and might be the possession of any other. Thus, at the beginning, Cain
might take as much ground as he could till, and make it his own land, and
yet leave enough to Abel's sheep to feed on; a few acres would serve for
both their possessions. But as families increased, and industry inlarged
their stocks, their possessions inlarged with the need of them; but yet
it was commonly without any fixed property in the ground they made use
of, till they incorporated, settled themselves together, and built
cities; and then, by consent, they came in time, to set out the bounds of
their distinct territories, and agree on limits between them and their
neighbours; and by laws within themselves, settled the properties of
those of the same society: for we see, that in that part of the world
which was first inhabited, and therefore like to be best peopled, even as
low down as Abraham's time, they wandered with their flocks, and their
herds, which was their substance, freely up and down; and this Abraham
did, in a country where he was a stranger. Whence it is plain, that at
least a great part of the land lay in common; that the inhabitants valued
it not, nor claimed property in any more than they made use of. But when
there was not room enough in the same place, for their herds to feed
together, they by consent, as Abraham and Lot did, Gen. xiii. 5.
separated and inlarged their pasture, where it best liked them. And for
the same reason Esau went from his father, and his brother, and planted
in mount Seir, Gen. xxxvi. 6.
Sec. 39. And thus, without supposing any private dominion, and
property in Adam, over all the world, exclusive of all other men, which
can no way be proved, nor any one's property be made out from it; but
supposing the world given, as it was, to the children of men in common,
we see how labour could make men distinct titles to several parcels of
it, for their private uses; wherein there could be no doubt of right, no
room for quarrel.
Sec. 40. Nor is it so strange, as perhaps before consideration it may