Leviathan

This E text was prepared from the Pelican Classics edition of Leviathan, which in turn was prepared...

Nature the art whereby God hath made and governes the world is by the art of man, as in many other...

But the Philosophy schooles, through all the Universities of Christendome, grounded upon certain...

The most difficult discerning of a mans Dream, from his waking thoughts, is then, when by some...

The Trayn of regulated Thoughts is of two kinds; One, when of an effect imagined, wee seek the...

The Invention of Printing, though ingenious, compared with the invention of Letters, is no great...

But the use of words in registring our thoughts, is in nothing so evident as in Numbering. A...

Fourthly, we bring into account, consider, and give names, to Names themselves, and to Speeches....

Out of all which we may define, that is to say determine, what that is, which is meant by this word...

The second cause of Absurd assertions, I ascribe to the giving of names of Bodies, to Accidents; or...

To conclude, The Light of humane minds is Perspicuous Words, but by exact definitions first...

Those things which we neither Desire, nor Hate, we are said to Contemne. CONTEMPT being nothing els...

Of Pleasures, or Delights, some arise from the sense of an object Present; And those may be called...

Sudden Glory Laughter Sudden glory, is the passion which maketh those Grimaces called LAUGHTER; and...

Therefore of things past, there is no Deliberation; because manifestly impossible to be changed....

The form of speech whereby men signifie their opinion of the Goodnesse of anything is PRAISE. That...

Vertue generally, in all sorts of subjects, is somewhat that is valued for eminence; and consisteth...

And in any Discourse whatsoever, if the defect of Discretion be apparent, how extravagant soever...

And therefore, a man who has no great Passion for any of these things; but is as men terme it...

The opinions of the world, both in antient and later ages, concerning the cause of madnesse, have...

Naturall Power, is the eminence of the Faculties of Body, or Mind. as extraordinary Strength,...

To give great gifts to a man, is to Honour him; because tis buying of Protection, and acknowledging...

Timely Resolution, or determination of what a man is to do, is Honourable; as being the contempt of...

WORTHINESSE, is a thing different from the worth, or value of a man; and also from his merit, or...

To have received from one, to whom we think our selves equall, greater benefits than there is hope...

Want of Science, that is, Ignorance of causes, disposeth, or rather constraineth a man to rely on...

Curiosity, or love of the knowledge of causes, draws a man from consideration of the effect, to...

This perpetuall feare, alwayes accompanying mankind in the ignorance of causes, as it were in the...

And for that part of Religion, which consisteth in opinions concerning the nature of Powers...

The True Religion, And The Lawes Of Gods Kingdome The Same But where God himselfe, by supernaturall...

All which causes of the weakening of mens faith, do manifestly appear in the Examples following....

And from this diffidence of one another, there is no way for any man to secure himselfe, so...

But though there had never been any time, wherein particular men were in a condition of warre one...

And consequently it is a precept, or generall rule of Reason, That every man, ought to endeavour...

When the transferring of Right, is not mutuall; but one of the parties transferreth, in hope to...

But in a civill estate, where there is a Power set up to constrain those that would otherwise...

Covenants entred into by fear, in the condition of meer Nature, are obligatory. For example, if I...

From that law of Nature, by which we are obliged to transferre to another, such Rights, as being...

Others, that allow for a Law of Nature, the keeping of Faith, do neverthelesse make exception of...

A fifth Law of Nature, is COMPLEASANCE; that is to say, That every man strive to accommodate...

And from this followeth another law, That such things as cannot be divided, be enjoyed in Common,...

And though this may seem too subtile a deduction of the Lawes of Nature, to be taken notice of by...

The word Person is latine. instead whereof the Greeks have Prosopon, which signifies the Face, as...

Likewise Children, Fooles, and Mad men that have no use of Reason, may be Personated by Guardians,...

Or if the number be odde, as three, or more, men, or assemblies; whereof every one has by a...

It is true, that certain living creatures, as Bees, and Ants, live sociably one with another, which...

And in him consisteth the Essence of the Common wealth; which to define it, is One Person, of whose...

Fiftly, and consequently to that which was sayd last, no man that hath Soveraigne power can justly...

Eleventhly, to the Soveraign is committed the Power of Rewarding with riches, or honour; and of...

The difference of Common wealths, consisteth in the difference of the Soveraign, or the Person...

Sixtly, that it is an inconvenience in Monarchie, that the Soveraigntie may descend upon an Infant,...

