These factors create doubt in one's mind about the strength of the British government. Paine questions the government saying:"How came the king by a power which the people are afraid to trust, and always obliged to check? Such a power could not be the gift of a wise people, neither can any power, which needs checking, be from God; yet the provision, which the constitution makes, supposes such a power to exist." (70).
Hereditary succession, as approved by the British constitution, is one of the greater evils of the British government. Through hereditary succession, kings and lords of inferior intelligence and moral standing can assume positions that they are in no way qualified for. "Mankind being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance- (71) The circumstances that Paine is referring to are of course division in classes. The rich have more power and influence, and so, pass their power onto those of their bloodline. The problems with this system are obvious. A completely unqualified individual could come into power through a hereditary system, and with this power, do great damage to the people under their rule. But even a non-hereditary monarchal system is a terrible and expressly disapproved of form of government. Paine has this to say about monarchs: "Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom. It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry." (72) Paine also tells of the Bible's directions about a government by kings and how God feels about this system: "Almighty, as declared by Gideon and the prophet Samuel, expressly disapproves of government by kings." (73) The only people who approve of the English government are those who are in power, or those who stand to succeed as an heir to a position of power.
