So that there could then be no
reason of quarrelling about title, nor any doubt about the
largeness of possession it gave. Right and conveniency went
together; for as a man had a right to all he could employ his
labour upon, so he had no temptation to labour for more than he
could make use of. This left no room for controversy about the
title, nor for encroachment on the right of others; what portion
a man carved to himself, was easily seen; and it was useless, as
well as dishonest, to carve himself too much, or take more than
he needed.
CHAP. VI.
Of Paternal Power.
Sec. 52. IT may perhaps be censured as an impertinent
criticism, in a discourse of this nature, to find fault with
words and names, that have obtained in the world: and yet
possibly it may not be amiss to offer new ones, when the old are
apt to lead men into mistakes, as this of paternal power
probably has done, which seems so to place the power of parents
over their children wholly in the father, as if the mother
had no share in it; whereas, if we consult reason or revelation,
we shall find, she hath an equal title. This may give one reason
to ask, whether this might not be more properly called parental
power? for whatever obligation nature and the right of
generation lays on children, it must certainly bind them equal to
both the concurrent causes of it.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54