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's Eccl. Pol. l. i. sect. 10.)
Sec. 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 of the contrary. He that would have
been insolent and injurious in the woods of America, would not probably
be much better in 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.
Sec. 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