TO MY MOST HONOR'D FRIEND MR. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN, OF GODOLPHIN. HONOR'D SIR, Your most worthy brother, Mr. SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleased to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with real testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthiness of his person. For there is not any virtue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his country, to civil society,or private friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inherent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore, in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to yourself, I humbly dedicate unto you this my discourse of Commonwealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend, on one side for too great liberty, and on the other side for too much authority, 't is hard to pass between the points of both unwounded. But yet, methinks, the VOL. III. A THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. endeavour to advance the civil power, should not be by the civil power condemned ; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but, in the abstract, of the seat of power, (like to those simple and unpartial creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noise defended those within it, not because they were they, but there), offending none, I think, but those without, or such within, if there be any such, as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain texts of Holy Scripture, alleged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also, in order to my subject, necessarily; for they are the outworks of the enemy, from whence they impugn the civil power. If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decried, you may be pleased to excuse yourself, and say, I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your brother, and honour you, and have presumed on that, to assume the title, without your knowledge, of being, as I am, SIR, THOMAS HOBBES. Paris, April 15 1651. THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS. THE FIRST PART.-OF MAN. СВАР. . *PAGE. 3. Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations 6. Of the Interior Beginnings of Voluntary Motions, commonly called the Passions; and the Speeches by which they are 7. Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse 8. Of the Virtues, commonly called Intellectual; and their con- 9. Of the Several Subjects of Knowledge 10. Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour, and Worthiness 11. Of the Difference of Manners 13. Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as concerning their 14. Of the First and Second Natural Laws, and of Contract 116 74 . 85 THE SECOND PART.-OF COMMONWEALTH. . 17. Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Commonwealth 153 18. Of the Rights of Sovereigns by Institution . 19. Of the several kinds of Commonwealth by Institution; and of Succession to the Sovereign Power 20. Of Dominion Paternal, and Despotical 21. Of the Liberty of Subjects 22. Of Systems Subject, Political, and Private . 23. Of the Public Ministers of Sovereign Power . THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS. 27. Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations 28. Of Punishments, and Rewards 29. Of those things that weaken, or tend to the Dissolution of a THE THIRD PART OF A CHRISTIAN COMMONWEALTH. 32. Of the Principles of Christian Politics 33. Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture 34. Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration, in the 35. Of the Signification in Scripture of the Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament 36. Of the Word of God, and of Prophets 37. Of Miracles, and their Use 38. Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Sal- vation, the World to Come, and Redemption 39. Of the Signification in Scripture of the word Church 40. Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High-Priests, and the Kings of Judah 41. Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour 42. Of Power Ecclesiastical .. 43. Of what is Necessary for a Man's Reception into the King- THE FOURTH PART.-OF THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. |
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