Sect. 14. It is often asked as a mighty objection, where
are, or ever were there any men in such a state of nature? To
which it may suffice as an answer at present, that since all
princes and rulers of independent governments all through the
world, are in a state of nature, it is plain the world never
was, nor ever will be, without numbers of men in that state. I
have named all governors of independent communities, whether
they are, or are not, in league with others: for it is not
every compact that puts an end to the state of nature between
men, but only this one of agreeing together mutually to enter
into one community, and make one body politic; other promises,
and compacts, men may make one with another, and yet still
be in the state of nature. The promises and bargains for truck,
&c. between the two men in the desert island, mentioned by
Garcilasso de la Vega, in his history of Peru; or between a
Swiss and an Indian, in the woods of America, are binding
to them, though they are perfectly in a state of nature, in
reference to one another: for truth and keeping of faith belongs
to men, as men, and not as members of society.
Sect. 15. To those that say, there were never any men in the
state of nature, I will not only oppose the authority of the
judicious Hooker, Eccl. Pol. lib. i.
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