69. The first part then of paternal power, or rather
duty, which is education, belongs so to the father, that it
terminates at a certain season; when the business of education is
over, it ceases of itself, and is also alienable before: for a
man may put the tuition of his son in other hands; and he that
has made his son an apprentice to another, has discharged him,
during that time, of a great part of his obedience both to
himself and to his mother. But all the duty of honour, the
other part, remains never the less entire to them; nothing can
cancel that: it is so inseparable from them both, that the
father's authority cannot dispossess the mother of this right,
nor can any man discharge his son from honouring her that bore
him. But both these are very far from a power to make laws, and
enforcing them with penalties, that may reach estate, liberty,
limbs and life. The power of commanding ends with nonage; and
though, after that, honour and respect, support and defence,
and whatsoever gratitude can oblige a man to, for the highest
benefits he is naturally capable of, be always due from a son to
his parents; yet all this puts no scepter into the father's hand,
no sovereign power of commanding. He has no dominion over his
son's property, or actions; nor any right, that his will should
prescribe to his son's in all things; however it may become his
son in many things, not very inconvenient to him and his family,
to pay a deference to it.
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