And this power has its original only from compact and
agreement, and the mutual consent of those who make up the
community.
Sec. 172. Thirdly, Despotical power is an absolute,
arbitrary power one man has over another, to take away his life,
whenever he pleases. This is a power, which neither nature
gives, for it has made no such distinction between one man and
another; nor compact can convey: for man not having such an
arbitrary power over his own life, cannot give another man such a
power over it; but it is the effect only of forfeiture, which the
aggressor makes of his own life, when he puts himself into the
state of war with another: for having quitted reason, which God
hath given to be the rule betwixt man and man, and the common
bond whereby human kind is united into one fellowship and
society; and having renounced the way of peace which that
teaches, and made use of the force of war, to compass his unjust
ends upon another, where he has no right; and so revolting from
his own kind to that of beasts, by making force, which is
their's, to be his rule of right, he renders himself liable to be
destroyed by the injured person, and the rest of mankind, that
will join with him in the execution of justice, as any other wild
beast, or noxious brute, with whom mankind can have neither
society nor security*.
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