Howbeit, this is not the only
kind of regiment that has been received in the world. The
inconveniences of one kind have caused sundry others to be
devised; so that in a word, all public regiment, of what kind
soever, seemeth evidently to have risen from the deliberate
advice, consultation and composition between men, judging it
convenient and behoveful; there being no impossibility in nature
considered by itself, but that man might have lived without any
public regiment, Hooker's Eccl. Pol. lib. i. sect. 10.)
Sec. 75. Thus it was easy, and almost natural for children,
by a tacit, and scarce avoidable consent, to make way for the
father's authority and government. They had been accustomed in
their childhood to follow his direction, and to refer their
little differences to him, and when they were men, who fitter to
rule them? Their little properties, and less covetousness,
seldom afforded greater controversies; and when any should arise,
where could they have a fitter umpire than he, by whose care they
had every one been sustained and brought up, and who had a
tenderness for them aII? It is no wonder that they made no
distinction betwixt minority and full age; nor looked after one
and twenty, or any other age that might make them the free
disposers of themselves and fortunes, when they could have no
desire to be out of their pupilage: the government they had been
under, during it, continued still to be more their protection
than restraint; and they could no where find a greater security
to their peace, liberties, and fortunes, than in the rule of a
father.
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