been committed in England and in Holland, against
justice and the real good of the country, I could fill a
large volume with lamentations. The governments, how
ever, of these two states are considered the best which, at
present, exist in Europe, except our Swedish government,
under which every citizen enjoys the most perfect security
both as to his life, his person, and his property ; no man
is a slave here ; and all equally enjoy, as to civil matters,
the most perfect liberty.
"IV. If there existed in the world a government in a
celestial form, composed of men endowed with an intel
ligence really angelic, even this government would not be
exempt from defects, but it would require constant watch
ing; and if any one were to exaggerate its defects, its
foundation might be sapped by calumny, and the dis
affection, which would gradually increase, might soon
cause it to be changed or annihilated ; and this desire
might arise even amongst the best disposed persons.
V. I would observe, that the wisest and best con
ducted government is that which we, at present, enjoy in
our country. Every thing here is wisely arranged ; every
thing here is prudently combined, as it were, in a regular
chain, for the administration of justice. From the man
who occupies the most eminent position, down to the
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