that society； there； and there only； is political society where
every one of the members hath quitted this natural power； resigned
it up into the hands of the community in all cases that exclude him
not from appealing for protection to the law established by it。 And
thus all private judgment of every particular member being excluded；
the community comes to be umpire； and by understanding indifferent
rules and men authorised by the community for their execution； decides
all the differences that may happen between any members of that
society concerning any matter of right； and punishes those offences
which any member hath committed against the society with such
penalties as the law has established； whereby it is easy to discern
who are； and are not； in political society together。 Those who are
united into one body； and have a common established law and judicature
to appeal to； with authority to decide controversies between them
and punish offenders； are in civil society one with another； but those
who have no such common appeal； I mean on earth； are still in the
state of Nature； each being where there is no other； judge for himself
and executioner； which is； as I have before showed it； the perfect
state of Nature。
88。 And thus the commonwealth comes by a power to set down what
punishment shall belong to the several transgressions they think
worthy of it； committed amongst the members of that society （which
is the power of making laws）； as well as it has the power to punish
any injury done unto any of its members by any one that is not of it
（which is the power of war and peace）； and all this for the
preservation of the property of all the members of that society； as
far as is possible。 But though every man entered into society has
quitted his power to punish offences against the law of Nature in
prosecution of his own private judgment； yet with the judgment of
offences which he has given up to the legislative； in all cases
where he can appeal to the magistrate； he has given up a right to
the commonwealth to employ his force for the execution of the
judgments of the commonwealth whenever he shall be called to it；
which； indeed； are his own judgements； they being made by himself or
his representative。 And herein we have the original of the legislative
and executive power of civil society； which is to judge by standing
laws how far offences are to be punished when committed within the
commonwealth； and also by occasional judgments founded on the
present circumstances of the fact； how far injuries from without are
to be vindicated； and in both these to employ all the force of all the
members when there shall be need。
89。 Wherever； therefore； any number of men so unite into one society
as to quit every one his executive power of the law of Nature； and
to resign it to the public； there and there only is a political or
civil society。 And this is done wherever any number of men； in the
state of Nature； enter into society to make one people one body
politic under one supreme government： or else when any one joins
himself to； and incorporates with any government already made。 For
hereby he authorises the society； or which is all one； the legislative
thereof； to make laws for him as the public good of the society
shall require； to the execution whereof his own assistance （as to
his own decrees） is due。 And this puts men out of a state of Nature
into that of a commonwealth； by setting up a judge on earth with
authority to determine all the controversies and redress the
injuries that may happen to any member of the commonwealth； which
judge is the legislative or magistrates appointed by it。 And
wherever there are any number of men； however associated； that have no
such decisive power to appeal to； there they are still in the state of
Nature。
90。 And hence it is evident that absolute monarchy； which by some
men is counted for the only government in the world； is indeed
inconsistent with civil society； and so can be not form of civil
government at all。 For the end of civil society being to avoid and
remedy those inconveniences of the state of Nature which necessarily
follow from every man's being judge in his own case； by setting up a
known authority to which every one of that society may appeal upon any
injury received； or controversy that may arise； and which every one of
the society ought to obey。* Wherever any persons are who have not such
an authority to appeal to； and decide any difference between them
there； those persons are still in the state of Nature。 And so is every
absolute prince in respect of those who are under his dominion。
* 〃The public power of all society is above every soul contained
in the same society； and the principal use of that power is to give
laws unto all that are under it； which laws in such cases we must
obey； unless there be reason showed which may necessarily enforce that
the law of reason or of God doth enjoin the contrary。〃 Hooker； Eccl。
Pol。； i。 16。
91。 For he being supposed to have all； both legislative and
executive； power in himself alone； there is no judge to be found； no
appeal lies open to any one； who may fairly and indifferently； and
with authority decide； and from whence relief and redress may be
expected of any injury or inconveniency that may be suffered from him；
or by his order。 So that such a man； however entitled； Czar； or
Grand Signior； or how you please； is as much in the state of Nature；
with all under his dominion； as he is with the rest of mankind。 For
wherever any two men are； who have no standing rule and common judge
to appeal to on earth； for the determination of controversies of right
betwixt them； there they are still in the state of Nature； and under
all the inconveniencies of it； with only this woeful difference to the
subject； or rather slave of an absolute prince。* That whereas； in
the ordinary state of Nature； he has a liberty to judge of his
right； according to the best of his power to maintain it； but whenever
his property is invaded by the will and order of his monarch； he has
not only no appeal； as those in society ought to have； but； as if he
were degraded from the common state of rational creatures； is denied a
liberty to judge of； or defend his right； and so is exposed to all the
misery and inconveniencies that a man can fear from one； who being
in the unrestrained state of Nature； is yet corrupted with flattery
and armed with power。
* 〃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 government public； and by
yielding themselves subject thereunto； that unto whom they granted
authority to rule and govern； 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； ibid。 10。
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 to the contrary。 He that would
have been insolent and injurious in the woods of America would not
probably be much better on a throne； where perhaps learning and
religion shall be found out to justify all that he shall do to his
subjects； and the sword presently silence all those that dare question
it。 For what the protection of absolute monarchy is； what kind of
fathers of their countries it makes princes to be； and to what a
degree of happiness and security it carries civil society； where
this sort of government is grown to perfection； he that will look into
the late relation of Ceylon may easily see。
93。 In absolute monarchies； indeed； as well as other governments
of the world； the subjects have an appeal to the law； and judges to
decide any controversies； and restrain any violence that may happen
betwixt the subjects themselves； one amongst another。 This every one
thinks necessary； and believes； he deserves to be thought a declared
enemy to society and mankind who should go about to take it away。
But whether this be from a true love of mankind and society； and
such a charity as we owe all one to another； there is reason to doubt。
For this is no more than what every man； who loves his own power；
profit； or greatness； may； and naturally must do； keep those animals
from hurting or destroying one another who labour and drudge only
for his pleasure and advantage； and so are taken care of； not out of
any love the master has for them； but love of himself； and the
profit they bring him。 For if it be asked what security； what fence is
there in such a state against the violence and oppression of this
absolute ruler； the very question can scarce be borne。 They are
ready to tell you that it deserves death only to ask after safety。
Betwixt subject and subject； they will grant； there must be
measures； laws； and judges for their mutual peace and security。 But as
for the ruler； he ought to be absolute； and is above all such
circumstances； because he has a power to do more hurt and wrong； it is
right when he does it。 To ask how you may be guarded from or injury on
that side； where the strongest hand is to do it； is presently the
voice of faction and