All which are so many testimonies against paternal
sovereignty, and plainly prove, that it was not the natural right
of the father descending to his heirs, that made governments in
the beginning, since it was impossible, upon that ground, there
should have been so many little kingdoms; all must have been but
only one universal monarchy, if men had not been at liberty to
separate themselves from their families, and the government, be
it what it will, that was set up in it, and go and make distinct
commonwealths and other governments, as they thought fit.
Sec. 116. This has been the practice of the world from its
first beginning to this day; nor is it now any more hindrance to
the freedom of mankind, that they are born under constituted and
ancient polities, that have established laws, and set forms of
government, than if they were born in the woods, amongst the
unconfined inhabitants, that run loose in them: for those, who
would persuade us, that by being born under any government, we
are naturally subjects to it, and have no more any title or
pretence to the freedom of the state of nature, have no other
reason (bating that of paternal power, which we have already
answered) to produce for it, but only, because our fathers or
progenitors passed away their natural liberty, and thereby bound
up themselves and their posterity to a perpetual subjection to
the government, which they themselves submitted to.
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