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second treatise of government-第21章

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ent to  abide for some time; though; whilst he continued in it; he were  obliged to comply with the laws; and submit to the government he  found there。  And thus we see; that foreigners; by living all  their lives under another government; and enjoying the privileges  and protection of it; though they are bound; even in conscience;  to submit to its administration; as far forth as any denison; yet  do not thereby come to be subjects or members of that common… wealth。  Nothing can make any man so; but his actually entering  into it by positive engagement; and express promise and compact。   This is that; which I think; concerning the beginning of  political societies; and that consent which makes any one a  member of any common…wealth。



                      CHAP。  IX。            Of the Ends of Political Society and Government。

    Sec。 123。  IF man in the state of nature be so free; as has  been said; if he be absolute lord of his own person and  possessions; equal to the greatest; and subject to no body; why  will he part with his freedom? why will he give up this empire;  and subject himself to the dominion and controul of any other  power?  To which it is obvious to answer; that though in the  state of nature he hath such a right; yet the enjoyment of it is  very uncertain; and constantly exposed to the invasion of others:  for all being kings as much as he; every man his equal; and the  greater part no strict observers of equity and justice; the  enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe;  very unsecure。  This makes him willing to quit a condition;  which; however free; is full of fears and continual dangers: and  it is not without reason; that he seeks out; and is willing to  join in society with others; who are already united; or have a  mind to unite; for the mutual preservation of their lives;  liberties and estates; which I call by the general name;  property。      Sec。 124。  The great and chief end; therefore; of men's  uniting into commonwealths; and putting themselves under  government; is the preservation of their property。  To which in  the state of nature there are many things wanting。         First; There wants an established; settled; known law;  received and allowed by common consent to be the standard of  right and wrong; and the common measure to decide all  controversies between them: for though the law of nature be plain  and intelligible to all rational creatures; yet men being biassed  by their interest; as well as ignorant for want of study of it;  are not apt to allow of it as a law binding to them in the  application of it to their particular cases。      Sec。 125。  Secondly; In the state of nature there wants a  known and indifferent judge; with authority to determine all  differences according to the established law: for every one in  that state being both judge and executioner of the law of nature;  men being partial to themselves; passion and revenge is very apt  to carry them too far; and with too much heat; in their own  cases; as well as negligence; and unconcernedness; to make them  too remiss in other men's。

     Sec。 126。  Thirdly; In the state of nature there often wants  power to back and support the sentence when right; and to give it  due execution; They who by any injustice offended; will seldom  fail; where they are able; by force to make good their injustice;  such resistance many times makes the punishment dangerous; and  frequently destructive; to those who attempt it。      Sec。 127。  Thus mankind; notwithstanding all the privileges  of the state of nature; being but in an ill condition; while they  remain in it; are quickly driven into society。  Hence it comes to  pass; that we seldom find any number of men live any time  together in this state。   The inconveniencies that they are  therein exposed to; by the irregular and uncertain exercise of  the power every man has of punishing the transgressions of  others; make them take sanctuary under the established laws of  government; and therein seek the preservation of their property。   It is this makes them so willingly give up every one his single  power of punishing; to be exercised by such alone; as shall be  appointed to it amongst them; and by such rules as the community;  or those authorized by them to that purpose; shall agree on。  And  in this we have the original right and rise of both the  legislative and executive power; as well as of the governments  and societies themselves。      Sec。 128。  For in the state of nature; to omit the liberty  he has of innocent delights; a man has two powers。      The first is to do whatsoever he thinks fit for the  preservation of himself; and others within the permission of the  law of nature: by which law; common to them all; he and all the  rest of mankind are one community; make up one society; distinct  from all other creatures。  And were it not for the corruption and  vitiousness of degenerate men; there would be no need of any  other; no necessity that men should separate from this great and  natural community; and by positive agreements combine into  smaller and divided associations。      The other power a man has in the state of nature; is the  power to punish the crimes committed against that law。  Both  these he gives up; when he joins in a private; if I may so call  it; or particular politic society; and incorporates into any  common…wealth; separate from the rest of mankind。      Sec。 129。  The first power; viz。  of doing whatsoever he  thought for the preservation of himself; and the rest of mankind;  he gives up to be regulated by laws made by the society; so far  forth as the preservation of himself; and the rest of that  society shall require; which laws of the society in many things  confine the liberty he had by the law of nature。      Sec。 130。  Secondly; The power of punishing he wholly gives  up; and engages his natural force; (which he might before employ  in the execution of the law of nature; by his own single  authority; as he thought fit) to assist the executive power of  the society; as the law thereof shall require: for being now in a  new state; wherein he is to enjoy many conveniencies; from the  labour; assistance; and society of others in the same community;  as well as protection from its whole strength; he is to part also  with as much of his natural liberty; in providing for himself; as  the good; prosperity; and safety of the society shall require;  which is not only necessary; but just; since the other members of  the society do the like。      Sec。 131。  But though men; when they enter into society;  give up the equality; liberty; and executive power they had in  the state of nature; into the hands of the society; to be so far  disposed of by the legislative; as the good of the society shall  require; yet it being only with an intention in every one the  better to preserve himself; his liberty and property; (for no  rational creature can be supposed to change his condition with an  intention to be worse) the power of the society; or legislative  constituted by them; can never be supposed to extend farther;  than the common good; but is obliged to secure every one's 

property; by providing against those three defects above  mentioned; that made the state of nature so unsafe and uneasy。   And so whoever has the legislative or supreme power of any  common…wealth; is bound to govern by established standing laws;  promulgated and known to the people; and not by extemporary  decrees; by indifferent and upright judges; who are to decide  controversies by those laws; and to employ the force of the  community at home; only in the execution of such laws; or abroad  to prevent or redress foreign injuries; and secure the community  from inroads and invasion。  And all this to be directed to no  other end; but the peace; safety; and public good of the people。

   

                         CHAP。  X。

             Of the Forms of a Common…wealth。

    Sec。 132。  THE majority having; as has been shewed; upon  men's first uniting into society; the whole power of the  community naturally in them; may employ all that power in making  laws for the community from time to time; and executing those  laws by officers of their own appointing; and

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