This comparative study of Defoe’s and Swift’s treatments of liberty embraces what seemed the most significant parts of their vast, multifaceted oeuvres, both non-fictional and fictional. Defoe’s and Swift’s positions with regard to the English constitution and liberties are assessed here through a close examination of their views on contemporary religious and political issues. Moreover, their involvement in the debates on the liberties and constitutions of Scotland and Ireland, respectively, could not be left out of this comparative approach to their treatments of liberty in the broader sense. Also of primary concern is the liberty of expression and of the press underlined (though ambiguously) by both authors as an essential precondition for any debate, political or otherwise. The antithetic relationship between “snare” and “liberty” is examined in the context of the analogy between the political constitution (the body politic) and the human constitution (the natural body) commonly drawn in early 18th century political writings, including Defoe’s and Swift’s. This analogy provides appropriate means of identifying important links within, as well as between, the two authors’ works, since both focused on “snares” in the political and human constitutions. The part of the study devoted to the “snare” in human nature mainly considers the fictional works. Much attention has been given in this regard to the contrasting ways in which both authors have dealt with those “snares” and the interaction between the human and the political constitutions.

This book is a thought-provoking, deeply spiritual treatise containing a mixture of biblical and political research along with personal observations of the author regarding the lives of American citizens and Christians. Are the two identities compatible? Are they mutually exclusive? Can they work together? Readers will ponder their own beliefs on these issues. Many Christians face the dilemma of choosing between their “rights” as citizens of America and their “rights” as citizens in God’s kingdom in their daily decisions and interaction with other people. The two are intertwined, and the choices we make determine the quality of our lives both as citizens of the USA and as children of the Living God. Christians must know their “rights” in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness as US citizens and as citizens in God’s kingdom because they have a biblical duty to participate in the civic affairs of the United States.

In this comparative study of the American and English constitutions, Tremenheere follows the arrangement of Story's Commentaries and "state[s] in as compendious a manner as is consistent with clearness, the substance of that learned judge's remarks and opinions, upon each of the most important articles of the Constitution." To this he adds "the observations of the authors of the 'Federalist,' and also those of Mr. Justice Kent, under the same heads, together with extracts from any other writers whose facts and opinions may seem worthy of consideration in connection with those of the above principal authorities" (Introduction). Tremenheere [1804-1893] was a member of the Inner Temple. The author of six exhaustive reports on child labor, his work was the foundation for at least fourteen acts of Parliament.