The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

By Government I mean, the exercise of the moral means of ⟨p. 39⟩Laws and Execution, by a Ruler,¹ for the right ordering of the Subjects actions, to the good of the Society, and the honour of the Governor.

By Government I mean, the exercise of the moral means of ⟨p. 39⟩Laws and Execution, by a Ruler,¹ for the right ordering of the Subjects actions, to the good of the Society, and the honour of the Governour.

1. 1Omnium quae in hominum doctorum disputatione versantur, nihil est profecto praestabilius, quàm plane intelligi nos ad justitiam esse natos; neque opinione sed naturâ, constitutum esse jus. Id jam patebit, si hominum inter ipsos societatem conjunctionemque prospexeris, &c. Cicer. de Leg. 1. pag. 221.

I distinguish Laws from all mere natural motions and necessitation: for though analogically the Shepherd is said to rule his Sheep, and the Rider his Horse, yea, and the Pilot his Ship, and the Plough-man his Plough, and the Archer his Arrow: yet this is but equivocally called Government, and is not that which we here mean, which is the proposal of duty, seconded with rewards or punishment for the neglects, by those in authority, for the right governing of those that are committed to their care and trust. So that it is not all moral means neither which is called Government, for the instruction or persuasion of an Equal is not such. Laws, and Judgment, and Execution are the constitutive parts of Government. But by Laws I mean the whole kind, and not only written Laws, nor those only which are made by Sovereign Rulers of Common-wealths, which by excellency are called Laws: but I mean, The signification of the will of a Governor, making the subjects duty, and determining of Rewards to the obedient, and punishments to the disobedient. Or, [An authoritative constitution de debito officii, praemii & poenae, for the ends of Government.] So that as Parents, and Tutors, and Masters, do truly govern as well as Kings; so they have truly Laws, though not in such eminency as the Laws of Republics. The will of a Parent, a Tutor, or Master, manifested concerning duty, is truly a Law to a Child, a Scholar, or a Servant. If any dislike the use of the word [Law] in so large a sense, it sufficeth now for me to tell them in what sense I use it, and so it will serve to the understanding of my mind. I take it for such an Instrument of Government. The parts of it are, 1. The constituting of the debitum officii, or what shall be due from the Subject. 2. The constituting the debitum praemii vel poenae, or what shall be due to the Subject, which is in order to the promoting of obedience, though as to the performances obedience may be in order to the reward. Now that man is a creature made to be governed, by such a proper moral Government, I prove.