(seq. 21)

good Witness the Jewish and Roman States Government like Clocks go from
the Motion Men give thou and as Governments are made and moved by Men
so By them they are euined too wherefore Governments rather depend upon Men
than Men upon Governments Let Men be good and the Government can't be
bad if it be Ill they will Cure it but if Men be bad let the Government be
ever so good they will endeavour to Wars and Spoil it to their Turn.

I know some say lett us have good Laws and no matter for the Men
that execute them but lett them consider that tho good Laws do well good Men
do better for good Laws may want good Men and be abolished or evaded by ill Men;
but good Men will never want good Laws nor suffer ill ones tis true good Laws
have some Awe upon ill Ministers but that is where they have not power to
Excape of Abolish them and the people are generally wise and good But a loose
and depraved people (which is to the Question) love Laws and an administration
like themselves that therefore which makes a good Constitution must keep it
viz. Men of Wisdom and Virtue Qualities that because they descend not with
worldly inheritances must be carefully propagated by a virtuous Education of
Youth; for which after Ages will owe more to the Care and Prudence of Founders
and the successive Magistracey then to the parents for their private patrimonies

These Considerations of the weight of Government and the nice and
various Opinions about it made it uneasie to me to think of publishing
the ensuing Frame and Conditional Laws foreseeing both the Censures they
will meet with from Men of differing Humours and Engagements and the
occasion they may give of Discourse beyond my Design.

But next to the Power of Necessity (which is a Solicitor that will take
no denial) this induced me to a Compliance that we have with Reverence
to God and good Conscience to Men to the best of our Skills contrives and
composed the Frame and Laws of this Government to the great End of all
Government viz. To support Power in Reverence with the People
from the abuse of Power that they may be Free by the just Obedience
and the Magistrates Honourable for their just Administration for Liberty
without Obedience is Confusion and Obedience without Liberty is Slavery To
carry this everness is a partly owing to the Constitution and partly to the
Magistracy where either of these fail Government will be Subject to
Convulsions but were both are wanted it must be totally subverted: Then
where both meet the Government is like to Endure" Which I humbly pray
and hope God will please to make the Lott of this of Pennsylvania- -
Amen.

WillIam Penn