A treatise of civil policy

P. Prelate. Obj. 2. Every man by nature hath immunity and liberty from despotical and herill Empire, and so may dispose of his own at will, and cannot enslave himself without his own free will; but God hath laid and cannot enslave himself without his own free will; but God hath laid a necessity on all men to be under government, and nature also laid this necessity on him, therefore this sovereignty cannot protect us in righteousness and honesty, except it be entirely endowed with sovereign power to preserve it self, and protect us.

P. Prelat. Obj. 2. Every man by nature hath immunity and liberty from despoticall and herill Empire, and so may dispose of his owne at will, and cannot inslave himselfe without his owne free will; but God hath laid and cannot inslave himselfe without his owne free will; but God hath laid a necessity on all men to be under government, and nature also laid this necessity on him, therefore this soveraignty cannot protect us in righteousnesse and honesty, except it be intirely indowed with soveraigne power to preserve it selfe, and protect us.

Ans. The Prelate here deserteth his own consequence, which is strong against himself, for if a man be naturally subject to his fathers superior, as he said before, why is not the son of a slave naturally subject to his fathers superior & master? 2. As a man may not make away his liberty without his own consent, so can he not without his own consent give his liberty to be subject to penal Laws, under a Prince without his own consent, either in his fathers or in the representative society in which he liveth. 3. God and nature hath laid a necessity on all men to be under government, a natural necessity from the womb to be under some government, to wit, a paternal government, that is true; but under this government politic, and namely under sovereignty, it is false; and that is but said, for why is he naturally under sovereignty rather then Aristocracy? I believe any of the three forms are freely chosen by any society 4. It is false that one cannot defend the people, except he have entire power, that is to say, he cannot do good, except he have a vast power to do both good and ill.

Ans. The Prelate here deserteth his owne consequence, which is strong against himselfe, for if a man be naturally subject to his fathers superiour, as he said before, why is not the sonne of a slave naturally subiect to his fathers superiour & master? 2. As a man may not make away his liberty without his own consent, so can he not without his owne consent give his liberty to be subject to penall Lawes, under a Prince without his owne consent, either in his fathers or in the representative society in which he liveth. 3. God and nature hath laid a necessity on all men to be under government, a naturall necessity from the wombe to be under some government, to wit, a paternall government, that is true; but under this government politique, and namely under soveraignty, it is false; and that is but said, for why is he naturally under soveraignty rather then Aristocracy? I beleeve any of the three formes are freely chosen by any society 4. It is false that one cannot defend the people, except he have intire power, that is to say, he cannot doe good, except he have a vast power to doe both good and ill.