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Show M". OfMAN. ClMpJS. by the breach ofthcir Covenant , andto make good that Propri ety, which by mutuallContraét men mum, in recompence of the univerfall Rightthey abandon: and fuch power there 15 none before the erection ofa Common-wealth. And this is alfo to be gathered out of the ordinary definition of Juftice in the Schooles: For they fay, that fifiuflke is the confhmt Wifl of gmamg to every. man I)»: onm. And therefore where there is no 0am, that is, no Propriety, there is no Injuflice 5 and where there is no‘ coe‘rceive .Power crested , that is, where there is no Commbn-wea lth, there is no Propriety -, all men having Right to allthings : Therefore where there is no‘ Common- wealth, there nothinv‘ is llnjuit. So that the nature of jui‘tice, con- fifteth in keeping Ofpva'lld Covenants .: but the Validity of Cove- nants begins not but with the Confiitution of a'ClVlll Power,fuffiCi- jiaflit‘e not ( 'n-rrar} ta Rut/W. ent to compcll men to keep them : And then it IS alfo that Propriety begins. . a _ The Poole hath fayd in his heart, there 15 no fuch thing as Juftice ; and fometimes alfo with his tongue, ferioufly alleaging, that every mans confervation, and contentment, being commi tted to his own care, there could be no reafon, wh every man might thought conduced thereunto : and] therefore alfo not do what he to make, or not make 3 keep, or n0t keep Covenants, was not again it conduced to ones benefit. He does nottherein fi Reafon, when deny, that there be Covenants -, and that the are fometimes broken, fometimes kept ; and that fuch breach of them may be called vance.,of them Juftice : but he quefiioneth, Injuftice, and the obferwhether Injuflice, taking away the feare of God, (for the fame Foole hath faid in his heart there is no God, ) may n0t fometinies dietateth to ever man his own"good {land with that Reafon, which conduceth to fuc a benefit, as all -, and particularly then, when it put a man in a condition, to negleét not onelythe difpraife, and revili ngs,but alfo the power of other men. The Kingdome of God is gotten by violence : but what if it could be gotten by unjuft Violence 2' were it againft Reafon fo to get it, when it is impolfible to receive hurt byit f and if it be not againi t lleafon, it is not againft juflice : or elfe jufiice is not to be approved ‘ violation of Fai for the getting of a Kingdome.th-,yet haVe alloWed it, when it is 34mm was depofed by his fon And the Heathenthat believed, that yupitcr, believed neverthel fame flfpltcr to be the avenge r of Injufiice : Somewhat elfe the piece of Law in Color Com like to a mentaries on Liz/etonwhere he fa es It the right Heire of the Cr own be attainted of 'l‘rea Crown ihall defcend to fon- etythc; him, and win/lame the Atteynder beyvo d ‘ From which inflances a ma Wllgntlic Heire ap a-rent n will be very prone to inferre - fliai of a Kingdome, ihall kill pollelfion, though is father him T'lS in ycall it Injuftice, orth' Other name you will; yet ~ d what by it can never be againit Reafon voluntary actions of me ,feeing all the n ten d to the benefit 0f themfe tliole aetions are mol lves‘; and t Reafonable, tli at co nduce moi} to the ir ends Part1. OfMflN. Chap". ends. This fpeeious reafoning is neverthelelie falfe. . For the queiti on is not of promifes mutuall, where there is no. feunity of performance on either fide-7 as when there Is .no ClVllrl Power erected over the parties promifing; for fuch ptomif C0venants: But either where one of the parties has perfoes are no rmed already; or where there is a Power to make him perfo rme; there is the quefiion whether it be againit reafon , that is, againfl the benefit of the other to performe, or nor. And I fay it is not againfl reafon. For the manifei'tation whereof, we are to confider; Firfl, that when a man doth athing, which notwithf'tanding any thing can be foree feen, and reckoned on, tendeth to his own defirué forne accident which he could not expect, arriving tion, howfoevcr benefit -,yet fuch events do not make it reafonablymay turne it to his or wifely done. Secondly, that in a condition of Warre , wherein every man to every man, for want of acommon Power to keep them all in awe, is an'Enemy, there is no man can hOpe by own firength, or wit, to defend himfelfe from deftruétion, withouthis the help ofConfederates ; where every one expeéts the fame defence by the Confederation, that any one elfe does : and therefore he which declar es he thinks it rea- fan to deceive thofc that help him, can in reafon ex 6% no other means of fafety, than what can be had from He there fore that breakcth his Covenant, andhis own ingle Power. that he thinks he may with reafon do fo, cannotconfequently declareth be received into any Society, that unite themfelves for Peace and Defence, but by the errour of them that receive him ,nor when nedinit, without feeing the danger of theirhe is received, be tetayerrour; which errours a man cannot reafonably reckon upon as the means of his fecurity : and therefore if he be left, or cafe out of and if he live in Society, it is by the errours Society, he periiheth; could not forefee, nor reckon u n 5 and of othetmen, which he confequently againft the reafon of his prefervation -, and o, as all his deitmétiomforbearhim onely out of men that contribute not to ignorance of what is good for themfelves. As for the Infiance of gaining the fecure and perpetual! felicity of lleaven, b , any way; it is frivolous: there being but one way imaginable -, an that is not breaki ng, but keeping ofCovenant. And for the other Inflancc of attaining Sova'aianty by Rebellion , it is manifel't, that though the event follow, yet becaufe it cannot reafon ably beexpefied , but rather the contra ry; and becaufe b gaining it f0, Others are taught to gain the fame in like manner, the attempt thereof is againft reafon. Jufltce therefore, that is to fa , KeepinO of Covenant, is a Rule of Reaf dcn to duo any thing deftrutftive to our lifeon, by which we are forbi ‘5 and confequently a Law of N ature. There be fome that proceed fuither -, Nature, to be thofc Rules which cond life on earth; but to the attaining of an 7 which they think the breach of Covenant may conduce; and confe< quemly be jufi and reafonable -, ( fuch are they that think it a work of merit |