right that every man hath to his natural freedom； without being
subjected to the will or authority of any other man。
55。 Children； I confess； are not born in this full state of
equality； though they are born to it。 Their parents have a sort of
rule and jurisdiction over them when they come into the world； and for
some time after； but it is but a temporary one。 The bonds of this
subjection are like the swaddling clothes they are wrapt up in and
supported by in the weakness of their infancy。 Age and reason as
they grow up loosen them； till at length they drop quite off； and
leave a man at his own free disposal。
56。 Adam was created a perfect man； his body and mind in full
possession of their strength and reason； and so was capable from the
first instance of his being to provide for his own support and
preservation； and govern his actions according to the dictates of
the law of reason God had implanted in him。 From him the world is
peopled with his descendants； who are all born infants； weak and
helpless； without knowledge or understanding。 But to supply the
defects of this imperfect state till the improvement of growth and age
had removed them； Adam and Eve； and after them all parents were； by
the law of Nature； under an obligation to preserve； nourish and
educate the children they had begotten； not as their own
workmanship； but the workmanship of their own Maker； the Almighty；
to whom they were to be accountable for them。
57。 The law that was to govern Adam was the same that was to
govern all his posterity； the law of reason。 But his offspring
having another way of entrance into the world； different from him；
by a natural birth； that produced them ignorant； and without the use
of reason； they were not presently under that law。 For nobody can be
under a law that is not promulgated to him； and this law being
promulgated or made known by reason only； he that is not come to the
use of his reason cannot be said to be under this law； and Adam's
children being not presently as soon as born under this law of reason；
were not presently free。 For law； in its true notion； is not so much
the limitation as the direction of a free and intelligent agent to his
proper interest； and prescribes no farther than is for the general
good of those under that law。 Could they be happier without it； the
law； as a useless thing； would of itself vanish； and that ill deserves
the name of confinement which hedges us in only from bogs and
precipices。 So that however it may be mistaken； the end of law is
not to abolish or restrain； but to preserve and enlarge freedom。 For
in all the states of created beings； capable of laws； where there is
no law there is no freedom。 For liberty is to be free from restraint
and violence from others； which cannot be where there is no law； and
is not； as we are told； 〃a liberty for every man to do what he lists。〃
For who could be free； when every other man's humour might domineer
over him？ But a liberty to dispose and order freely as he lists his
person； actions； possessions； and his whole property within the
allowance of those laws under which he is； and therein not to be
subject to the arbitrary will of another； but freely follow his own。
58。 The power； then； that parents have over their children arises
from that duty which is incumbent on them； to take care of their
offspring during the imperfect state of childhood。 To inform the mind；
and govern the actions of their yet ignorant nonage； till reason shall
take its place and ease them of that trouble； is what the children
want； and the parents are bound to。 For God having given man an
understanding to direct his actions； has allowed him a freedom of will
and liberty of acting； as properly belonging thereunto within the
bounds of that law he is under。 But whilst he is in an estate
wherein he has no understanding of his own to direct his will； he is
not to have any will of his own to follow。 He that understands for him
must will for him too； he must prescribe to his will； and regulate his
actions； but when he comes to the estate that made his father a free
man； the son is a free man too。
59。 This holds in all the laws a man is under； whether natural or
civil。 Is a man under the law of Nature？ What made him free of that
law？ what gave him a free disposing of his property； according to
his own will； within the compass of that law？ I answer； an estate
wherein he might be supposed capable to know that law； that so he
might keep his actions within the bounds of it。 When he has acquired
that state； he is presumed to know how far that law is to be his
guide； and how far he may make use of his freedom； and so comes to
have it； till then； somebody else must guide him； who is presumed to
know how far the law allows a liberty。 If such a state of reason； such
an age of discretion made him free； the same shall make his son free
too。 Is a man under the law of England？ what made him free of that
law… that is； to have the liberty to dispose of his actions and
