So that, in effect, there was never the
less left for others because of his enclosure for himself: for he
that leaves as much as another can make use of, does as good as
take nothing at all. No body could think himself injured by the
drinking of another man, though he took a good draught, who had a
whole river of the same water left him to quench his thirst: and
the case of land and water, where there is enough of both, is
perfectly the same.
Sec. 34. God gave the world to men in common; but since he
gave it them for their benefit, and the greatest conveniencies of
life they were capable to draw from it, it cannot be supposed he
meant it should always remain common and uncultivated. He gave
it to the use of the industrious and rational, (and labour was
to be his title to it;) not to the fancy or covetousness of the
quarrelsome and contentious. He that had as good left for his
improvement, as was already taken up, needed not complain, ought
not to meddle with what was already improved by another's labour:
if he did, it is plain he desired the benefit of another's pains,
which he had no right to, and not the ground which God had given
him in common with others to labour on, and whereof there was as
good left, as that already possessed, and more than he knew what
to do with, or his industry could reach to.
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