concerning civil government-第17章
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those to whom they had given the authority over them； and of balancing
the power of government by placing several parts of it in different
hands。 They had neither felt the oppression of tyrannical dominion；
nor did the fashion of the age； nor their possessions or way of
living； which afforded little matter for covetousness or ambition；
give them any reason to apprehend or provide against it； and；
therefore； it is no wonder they put themselves into such a frame of
government as was not only； as I said； most obvious and simple； but
also best suited to their present state and condition； which stood
more in need of defence against foreign invasions and injuries than of
multiplicity of laws where there was but very little property； and
wanted not variety of rulers and abundance of officers to direct and
look after their execution where there were but few trespassers and
few offenders。 Since； then； those who liked one another so well as
to join into society cannot but be supposed to have some
acquaintance and friendship together； and some trust one in another；
they could not but have greater apprehensions of others than of one
another； and； therefore； their first care and thought cannot but be
supposed to be； how to secure themselves against foreign force。 It was
natural for them to put themselves under a frame of government which
might best serve to that end； and choose the wisest and bravest man to
conduct them in their wars and lead them out against their enemies；
and in this chiefly be their ruler。
108。 Thus we see that the kings of the Indians； in America； which is
still a pattern of the first ages in Asia and Europe； whilst the
inhabitants were too few for the country； and want of people and money
gave men no temptation to enlarge their possessions of land or contest
for wider extent of ground； are little more than generals of their
armies； and though they command absolutely in war； yet at home； and in
time of peace； they exercise very little dominion； and have but a very
moderate sovereignty； the resolutions of peace and war being
ordinarily either in the people or in a council； though the war
itself； which admits not of pluralities of governors； naturally
evolves the command into the king's sole authority。
109。 And thus； in Israel itself； the chief business of their
judges and first kings seems to have been to be captains in war and
leaders of their armies； which （besides what is signified by 〃going
out and in before the people；〃 which was； to march forth to war and
home again at the heads of their forces） appears plainly in the
story of Jephtha。 The Ammonites making war upon Israel； the
Gileadites； in fear； send to Jephtha； a bastard of their family；
whom they had cast off； and article with him； if he will assist them
against the Ammonites； to make him their ruler； which they do in these
words： 〃And the people made him head and captain over them〃 （Judges
11。 11）； which was； as it seems； all one as to be judge。 〃And he
judged Israel〃 （Judges 12。 7）… that is； was their captain…general…
〃six years。〃 So when Jotham upbraids the Shechemites with the
obligation they had to Gideon； who had been their judge and ruler；
he tells them： 〃He fought for you； and adventured his life for； and
delivered you out of the hands of Midian〃 （Judges 9。 17）。 Nothing
mentioned of him but what he did as a general； and； indeed； that is
all is found in his history； or in any of the rest of the judges。
And Abimelech particularly is called king； though at most he was but
their general。 And when； being weary of the ill…conduct of Samuel's
sons； the children of Israel desired a king； 〃like all the nations； to
judge them； and to go out before them； and to fight their battles〃
（1 Sam。 8。 20）； God； granting their desire； says to Samuel； 〃I will
send thee a man； and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my
people Israel； that he may save my people out of the hands of the
Philistines〃 （ch。 9。 16）。 As if the only business of a king had been
to lead out their armies and fight in their defence； and； accordingly；
at his inauguration； pouring a vial of oil upon him； declares to
Saul that 〃the Lord had anointed him to be captain over his
inheritance〃 （ch。 10。 1）。 And therefore those who； after Saul being
solemnly chosen and saluted king by the tribes at Mispah； were
unwilling to have him their king； make no other objection but this；
〃How shall this man save us？〃 （ch。 10。 27）； as if they should have
said： 〃This man is unfit to be our king； not having skill and
conduct enough in war to be able to defend us。〃 And when God
resolved to transfer the government to David； it is in these words：
〃But now thy kingdom shall not continue： the Lord hath sought Him a
man after His own heart； and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain
over His people〃 （ch。 13。 14。）。 As if the whole kingly authority
were nothing else but to be their general； and therefore the tribes
who had stuck to Saul's family； and opposed David's reign； when they
came to Hebron with terms of submission to him； they tell him； amongst
other arguments； they had to submit to him as to their king； that he
was； in effect； their king in Saul's time； and therefore they had no
reason but to receive him as their king now。 〃Also；〃 say they； 〃in
time past； when Saul was king over us； thou wast he that leddest out
and broughtest in Israel； and the Lord said unto thee； Thou shalt feed
my people Israel； and thou shalt be a captain over Israel。〃
110。 Thus； whether a family； by degrees； grew up into a
commonwealth； and the fatherly authority being continued on to the
elder son； every one in his turn growing up under it tacitly submitted
to it； and the easiness and equality of it not offending any one；
every one acquiesced till time seemed to have confirmed it and settled
a right of succession by prescription； or whether several families； or
the descendants of several families； whom chance； neighbourhood； or
business brought together； united into society； the need of a
general whose conduct might defend them against their enemies in
war； and the great confidence the innocence and sincerity of that poor
but virtuous age； such as are almost all those which begin governments
that ever come to last in the world； gave men one of another； made the
first beginners of commonwealths generally put the rule into one man's
hand； without any other express limitation or restraint but what the
nature of the thing and the end of government required。 It was given
them for the public good and safety； and to those ends； in the
infancies of commonwealths； they commonly used it； and unless they had
done so； young societies could not have subsisted。 Without such
nursing fathers； without this care of the governors； all governments
would have sunk under the weakness and infirmities of their infancy；
the prince and the people had soon perished together。
111。 But the golden age （though before vain ambition； and amor
sceleratus habendi； evil concupiscence had corrupted men's minds
into a mistake of true power and honour） had more virtue； and
consequently better governors； as well as less vicious subjects； and
there was then no stretching prerogative on the one side to oppress
the people； nor； consequently； on the other； any dispute about
privilege； to lessen or restrain the power of the magistrate； and so
no contest betwixt rulers and people about governors or government。*
Yet； when ambition and luxury； in future ages； would retain and
increase the power； without doing the business for which it was given；
and aided by flattery； taught princes to have distinct and separate
interests from their people； men found it necessary to examine more
carefully the original and rights of government； and to find out
ways to restrain the exorbitances and prevent the abuses of that
power； which they having entrusted in another's hands； only for
their own good； they found was made use of to hurt them。
* 〃At the first； when some certain kind of regimen was once
approved； it may be that nothing was then further thought upon for t
