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concerning civil government-第11部分

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that society; there; and there only; is political society where

every one of the members hath quitted this natural power; resigned

it up into the hands of the community in all cases that exclude him

not from appealing for protection to the law established by it。 And

thus all private judgment of every particular member being excluded;

the community comes to be umpire; and by understanding indifferent

rules and men authorised by the community for their execution; decides

all the differences that may happen between any members of that

society concerning any matter of right; and punishes those offences

which any member hath committed against the society with such

penalties as the law has established; whereby it is easy to discern

who are; and are not; in political society together。 Those who are

united into one body; and have a common established law and judicature

to appeal to; with authority to decide controversies between them

and punish offenders; are in civil society one with another; but those

who have no such common appeal; I mean on earth; are still in the

state of Nature; each being where there is no other; judge for himself

and executioner; which is; as I have before showed it; the perfect

state of Nature。

  88。 And thus the commonwealth comes by a power to set down what

punishment shall belong to the several transgressions they think

worthy of it; committed amongst the members of that society (which

is the power of making laws); as well as it has the power to punish

any injury done unto any of its members by any one that is not of it

(which is the power of war and peace); and all this for the

preservation of the property of all the members of that society; as

far as is possible。 But though every man entered into society has

quitted his power to punish offences against the law of Nature in

prosecution of his own private judgment; yet with the judgment of

offences which he has given up to the legislative; in all cases

where he can appeal to the magistrate; he has given up a right to

the commonwealth to employ his force for the execution of the

judgments of the commonwealth whenever he shall be called to it;

which; indeed; are his own judgements; they being made by himself or

his representative。 And herein we have the original of the legislative

and executive power of civil society; which is to judge by standing

laws how far offences are to be punished when committed within the

commonwealth; and also by occasional judgments founded on the

present circumstances of the fact; how far injuries from without are

to be vindicated; and in both these to employ all the force of all the

members when there shall be need。

  89。 Wherever; therefore; any number of men so unite into one society

as to quit every one his executive power of the law of Nature; and

to resign it to the public; there and there only is a political or

civil society。 And this is done wherever any number of men; in the

state of Nature; enter into society to make one people one body

politic under one supreme government: or else when any one joins

himself to; and incorporates with any government already made。 For

hereby he authorises the society; or which is all one; the legislative

thereof; to make laws for him as the public good of the society

shall require; to the execution whereof his own assistance (as to

his own decrees) is due。 And this puts men out of a state of Nature

into that of a commonwealth; by setting up a judge on earth with

authority to determine all the controversies and redress the

injuries that may happen to any member of the commonwealth; which

judge is the legislative or magistrates appointed by it。 And

wherever there are any number of men; however associated; that have no

such decisive power to appeal to; there they are still in the state of

Nature。

  90。 And hence it is evident that absolute monarchy; which by some

men is counted for the only government in the world; is indeed

inconsistent with civil society; and so can be not form of civil

government at all。 For the end of civil society being to avoid and

remedy those inconveniences of the state of Nature which necessarily

follow from every man's being judge in his own case; by setting up a

known authority to which every one of that society may appeal upon any

injury received; or controversy that may arise; and which every one of

the society ought to obey。* Wherever any persons are who have not such

an authority to appeal to; and decide any difference between them

there; those persons are still in the state of Nature。 And so is every

absolute prince in respect of those who are under his dominion。



  * 〃The public power of all society is above every soul contained

in the same society; and the principal use of that power is to give

laws unto all that are under it; which laws in such cases we must

obey; unless there be reason showed which may necessarily enforce that

the law of reason or of God doth enjoin the contrary。〃 Hooker; Eccl。

Pol。; i。 16。



  91。 For he being supposed to have all; both legislative and

executive; power in himself alone; there is no judge to be found; no

appeal lies open to any one; who may fairly and indifferently; and

with authority decide; and from whence relief and redress may be

expected of any injury or inconveniency that may be suffered from him;

or by his order。 So that such a man; however entitled; Czar; or

Grand Signior; or how you please; is as much in the state of Nature;

with all under his dominion; as he is with the rest of mankind。 For

wherever any two men are; who have no standing rule and common judge

to appeal to on earth; for the determination of controversies of right

betwixt them; there they are still in the state of Nature; and under

all the inconveniencies of it; with only this woeful difference to the

subject; or rather slave of an absolute prince。* That whereas; in

the ordinary state of Nature; he has a liberty to judge of his

right; according to the best of his power to maintain it; but whenever

his property is invaded by the will and order of his monarch; he has

not only no appeal; as those in society ought to have; but; as if he

were degraded from the common state of rational creatures; is denied a

liberty to judge of; or defend his right; and so is exposed to all the

misery and inconveniencies that a man can fear from one; who being

in the unrestrained state of Nature; is yet corrupted with flattery

and armed with power。



  * 〃To take away all such mutual grievances; injuries; and wrongs…

i。e。; such as attend men in the state of Nature; there was no way

but only by growing into composition and agreement amongst

themselves by ordaining some kind of government public; and by

yielding themselves subject thereunto; that unto whom they granted

authority to rule and govern; by them the peace; tranquillity; and

happy estate of the rest might be procured。 Men always knew that where

force and injury was offered; they might be defenders of themselves。

They knew that; however men may seek 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; ibid。 10。



  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 to the contrary。 He that would

have been insolent and injurious in the woods of America would not

probably be much better on 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。

  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 than what every man; who loves his own power;

profit; or greatness; may; and naturally must do; keep those animals

from hurting or destroying one another who labour and drudge only

for his pleasure and advantage; and so are taken care of; not out of

any love the master has for them; but love of himself; and the

profit they bring him。 For if it be asked what security; what fence is

there in such a state against the violence and oppression of this

absolute ruler; the very question can scarce be borne。 They are

ready to tell you that it deserves death only to ask after safety。

Betwixt subject and subject; they will grant; there must be

measures; laws; and judges for their mutual peace and security。 But as

for the ruler; he ought to be absolute; and is above all such

circumstances; because he has a power to do more hurt and wrong; it is

right when he does it。 To ask how you may be guarded from or injury on

that side; where the strongest hand is to do it; is presently the

voice of faction and 

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