But all this is of no avail. It produces no satisfying results—in fact, nothing but mutual ill-will and irritation. It is no difficult thing to select from the _practices_ of many people such as are not what they ought to be—still the theory, the foundation of the government may be opposed to them, but may be unable to put them down. They may exist in spite of it, and in entire opposition to its _main_ object. Indeed, it appears to be much like reasoning in a circle. We come to no end—no conclusion. To come to any satisfactory end, any useful conclusion, we must take something permanent—something believed by both to be unchangeably right and moral, and compare our governments with it. Whichever comes nearest to the standard agreed on by both, must of course be nearest right. But what shall this be? Now as it is utterly in vain for one to be happy unless he conform to the laws of his being, so it is in vain that governments are instituted, unless they aim to secure the happiness and safety of the governed—the people. The peculiar benefit or enrichment of those that administer the laws, has nothing to do with good government. Then it ought, by all means, to resemble the Divine government. We do not mean a _theocracy_ as it has been administered, the worst, perhaps, of all governments—but it should be remarkable for its sacred regard to justice and right. But it is objected, this deals with persons as individuals, and not as members of the body politic, and that all Christ’s exhortations were of this kind. Well, be it so—what of that? There is not the least danger, if one will acquit himself well in his various relations as an individual—a MAN—but what he will make a good citizen.