In an Aristocracy, when any of the Assembly dyeth, the election of another into his room belongeth...

A Common wealth by Acquisition, is that, where the Soveraign Power is acquired by Force; And it is...

He that hath the Dominion over the Child, hath Dominion also over their Childrens Children. For he...

Let us now consider what the Scripture teacheth in the same point. To Moses, the children of Israel...

Liberty and Necessity are Consistent. As in the water, that hath not only Liberty, but a Necessity...

First therefore, seeing Soveraignty by Institution, is by Covenant of every one to every one; and...

As for other Lyberties, they depend on the silence of the Law. In cases where the Soveraign has...

If a Monarch subdued by war, render himself Subject to the Victor; his Subjects are delivered from...

For though in the Institution or Acquisition of a Common wealth, which is independent, there needs...

Sometimes Lawful; But Against Soveraign Power Never It is manifest by this, that in Bodies...

If the Common wealth impose a Tax upon the Body, it is understood to be layd upon every member...

The Leagues of Subjects, because Leagues are commonly made for mutuall defence, are in a Common...

Of Publique Ministers, some have charge committed to them of a general Administration, either of...

Publique Ministers are also all those, that have Authority from the Soveraign, to procure the...

In this Distribution, the First Law, is for Division of the Land it selfe. wherein the Soveraign...

The Conduits, and Wayes by which it is conveyed to the Publique use, are of two sorts; One, that...

EXHORTATION, and DEHORTATION, is Counsell, accompanied with signes in him that giveth it, of...

Fourthly, to be able to give Counsell to a Common wealth, in a businesse that hath reference to...

1. The Legislator in all Common wealths, is only the Soveraign, be he one Man, as in a Monarchy, or...

8. From this, that the Law is a Command, and a Command consisteth in declaration, or manifestation...

If the question be of Obedience to a publique Officer; To have seen his Commission, with the...

In written Lawes, men use to make a difference between the Letter, and the Sentence of the Law. And...

Another division of Lawes, is into Naturall and Positive. Naturall are those which have been Lawes...

Likewise Lawes and Charters are taken promiscuously for the same thing. Yet Charters are Donations...

But when a penalty, is either annexed to the Crime in the Law it selfe, or hath been usually...

And that such as have a great, and false opinion of their own Wisedome, take upon them to reprehend...

The want of means to know the Law, totally Excuseth. For the Law whereof a man has no means to...

The same Fact done against the Law, if it proceed from Presumption of strength, riches, or friends...

Also Facts of Hostility against the present state of the Common wealth, are greater Crimes, than...

Thirdly, that the evill inflicted by publique Authority, without precedent publique condemnation,...

Tenthly, Hurt inflicted on the Representative of the Common wealth, is not Punishment, but an act...

Exile, Banishment is when a man is for a crime, condemned to depart out of the dominion of the...

Though nothing can be immortall, which mortals make; yet, if men had the use of reason they pretend...

A Fifth doctrine, that tendeth to the Dissolution of a Common wealth, is, That every private man...

Hitherto I have named such Diseases of a Common wealth, as are of the greatest, and most present...

The OFFICE of the Soveraign, be it a Monarch, or an Assembly, consisteth in the end, for which he...

Secondly, they are to be taught, that they ought not to be led with admiration of the vertue of any...

The safety of the People, requireth further, from him, or them that have the Soveraign Power, that...

The Perspicuity, consisteth not so much in the words of the Law it selfe, as in a Declaration of...

But when the Soveraign himselfe is Popular, that is, reverenced and beloved of his People, there is...

This question, Why Evill men often Prosper, and Good men suffer Adversity, has been much disputed...

The End of Worship amongst men, is Power. For where a man seeth another worshipped he supposeth him...

Concerning the actions of Divine Worship, it is a most generall Precept of Reason, that they be...

But seeing a Common wealth is but one Person, it ought also to exhibite to God but one Worship;...

Therefore, when any thing therein written is too hard for our examination, wee are bidden to...

By the Books of Holy SCRIPTURE, are understood those, which ought to be the Canon, that is to say,...

As for the two Books of the Kings, and the two books of the Chronicles, besides the places which...

When Joel and Malachi prophecyed, is not evident by their Writings. But considering the...

Which question cannot bee resolved, without a more particular consideration of the Kingdome of God;...

In the Book of Judges, an extraordinary Zeal, and Courage in the defence of Gods people, is called...

Likewise these words Luke 4.1. And Jesus full of the Holy Ghost that is, as it is exprest, Mat....

