In casting our eyes over the world, it is extremely easy to
distinguish the governments which have arisen out of society, or out
of the social compact, from those which have not; but to place this
in a clearer light than what a single glance may afford, it will be
proper to take a review of the several sources from which governments
have arisen and on which they have been founded.

They may be all comprehended under three heads.

First, Superstition.

Secondly, Power.

Thirdly, The common interest of society and the common rights of man.

The first was a government of priestcraft, the second of conquerors,
and the third of reason.

When a set of artful men pretended, through the medium of oracles, to
hold intercourse with the Deity, as familiarly as they now march up
the back-stairs in European courts, the world was completely under
the government of superstition. The oracles were consulted, and
whatever they were made to say became the law; and this sort of
government lasted as long as this sort of superstition lasted.

After these a race of conquerors arose, whose government, like that
of William the Conqueror, was founded in power, and the sword assumed
the name of a sceptre. Governments thus established last as long as
the power to support them lasts; but that they might avail themselves
of every engine in their favor, they united fraud to force, and set