liberty-第4节
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d have considered the reasons of Time; Place; Cause; Power; Relation; Proportion; Quantity; Figure; and motion。 In the second we would have beene conversant about imagination; Memory; intellect; ratiocination; appetite; till; good and Evill; honest and dishonest; and the like。 what this last Section handles; I have now already shewed you。 Whilest I contrive; order; pensively and slowly compose these matters; for I onely doe reason; I dispute not; it so happen'd in the interim; that my Country some few yeares before the civill tarres did rage; was boyling hot with questions concerning the rights of Dominion; and the obedience due from Subjects; the true forerunners of an approaching tar。 And was the cause which (all those other matters deferr'd) ripen'd; and pluckt from me this third part。 Therefore it happens that what was last in order; is yet come forth first in time; and the rather; because I saw that grounded on its owne principles sufficiently knowne by experience it would not stand in need of the former Sections。 I have not yet made it out of a desire of praise (although if I had; I might have defended my selfe with this faire excuse; that very few doe things laudably; who are not affected with commendation) but for your sakes Readers; who I perswaded my selfe; when you should rightly apprehend and throughly understand this Doctrine I here present you with; would rather chuse to brooke with patience some inconveniences under government (because humane affairs cannot possibly be without some) then selfe opiniatedly disturb the quiet of the publique; That; weighing the justice of those things you are about; not by the perswasion and advise of private men; but by the Lawes of the Realme; you will no longer suffer ambitious men through the streames of your blood to wade to their owne power; That you will esteeme it better to enjoy your selves in the present state though perhaps not the best; then by waging tarre; indeavour to procure a reformation for other men in another age; your selves in the meane while either kill'd; or consumed with age; Farthermore; for those who will not acknowledge themselves subject to the civill Magistrate; and will be exempt from all publique burthens; and yet will live under his Jurisdiction; and look for protection from the violence and injuries of others; that you would not looke on them as fellow Subjects; but esteeme them for enemies; and spies; and that yee rashly admit not for Gods Word all which either openly or privately they shall pretend to bee so。 I say more plainly; if any preacher; Confessor; or Casuist; shal but say that this doctrin is agreeable with Gods word; namely; That the chief ruler; nay any private man may lawfully be put to death without the chiefes command; or that Subjects may resist; conspire; or covenant against the supreme power; that ye by no means beleeve them; but instantly declare their names。 He who approves of these reasons; will also like my intention in writing this book。 Last of al; I have propounded to my self this rule through this whole discourse; First; not to define ought which concerns the justice of single actions; but leave them to be determined by the laws。 Next not to dispute the laws of any government in special; that is; not to point which are the laws of any country; but to declare what the laws of all countries are。 Thirdly not to seem of opinion; that there is a lesse proportion of for obedience due to an Aristocraty or Democraty; then a Monarchy; though I have endeavoured by arguments in my tenth Chapter to gain a belief in men; that Monarchy is the most commodious government (which one thing alone I confesse in this whole book not to be demonstrated; but only probably stated) yet every where I expresly say; that in all kind of Government whatsoever; there ought to be a supreme and equall power。 Fourthly; not in any wise to dispute the positions of Divines; except those which strip Subjects of their obedience; and shake the foundations of civill government。 Lastly; lest I might imprudently set forth somewhat of which there would be no need; what I had thus written; I would not presently expose to publique interest; wherefore I got some few copies privately disperst among some of my friends; that discrying the opinions of others; if any things appeared erroneous; hard; or obscure; I might correct; soften; and explain them。 These things I found most bitterly excepted against: that I had made the civill powers too large; but this by Ecclesiasticall persons; that I had utterly taken away liberty of conscience; but this by Sectaries; that I had set princes above the civil Laws; but this by Lawyers; wherefore I was not much moved by these mens reprehensions; (as who in doing this did but do their own business) except it were tye those knots so much faster。 But for their sakes who have a litle been staggered at the principles themselves; to wit the nature of men; the authority or right of nature; the nature of compacts and contracts; and the originall of civill government; because in finding fault they have not so much followed their passions; as their common sense; I have therefore in some places added some annotations whereby I presumed I might give some satisfaction to their differing thoughts; Lastly I have endevoured to offend none beside those whose principles these contradict; and whose tender mindes are lightly offended by every difference of opinions。 Wherefore if ye shall meet with some things which have more of sharpnesse; and lesse of certainty then they ought to have; since they are not so much spoken for the maintenance of parties; as the establishment of peace; and by one whose just grief for the present calamities of his country; may very charitably be allowed some liberty; it is his only request to ye Readers; ye will deign to receive them with an equall mind。
Philosophicall Elements of a true Citizen。
Liberty
Chapter One
Of the state of men without Civill Society
I。 The faculties of Humane nature may be reduc'd unto four kinds; Bodily strength; Experience; Reason; Passion。 Taking the beginning of this following Doctrine from these; we will declare in the first place what manner of inclinations men who are endued with these faculties bare towards each other; and whether; and by what faculty; they are born apt for Society; and so preserve themselves against mutuall violence; then proceeding; we will shew what advice was necessary to be taken for this businesse; and what are the conditions of Society; or of Humane Peace; that is to say; (changing the words onely) what are the fundamentall Lawes of Nature。 II。 The greatest part of those men who have written ought concerning Commonwealths; either suppose; or require us; or beg of us to believe; That Man is a Creature born fit for Society: The Greeks call him Zoon politikon; and on this foundation they so build up the Doctrine of Civill Society; as if for the preservation of Peace; and the Government of Man…kind there were nothing else necessary; then that Men should agree to make certaine Covenants and Conditions together; which themselves should then call Lawes。 Which Axiom; though received by most; is yet certainly False; and an Errour proceeding from our too slight contemplation of Humane Nature; for they who shall more narrowly look into the Causes for which Men come together; and delight in each others company; shall easily find that this happens not because naturally it could happen no otherwise; but by Accident: For if by nature one Man should Love another (that is) as Man; there could no reason be return'd why every Man should not equally Love every Man; as being equally Man; or why he should rather frequent those whose Society affords him Honour or Profit。 We doe not therefore by nature seek Society for its own sake; but that we may receive some Honour or Profit from it; these we desire Primarily; that Secondarily: How by what advice Men doe meet; will be best known by observing those things which they doe when they are met: For if they meet for Traffique; it's plaine every man regards not his Fellow; but his Businesse; if to discharge some Office; a certain Market…friendship is begotten; which hath more of Jealousie in it then True love; and whence Factions sometimes may arise; but Good will never; if for Pleasure; and Recreation of mind; every man is wont to please himself most with those things which stirre up laughter; whence he may (according to the nature of that which is Ridiculous) by comparison of another mans Defects and Infirmities; passe the more currant in his owne opinion; and although this be sometimes innocent; and without offence; yet it is manifest they are not so much delighted with the Society; as their own Vain glory。 But for the most part; in these kind of meetings; we wound the absent; their whole life; sayings; actions are examin'd; judg'd; condemn'd; nay; it is very rare; but some present receive a fling before they part; so as his reason was not ill; who was wont alwayes at parting to goe out last。 And these are indeed the true delights of Society; unto which we are carryed by nature; (i。e。) by those passions which are incident to all Creatures; untill either by sad experience; or good precepts; it so fall out (which in many