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Pol。； i。 16。
91。 For he being supposed to have all； both legislative and
executive； power in himself alone； there is no judge to be found； no
appeal lies open to any one； who may fairly and indifferently； and
with authority decide； and from whence relief and redress may be
expected of any injury or inconveniency that may be suffered from him；
or by his order。 So that such a man； however entitled； Czar； or
Grand Signior； or how you please； is as much in the state of Nature；
with all under his dominion； as he is with the rest of mankind。 For
wherever any two men are； who have no standing rule and common judge
to appeal to on earth； for the determination of controversies of right
betwixt them； there they are still in the state of Nature； and under
all the inconveniencies of it； with only this woeful difference to the
subject； or rather slave of an absolute prince。* That whereas； in
the ordinary state of Nature； he has a liberty to judge of his
right； according to the best of his power to maintain it； but whenever
his property is invaded by the will and order of his monarch； he has
not only no appeal； as those in society ought to have； but； as if he
were degraded from the common state of rational creatures； is denied a
liberty to judge of； or defend his right； and so is exposed to all the
misery and inconveniencies that a man can fear from one； who being
in the unrestrained state of Nature； is yet corrupted with flattery
and armed with power。
* 〃To take away all such mutual grievances； injuries； and wrongs…
i。e。； such as attend men in the state of Nature； there was no way
but only by growing into composition and agreement amongst
themselves by ordaining some kind of government public； and by
yielding themselves subject thereunto； that unto whom they granted
authority to rule and govern； by them the peace； tranquillity； and
happy estate of the rest might be procured。 Men always knew that where
force and injury was offered； they might be defenders of themselves。
They knew that； however men may seek their own commodity； yet if
this were done with injury unto others； it was not to be suffered； but
by all men and all good means to be withstood。 Finally； they knew that
no man might； in reason； take upon him to determine his own right； and
according to his own determination proceed in maintenance thereof；
in as much as every man is towards himself； and them whom he greatly
affects； partial； and therefore； that strifes and troubles would be
endless； except they gave their common consent； all to be ordered by
some whom they should agree upon； without which consent there would be
no reason that one man should take upon him to be lord or judge over
another。〃 Hooker； ibid。 10。
92。 For he that thinks absolute power purifies men's blood； and
corrects the baseness of human nature； need read but the history of
this； or any other age； to be convinced to the contrary。 He that would
have been insolent and injurious in the woods of America would not
probably be much better on a throne； where perhaps learning and
religion shall be found out to justify all that he shall do to his
subjects； and the sword presently silence all those that dare question
it。 For what the protection of absolute monarchy is； what kind of
fathers of their countries it makes princes to be； and to what a
degree of happiness and security it carries civil society； where
this sort of government is grown to perfection； he that will look into
the late relation of Ceylon may easily see。
93。 In absolute monarchies； indeed； as well as other governments
of the world； the subjects have an appeal to the law； and judges to
decide any controversies； and restrain any violence that may happen
betwixt the subjects themselves； one amongst another。 This every one
thinks necessary； and believes； he deserves to be thought a declared
enemy to society and mankind who should go about to take it away。
But whether this be from a true love of mankind and society； and
such a charity as we owe all one to another； there is reason to doubt。
For this is no more than what every man； who loves his own power；
profit； or greatness； may； and naturally must do； keep those animals
from hurting or destroying one another who labour and drudge only
for his pleasure and advantage； and so are taken care of； not out of
any love the master has for them； but love of himself； and the
profit they bring him。 For if it be asked what security； what fence is
there in such a state against the violence and oppression of this
absolute ruler； the very question can scarce be borne。 They are
ready to tell you that it deserves death only to ask after safety。
Betwixt subject and subject； they will grant； there must be
measures； laws； and judges for their mutual peace and security。 But as
for the ruler； he ought to be absolute； and is above all such
circumstances； because he has a power to do more hurt and wrong； it is
right when he does it。 To ask how you may be guarded from or injury on
that side； where the strongest hand is to do it； is presently the
voice of faction and rebellion。 As if when men； quitting the state
of Nature； entered into society； they agreed that all of them but
one should be under the restraint of laws； but that he should still
retain all the liberty of the state of Nature； increased with power；
and made licentious by impunity。 This is to think that men are so
foolish that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them
by polecats or foxes； but are content； nay； think it safety； to be
devoured by lions。
94。 But； whatever flatterers may talk to amuse people's
understandings； it never hinders men from feeling； and when they
perceive that any man； in what station soever； is out of the bounds of
the civil society they are of； and that they have no appeal； on earth；
against any harm they may receive from him； they are apt to think
themselves in the state of Nature； in respect of him whom they find to
be so； and to take care； as soon as they can； to have that safety
and security； in civil society； for which it was first instituted； and
for which only they entered into it。 And therefore； though perhaps
at first； as shall be showed more at large hereafter； in the following
part of this discourse； some one good and excellent man having got a
pre…eminency amongst the rest； had this deference paid to his goodness
and virtue； as to a kind of natural authority； that the chief rule；
with arbitration of their differences； by a tacit consent devolved
into his hands； without any other caution but the assurance they had
of his uprightness and wisdom； yet when time giving authority； and； as
some men would persuade us； sacredness to customs； which the negligent
and unforeseeing innocence of the first ages began； had brought in
successors of another stamp； the people finding their properties not
secure under the government as then it was* （whereas government has no
other end but the preservation of property）； could never be safe；
nor at rest； nor think themselves in civil society； till the
legislative w