(*To take away all such mutual grievances, injuries and
wrongs, i.e. such as attend men in the state of nature, there was
no way but only by growing into composition and agreement amongst
themselves, by ordaining some kind of govemment public, and by
yielding themselves subject thereunto, that unto whom they
granted authority to rule and govem, by them the peace,
tranquillity and happy estate of the rest might be procured. Men
always knew that where force and injury was offered, they might
be defenders of themselves; they knew that however men may seek
their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury unto
others, it was not to be suffered, but by all men, and all good
means to be withstood. Finally, they knew that no man might in
reason take upon him to determine his own right, and according to
his own determination proceed in maintenance thereof, in as much
as every man is towards himself, and them whom he greatly
affects, partial; and therefore that strifes and troubles would
be endless, except they gave their common consent, all to be
ordered by some, whom they should agree upon, without which
consent there would be no reason that one man should take upon
him to be lord or judge over another, Hooker's Eccl. Pol. l. i.
sect. 10.)
Sec. 92. For he that thinks absolute power purifies men's
blood, and corrects the baseness of human nature, need read but
the history of this, or any other age, to be convinced of the
contrary.
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