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second treatise of government-第21章
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ther: and therefore their first care and thought cannot but be supposed to be; how to secure themselves against foreign force。 It was natural for them to put themselves under a frame of government which might best serve to that end; and chuse the wisest and bravest man to conduct them in their wars; and lead them out against their enemies; and in this chiefly be their ruler。 Sec。 108。 Thus we see; that the kings of the Indians in America; which is still a pattern of the first ages in Asia and Europe; whilst the inhabitants were too few for the country; and want of people and money gave men no temptation to enlarge their possessions of land; or contest for wider extent of ground; are little more than generals of their armies; and though they command absolutely in war; yet at home and in time of peace they exercise very little dominion; and have but a very moderate sovereignty; the resolutions of peace and war being ordinarily either in the people; or in a council。 Tho' the war itself; which admits not of plurality of governors; naturally devolves the command into the king's sole authority。 Sec。 109。 And thus in Israel itself; the chief business of their judges; and first kings; seems to have been to be captains in war; and leaders of their armies; which (besides what is signified by going out and in before the people; which was; to march forth to war; and home again in the heads of their forces) appears plainly in the story of lephtha。 The Ammonites making war upon Israel; the Gileadites in fear send to lephtha; a bastard of their family whom they had cast off; and article with him; if he will assist them against the Ammonites; to make him their ruler; which they do in these words; And the people made him head and captain over them; Judg。 xi; ii。 which was; as it seems; all one as to be judge。 And he judged Israel; judg。 xii。 7。 that is; was their captain…general six years。 So when lotham upbraids the Shechemites with the obligation they had to Gideon; who had been their judge and ruler; he tells them; He fought for you; and adventured his life far; and delivered you out of the hands of Midian; Judg。 ix。 17。 Nothing mentioned of him but what he did as a general: and indeed that is all is found in his history; or in any of the rest of the judges。 And Abimelech particularly is called king; though at most he was but their general。 And when; being weary of the ill conduct of Samuel's sons; the children of Israel desired a king; like all the nations to judge them; and to go out before them; and to fight their battles; I。 Sam viii。 20。 God granting their desire; says to Samuel; I will send thee a man; and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel; that he may save my people out of the hands of the Philistines; ix。 16。 As if the only business of a king had been to lead out their armies; and fight in their defence; and accordingly at his inauguration pouring a vial of oil upon him; declares to Saul; that the Lord had anointed him to be captain over his inheritance; x。 1。 And therefore those; who after Saul's being solemnly chosen and saluted king by the tribes at Mispah; were unwilling to have him their king; made no other objection but this; How shall this man save us? v。 27。 as if they should have said; this man is unfit to be our king; not
having skill and conduct enough in war; to be able to defend us。 And when God resolved to transfer the government to David; it is in these words; But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart; and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people; xiii。 14。 As if the whole kingly authority were nothing else but to be their general: and therefore the tribes who had stuck to Saul's family; and opposed David's reign; when they came to Hebron with terms of submission to him; they tell him; amongst other arguments they had to submit to him as to their king; that he was in effect their king in Saul's time; and therefore they had no reason but to receive him as their king now。 Also (say they) in time past; when Saul was king over us; thou wast he that reddest out and broughtest in Israel; and the Lord said unto thee; Thou shalt feed my people Israel; and thou shalt be a captain over Israel。 Sec。 110。 Thus; whether a family by degrees grew up into a common…wealth; and the fatherly authority being continued on to the elder son; every one in his turn growing up under it; tacitly submitted to it; and the easiness and equality of it not offending any one; every one acquiesced; till time seemed to have confirmed it; and settled a right of succession by prescription: or whether several families; or the descendants of several families; whom chance; neighbourhood; or business brought together; uniting into society; the need of a general; whose conduct might defend them against their enemies in war; and the great confidence the innocence and sincerity of that poor but virtuous age; (such as are almost all those which begin governments; that ever come to last in the world) gave men one of another; made the first beginners of commonwealths generally put the rule into one man's hand; without any other express limitation or restraint; but what the nature of the thing; and the end of government required: which ever of those it was that at first put the rule into the hands of a single person; certain it is no body was intrusted with it but for the public good and safety; and to those ends; in the infancies of commonwealths; those who had it commonly used it。 And unless they had done so; young societies could not have subsisted; without such nursing fathers tender and careful of the public weal; all governments would have sunk under the weakness and infirmities of their infancy; and the prince and the people had soon perished together。 Sec。 111。 But though the golden age (before vain ambition; and amor sceleratus habendi; evil concupiscence; had corrupted men's minds into a mistake of true power and honour) had more virtue; and consequently better governors; as well as less vicious subjects; and there was then no stretching prerogative on the one side; to oppress the people; nor consequently on the other; any dispute about privilege; to lessen or restrain the power of the magistrate; and so no contest betwixt rulers and people about governors or goveernment: yet; when ambition and luxury in future ages* would retain and increase the power; without doing the business for which it was given; and aided by flattery; taught princes to have distinct and separate interests from their people; men found it necessary to examine more carefully the original and rights of government; and to find out ways to restrain the exorbitances; and prevent the abuses of that power; which they having intrusted in another's hands only for their own good; they found was made use of to hurt them。 (*At first; when some certain kind of regiment was once approved; it may be nothing was then farther thought upon for the manner of governing; but all permitted unto their wisdom and discretion which were to rule; till by e
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