Sect. 2. To this purpose, I think it may not be amiss, to
set down what I take to be political power; that the power of a
MAGISTRATE over a subject may be distinguished from that of a
FATHER over his children, a MASTER over his servant, a HUSBAND
over his wife, and a LORD over his slave. All which distinct
powers happening sometimes together in the same man, if he be
considered under these different relations, it may help us to
distinguish these powers one from wealth, a father of a family,
and a captain of a galley.
Sect. 3. POLITICAL POWER, then, I take to be a RIGHT of
making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less
penalties, for the regulating and preserving of property, and of
employing the force of the community, in the execution of such
laws, and in the defence of the common-wealth from foreign
injury; and all this only for the public good.
C H A P. I I.
Of the State of Nature.
Sect. 4. TO understand political power right, and derive it
from its original, we must consider, what state all men are
naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order
their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as
they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without
asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.
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