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第13章

second treatise of government-第13章

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ty over one who was not his child; but by virtue of that  executive power of the law of nature; which; as a man; he had a  right to: and he alone could punish him in his family; where the  respect of his children had laid by the exercise of such a power;  to give way to the dignity and authority they were willing should  remain in him; above the rest of his family。        (*It is no improbable opinion therefore; which the  archphilosopher was of; that the chief person in every houshold  was always; as it were; a king: so when numbers of housholds  joined themselves in civil societies together; kings were the  first kind of governors amongst them; which is also; as it  seemeth; the reason why the name of fathers continued still in  them; who; of fathers; were made rulers; as also the ancient  custom of governors to do as Melchizedec; and being kings; to  exercise the office of priests; which fathers did at the first;  grew perhaps by the same occasion。  Howbeit; this is not the only  kind of regiment that has been received in the world。  The  inconveniences of one kind have caused sundry others to be  devised; so that in a word; all public regiment; of what kind  soever; seemeth evidently to have risen from the deliberate  advice; consultation and composition between men; judging it  convenient and behoveful; there being no impossibility in nature  considered by itself; but that man might have lived without any  public regiment; Hooker's Eccl。 Pol。 lib。 i。 sect。 10。)      Sec。 75。  Thus it was easy; and almost natural for children;  by a tacit; and scarce avoidable consent; to make way for the  father's authority and government。  They had been  accustomed  in   their childhood to follow his direction; and to refer their  little differences to him; and when they were men; who fitter to  rule them?  Their little properties; and less covetousness;  seldom afforded greater controversies; and when any should arise;  where could they have a fitter umpire than he; by whose care they  had every one been sustained and brought up; and who had a  tenderness for them aII?  It is no wonder that they made no  distinction betwixt minority and full age; nor looked after one  and twenty; or any other age that might make them the free  disposers of themselves and fortunes; when they could have no  desire to be out of their pupilage: the government they had been  under; during it; continued still to be more their protection  than restraint; and they could no where find a greater security  to their peace; liberties; and fortunes; than in the rule of a  father。        Sec。 76。  Thus the natural fathers of families; by an  insensible change; became the politic monarchs of them too: and  as they chanced to live long; and leave able and worthy heirs;  for several successions; or otherwise; so they laid the  foundations of hereditary; or elective kingdoms; under several  constitutions and mannors; according as chance; contrivance; or  occasions happened to mould them。  But if princes have their  titles in their fathers right; and it be a sufficient proof of  the natural right of fathers to political authority; because they  commonly were those in whose hands we find; de facto; the  exercise of government: I say; if this argument be good; it will  as strongly prove; that all princes; nay princes only; ought to  be priests; since it is as certain; that in the beginning; the  father of the family was priest; as that he was ruler in his own  houshold。




                        CHAP。  VII。

             Of Political or Civil Society。

     Sec。 77。  GOD having made man such a creature; that in his  own judgment; it was not good for him to be alone; put him under  strong obligations of necessity; convenience; and inclination to  drive him into society; as well as fitted him with understanding  and language to continue and enjoy it。  The first society was  between man and wife; which gave beginning to that between  parents and children; to which; in time; that between master and  servant came to be added: and though all these might; and  commonly did meet together; and make up but one family; wherein  the master or mistress of it had some sort of rule proper to a  family; each of these; or all together; came short of political  society; as we shall see; if we consider the different ends;  ties; and bounds of each of these。      Sec。 78。  Conjugal society is made by a voluntary compact  between man and woman; and tho' it consist chiefly in such a  communion and right in one another's bodies as is necessary to  its chief end; procreation; yet it draws with it mutual support  and assistance; and a communion of interests too; as necessary  not only to unite their care and affection; but also necessary to  their common off…spring; who have a right to be nourished; and  maintained by them; till they are able to provide for themselves。      Sec。 79。  For the end of conjunction; between male and  female; being not barely procreation; but the continuation of the  species; this conjunction betwixt male and female ought to last;  even after procreation; so long as is necessary to the  nourishment and support of the young ones; who are to be  sustained  even after procreation; so long as is necessary to the  nourishment and support of the young ones; who are to be  sustained by those that got them; till they are able to shift and  provide for themselves。  This rule; which the infinite wise maker  hath set to the works of his hands; we find the inferior  creatures steadily obey。  In those viviparous animals which feed  on grass; the conjunction between male and female lasts no longer  than the very act of copulation; because the teat of the dam  being sufficient to nourish the young; till it be able to feed on  grass; the male only begets; but concerns not himself for the  female or young; to whose sustenance he can contribute nothing。   But in beasts of prey the conjunction lasts longer: because the  dam not being able well to subsist herself; and nourish her  numerous off…spring by her own prey alone; a more laborious; as  well as more dangerous way of living; than by feeding on grass;  the assistance of the male is necessary to the maintenance of  their common family; which cannot subsist till they are able to  prey for themselves; but by the joint care of male and female。   The same is to be observed in all birds; (except some domestic  ones; where plenty of food excuses the cock from feeding; and  taking care of the young brood) whose young needing food in the  nest; the cock and hen continue mates; till the young are able to  use their wing; and provide for themselves。      Sec。 80。  And herein I think lies the chief; if not the only  reason; why the male and female in mankind are tied to a longer  conjunction than other creatures; viz。  because the female is  capable of conceiving; and de facto is commonly with child again;  and brings forth too a new birth; long before the former is out  of a dependency for support on his parents help; and able to  shift for himself; and has all the assistance is due to him from  his parents: whereby the father; who is bound to take care for  those he hath begot; is under an obligation to continue in  conjugal society with the same woman longer than other creatures; 

whose young being able to subsist of themselves; before the time  of procreation returns again; the conjugal bond dissolves of  itself; and they are at liberty; till Hymen at his usual  anniversary season summons them again to chuse new mates。   Wherein one cannot but admire the wisdom of the great Creator;  who having given to man foresight; and an ability to lay up for  the future; as well as to supply the present necessity; hath made  it necessary; that society of man and wife should be more  lasting; than of male and female amongst other creatures; that so  their industry might be encouraged; and their interest better  united; to make provision and lay up goods for their common  issue; which uncertain mixture; or easy and frequent solutions of  conjugal society would mightily disturb。      Sec。 81。  But tho'these are ties upon mankind; which make  the conjugal bonds more firm and lasting in man; than the other  species of animals; yet it would give one reaso

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