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riches； exceedingly beyond the greatest part of the sons of Adam； is so far from being an excuse； much less a reason； for rapine and oppression； which the endamaging another without authority is； that it is a great aggravation of it： for the exceeding the bounds of authority is no more a right in a great； than in a petty officer； no more justifiable in a king than a constable； but is so much the worse in him； in that he has more trust put in him； has already a much greater share than the rest of his brethren； and is supposed； from the advantages of his education； employment； and counsellors； to be more knowing in the measures of right and wrong。 Sec。 203。 May the commands then of a prince be opposed？ may he be resisted as often as any one shall find himself aggrieved； and but imagine he has not right done him？ This will unhinge and overturn all polities； and； instead of government and order； leave nothing but anarchy and confusion。 Sec。 204。 To this I answer； that force is to be opposed to nothing； but to unjust and unlawful force； whoever makes any opposition in any other case； draws on himself a just condemnation both from God and man； and so no such danger or confusion will follow； as is often suggested： for； Sec。 205。 First； As； in some countries； the person of the prince by the law is sacred； and so； whatever he commands or does； his person is still free from all question or violence； not liable to force； or any judicial censure or condemnation。 But
yet opposition may be made to the illegal acts of any inferior officer； or other commissioned by him； unless he will； by actually putting himself into a state of war with his people； dissolve the government； and leave them to that defence which belongs to every one in the state of nature： for of such things who can tell what the end will be？ and a neighbour kingdom has shewed the world an odd example。 In all other cases the sacredness of the person exempts him from all inconveniencies； whereby he is secure； whilst the government stands； from all violence and harm whatsoever； than which there cannot be a wiser constitution： for the harm he can do in his own person not being likely to happen often； nor to extend itself far； nor being able by his single strength to subvert the laws； nor oppress the body of the people； should any prince have so much weakness； and ill nature as to be willing to do it； the inconveniency of some particular mischiefs； that may happen sometimes； when a heady prince comes to the throne； are well recompensed by the peace of the public； and security of the government； in the person of the chief magistrate； thus set out of the reach of danger： it being safer for the body； that some few private men should be sometimes in danger to suffer； than that the head of the republic should be easily； and upon slight occasions； exposed。 Sec。 206。 Secondly； But this privilege； belonging only to the king's person； hinders not； but they may be questioned； opposed； and resisted； who use unjust force； though they pretend a commission from him； which the law authorizes not； as is plain in the case of him that has the king's writ to arrest a man； which is a full commission from the king； and yet he that has it cannot break open a man's house to do it； nor execute this command of the king upon certain days； nor in certain places； though this commission have no such exception in it； but they are the limitations of the law； which if any one transgress； the king's commission excuses him not： for the king's authority being given him only by the law； he cannot impower any one to act against the law； or justify him； by his commission； in so doing； the commission； or command of any magistrate； where he has no authority； being as void and insignificant； as that of any private man； the difference between the one and the other； being that the magistrate has some authority so far； and to such ends； and the private man has none at all： for it is not the commission； but the authority； that gives the right of acting； and against the laws there can be no authority。 But； notwithstanding such resistance； the king's person and authority are still both secured； and so no danger to governor or government； Sec。 207。 Thirdly； Supposing a government wherein the person of the chief magistrate is not thus sacred； yet this doctrine of the lawfulness of resisting all unlawful exercises of his power； will not upon every slight occasion indanger him； or imbroil the government： for where the injured party may be relieved； and his damages repaired by appeal to the law； there can be no pretence for force； which is only to be used where a man is intercepted from appealing to the law： for nothing is to be accounted hostile force； but where it leaves not the remedy of such an appeal； and it is such force alone； that puts him that uses it into a state of war； and makes it lawful to resist him。 A man with a sword in his hand demands my purse in the high…way； when perhaps I have not twelve pence in my pocket： this man I may lawfully kill。 To another I deliver lool。 to hold only whilst I alight； which he refuses to restore me； when I am got up again； but draws his sword to defend the possession of it by force； if I endeavour to retake it。 The mischief this man does me is a hundred； or possibly a thousand times more than the other perhaps intended me （whom I killed before he really did me any）； and yet I might lawfully kill the one； and cannot so much as hurt the other lawfully。 The reason whereof is plain； because the one
using force； which threatened my life； I could not have time to appeal to the law to secure it： and when it was gone； it was too late to appeal。 The law could not restore life to my dead carcass： the loss was irreparable； which to prevent； the law of nature gave me a right to destroy him； who had put himself into a state of war with me； and threatened my destruction。 But in the other case； my life not being in danger； I may have the benefit of appealing to the law； and have reparation for my lool。 that way。 Sec。 208。 Fourthly； But if the unlawful acts done by the magistrate be maintained （by the power he has got）； and the remedy which is due by law； be by the same power obstructed； yet the right of resisting； even in such manifest acts of tyranny； will not suddenly； or on slight occasions； disturb the government： for if it reach no farther than some private men's cases； though they have a right to defend themselves； and to recover by force what by unlawful force is taken from them； yet the right to do so will not easily engage them in a contest； wherein they are sure to perish； it being as impossible for one； or a few oppressed men to disturb the government； where the body of the people do not think themselves concerned in it； as for a raving mad…man； or heady malcontent to overturn a well settled state； the people being as little apt to follow the one； as the other。 Sec。 209。 But if either these illegal acts have extended to the majority of the people； or if the mischief and oppression has lighted only on some few； but in such case