Also Exod.14.9. the Angel that went before the Army of Israel to the Red Sea, and then came behind...

To the contrary, I find the KINGDOME OF GOD, to signifie in most places of Scripture, a Kingdome...

Again, 1 Sam. 12.12. where Samuel saith to the People, When yee saw that Nahash King of the...

Therefore the Sabbath Gods day is a Holy Day; the Temple, Gods house a Holy House; Sacrifices,...

Secondly, for the effect of his Word; that is to say, for the thing it self, which by his Word is...

Onely to Moses hee spake in a more extraordinary manner in Mount Sinai, and in the Tabernacle; and...

All which ways he used also in the New Testament. To the Virgin Mary, by a Vision of an Angel. To...

Furthermore, seeing Admiration and Wonder, is consequent to the knowledge and experience, wherewith...

For such is the ignorance, and aptitude to error generally of all men, but especially of them that...

As the Kingdome of God, and Eternall Life, so also Gods Enemies, and their Torments after Judgment,...

And because by the Enemy, the Accuser, and Destroyer, is meant, the Enemy of them that shall be in...

From this that hath been said of the Kingdom of God, and of Salvation, it is not hard to interpret,...

The Father of the Faithfull, and first in the Kingdome of God by Covenant, was Abraham. For with...

There was no Prophet in the time of Moses, nor pretender to the Spirit of God, but such as Moses...

We find in Holy Scripture three parts of the Office of the Messiah. the first of a Redeemer, or...

Again, our Saviour resembled Moses in the institution of Sacraments, both of Admission into the...

I have shewn already in the last Chapter, that the Kingdome of Christ is not of this world....

He, that to maintain every doctrine which he himself draweth out of the History of our Saviours...

The Use and Effect of Excommunication, whilest it was not yet strengthened with the Civill Power,...

Nor is the Excommunication of a Christian Subject, that obeyeth the laws of his own Soveraign,...

There be two senses, wherein a Writing may be said to be Canonicall; for Canon, signifieth a Rule;...

But the question here, is not what any Christian made a Law, or Canon to himself, which he might...

Amongst the Officers Magisteriall, the first, and principall were the Apostles; whereof there were...

The same is also confirmed by the continuall practise even to this day, in the Election of the...

After our Saviours Ascension, the Christians of every City lived in Common, Acts 4. 34. upon the...

If a man therefore should ask a Pastor, in the execution of his Office, as the chief Priests and...

From this consolidation of the Right Politique, and Ecclesiastique in Christian Soveraigns, it is...

The second Book hath two Conclusions. One, that S. Peter was Bishop of Rome, and there dyed. The...

The fourth place is that of Exod. 28.30. Thou shalt put in the Breastplate of Judgment, the Urim...

The fourth place John 20.21. is against him. The words are, As my Father sent me, so send I you....

And that of 2 Thess. 3.14. If any man Obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no...

The second argument, is from the nature of Monarchy; wherein all Authority is in one Man, and in...

Before I come to consider the Arguments by which hee would prove this doctrine, it will not bee...

The third Argument is this; It is not lawfull for Christians to tolerate an Infidel, or Haereticall...

The most frequent praetext of Sedition, and Civill Warre, in Christian Common wealths hath a long...

It is manifest, therefore, that Christian men doe not know, but onely beleeve the Scripture to be...

The fourth Argument is taken from places expresse, and such as receive no controversie of...

Whether Christian, Having thus shewn what is Necessary to Salvation; it is not hard to reconcile...

Consequent to this Errour, that the present Church is Christs Kingdome, there ought to be some one...

The like incantation, in stead of Consecration, is used also in the Sacrament of Baptisme. Where...

But they that require an exact interpretation of this text, let them interpret first the like words...

I have shewed already, that the Kingdome of God by Christ beginneth at the day of Judgment. That in...

A third place is that of 1 Cor. 15. before mentioned, concerning Baptisme for the Dead. out of...

This nature of Sight having never been discovered by the ancient pretenders to Naturall Knowledge;...

Neverthelesse, the contrary Doctrine, namely, that there be Incorporeall Spirits, hath hitherto so...

And whereas a man can fancy Shapes he never saw; making up a Figure out of the parts of divers...

Whereas there be, that pretend Divine Inspiration, to be a supernaturall entring of the Holy Ghost...

Seeing therefore there is no authority, neither in the Law of Moses, nor in the Gospel, for the...