Sec. 128. For in the state of nature, to omit the liberty
he has of innocent delights, a man has two powers.
The first is to do whatsoever he thinks fit for the
preservation of himself, and others within the permission of the
law of nature: by which law, common to them all, he and all the
rest of mankind are one community, make up one society, distinct
from all other creatures. And were it not for the corruption and
vitiousness of degenerate men, there would be no need of any
other; no necessity that men should separate from this great and
natural community, and by positive agreements combine into
smaller and divided associations.
The other power a man has in the state of nature, is the
power to punish the crimes committed against that law. Both
these he gives up, when he joins in a private, if I may so call
it, or particular politic society, and incorporates into any
common-wealth, separate from the rest of mankind.
Sec. 129. The first power, viz. of doing whatsoever he
thought for the preservation of himself, and the rest of mankind,
he gives up to be regulated by laws made by the society, so far
forth as the preservation of himself, and the rest of that
society shall require; which laws of the society in many things
confine the liberty he had by the law of nature.
Sec. 130. Secondly, The power of punishing he wholly gives
up, and engages his natural force, (which he might before employ
in the execution of the law of nature, by his own single
authority, as he thought fit) to assist the executive power of
the society, as the law thereof shall require: for being now in a
new state, wherein he is to enjoy many conveniencies, from the
labour, assistance, and society of others in the same community,
as well as protection from its whole strength; he is to part also
with as much of his natural liberty, in providing for himself, as
the good, prosperity, and safety of the society shall require;
which is not only necessary, but just, since the other members of
the society do the like.
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