possessions； according to his own will； within the permission of
that law？ a capacity of knowing that law。 Which is supposed； by that
law； at the age of twenty…one； and in some cases sooner。 If this
made the father free； it shall make the son free too。 Till then； we
see the law allows the son to have no will； but he is to be guided
by the will of his father or guardian； who is to understand for him。
And if the father die and fail to substitute a deputy in this trust；
if he hath not provided a tutor to govern his son during his minority；
during his want of understanding； the law takes care to do it： some
other must govern him and be a will to him till he hath attained to
a state of freedom； and his understanding be fit to take the
government of his will。 But after that the father and son are
equally free； as much as tutor and pupil； after nonage； equally
subjects of the same law together； without any dominion left in the
father over the life； liberty； or estate of his son； whether they be
only in the state and under the law of Nature； or under the positive
laws of an established government。
60。 But if through defects that may happen out of the ordinary
course of Nature； any one comes not to such a degree of reason wherein
he might be supposed capable of knowing the law； and so living
within the rules of it； he is never capable of being a free man； he is
never let loose to the disposure of his own will； because he knows
no bounds to it； has not understanding； its proper guide； but is
continued under the tuition and government of others all the time
his own understanding is incapable of that charge。 And so lunatics and
idiots are never set free from the government of their parents：
〃Children who are not as yet come unto those years whereat they may
have； and innocents； which are excluded by a natural defect from
ever having。〃 Thirdly： 〃Madmen； which； for the present； cannot
possibly have the use of right reason to guide themselves； have； for
their guide； the reason that guideth other men which are tutors over
them； to seek and procure their good for them；〃 says Hooker （Eccl。
Pol。； lib。 i。； s。 7）。 All which seems no more than that duty which God
and Nature has laid on man； as well as other creatures； to preserve
their offspring till they can be able to shift for themselves； and
will scarce amount to an instance or proof of parents' regal
authority。
61。 Thus we are born free as we are born rational； not that we
have actually the exercise of either： age that brings one； brings with
it the other too。 And thus we see how natural freedom and subjection
to parents may consist together； and are both founded on the same
principle。 A child is free by his father's title； by his father's
understanding； which is to govern him till he hath it of his own。
The freedom of a man at years of discretion； and the subjection of a
child to his parents； whilst yet short of it； are so consistent and so
distinguishable that the most blinded contenders for monarchy； 〃by
right of fatherhood；〃 cannot miss of it； the most obstinate cannot but
allow of it。 For were their doctrine all true； were the right heir
of Adam now known； and； by that title； settled a monarch in his
throne； invested with all the absolute unlimited power Sir Robert
Filmer talks of； if he should die as soon as his heir were born；
must not the child； notwithstanding he were never so free； never so
much sovereign； be in subjection to his mother and nurse； to tutors
and governors； till age and education brought him reason and ability
to govern himself and others？ The necessities of his life； the
health of his body； and the information of his mind would require
him to be directed by the will of others and not his own； and yet will
any one think that this restraint and subjection were inconsistent
with； or spoiled him of； that liberty or sovereignty he had a right
to； or gave away his empire to those who had the government of his
nonage？ This government over him only prepared him the better and
sooner for it。 If anybody should ask me when my son is of age to be
free； I shall answer； just when his monarch is of age to govern。
〃But at what time；〃 says the judicious Hooker （Eccl。 Pol。； lib。 i。； s。
6）； 〃a man may be said to have attained so far forth the use of reason
as sufficeth to make him capable of those laws whereby he is then
bound to guide his actions； this is a great deal more easy for sense
to discern than for any one； by skill and learning； to determine。〃
62。 Commonwealths themselves take notice of； and allow that there is
a time when men are to begin to act like free men； and therefore； till
that time； require not oaths of fealty or allegiance； or other
public owning of； or submission to； the government of their countries。
63。 The freedom then of man； and liberty of acting according to
his own will； is grounded on his having reason； which is able to
instruct him in that law he is to govern himself by； and make him know
how far he is left to the freedom of his own will。 To turn him loose
to an unres