Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	king_n	law_n	positive_a	3,676	5	11.2679	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59467	The great law of nature, or, Self-preservation examined, asserted and vindicated from Mr. Hobbes his abuses in a small discourse, part moral, part political and part religious.	Shafte, J.	1673 (1673)	Wing S2888; ESTC R21245	35,879	106

mistake_v if_o any_o man_n will_v deliberate_o propose_v this_o end_n of_o government_n adjudge_v mr._n hobbes_n his_o monarchical_a tyranny_n to_o be_v such_o that_o be_v for_o all_o man_n to_o submit_v their_o life_n estate_n and_o all_o their_o concern_v only_o to_o the_o will_n and_o pleasure_n of_o one_o man_n and_o he_o to_o be_v sole_a proprietor_n and_o lawful_a disposer_n of_o they_o all_o without_o do_v wrong_a or_o prejudice_n to_o any_o nay_o as_o it_o seem_v by_o his_o principle_n without_o possibility_n of_o do_v any_o injustice_n injury_n or_o evil_n such_o a_o absolute_a power_n in_o any_o one_o man_n hand_n be_v too_o great_a and_o unsafe_a unless_o we_o can_v suppose_v he_o always_o the_o best_a of_o man_n or_o little_o less_o than_o some_o divinity_n but_o suppose_v he_o be_v or_o become_v fool_n or_o madman_n or_o get_v some_o distemper_n in_o his_o brain_n either_o by_o sickness_n or_o any_o other_o accident_n how_o shall_v such_o a_o one_o manage_v the_o sword_n of_o justice_n with_o a_o equal_a hand_n his_o will_v and_o desire_n may_v be_v the_o same_o with_o caligula_n that_o all_o the_o people_n of_o his_o jurisdiction_n have_v but_o one_o head_n that_o he_o may_v cut_v they_o all_o off_o at_o one_o blow_n or_o the_o like_a fume_n of_o madness_n melancholy_a or_o extravagancy_n and_o certain_o no_o man_n have_v the_o use_n of_o reason_n whilst_o he_o see_v and_o know_v himself_o and_o all_o his_o concern_v in_o this_o life_n subject_n to_o the_o will_n humour_n and_o extravagancy_n of_o such_o a_o one_o can_v think_v he_o live_v happy_o or_o comfortable_o though_o he_o yet_o see_v the_o threaten_a dark_a storm_n fall_v beside_o himself_o if_o it_o be_v urge_v that_o if_o we_o do_v make_v a_o king_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o make_v he_o with_o a_o limit_a power_n because_o if_o there_o be_v any_o other_o power_n in_o be_v that_o can_v check_v and_o control_v he_o that_o power_n be_v saperiour_a to_o he_o and_o therefore_o he_o but_o a_o subject_n to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o he_o may_v have_v a_o power_n limit_v by_o the_o rule_n of_o natural_a justice_n and_o fquity_n which_o oblige_v all_o man_n king_n and_o other_o not_o to_o do_v wrong_n and_o limit_v also_o by_o positive_a and_o national_a law_n or_o express_v covenant_n to_o which_o he_o may_v be_v oblige_v by_o oath_n promise_v or_o covenant_n and_o such_o a_o limitation_n i_o only_o mean_v which_o be_v a_o sufficient_a obligation_n and_o restraint_n to_o a_o good_a and_o just_a or_o any_o reasonable_a and_o wise_a prince_n in_o a_o aristocratical_a government_n though_o there_o be_v not_o so_o much_o danger_n that_o all_o the_o ruler_n may_v agree_v together_o to_o destroy_v or_o abuse_v their_o subject_n yet_o do_v self-end_n and_o interest_n carry_v they_o very_o often_o upon_o project_n and_o private_a design_n and_o beget_v faction_n dangerous_a and_o of_o fatal_a consequence_n to_o the_o public_a a_o democratical_a government_n be_v most_o difficult_a to_o be_v continue_v some_z not_o withstand_v all_o caution_n and_o care_n of_o prevention_n grow_v more_o eminent_a and_o powerful_a than_o the_o rest_n and_o spur_v by_o ambition_n attempt_v the_o subversion_n or_o disturbance_n of_o the_o government_n and_o often_o at_o last_o grow_v too_o powerful_a for_o the_o commonwealth_n and_o change_v the_o face_n of_o the_o democratical_a into_o a_o monarchical_a government_n as_o in_o the_o roman_a commonwealth_n do_v caesar_n etc._n etc._n to_o avoid_v the_o inconvenience_n of_o each_o several_a species_n it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o well_o compound_a government_n as_o that_o of_o england_n be_v the_o best_a under_o which_o it_o be_v most_o manifest_a that_o the_o people_n live_v the_o most_o happy_o i_o mean_v all_o sort_n and_o degree_n the_o commons_o as_o well_o as_o the_o lord_n of_o any_o nation_n in_o the_o world_n where_o though_o there_o be_v one_o monarch_n and_o the_o government_n resemble_v that_o applaud_v by_o mr._n hobbes_n yet_o do_v he_o not_o pretend_v to_o that_o absolute_a arbitrary_a and_o unlimited_a power_n mr._n hobbes_n will_v give_v his_o prince_n the_o law_n and_o legislative_a power_n be_v not_o sole_o posit_v in_o he_o without_o the_o concurrence_n and_o consent_n of_o the_o people_n by_o their_o representative_n though_o the_o execution_n of_o they_o only_o be_v in_o the_o king_n with_o other_o royalty_n and_o prerogative_n whereby_o he_o be_v sufficient_o enable_v to_o do_v justice_n among_o his_o subject_n and_o defend_v they_o against_o the_o strong_a of_o his_o and_o their_o enemy_n and_o though_o if_o you_o respect_v absolute_a power_n abstract_n from_o justice_n it_o be_v in_o the_o king_n to_o pervert_v these_o law_n establish_v at_o least_o as_o to_o the_o execution_n of_o they_o yet_o with_o justice_n he_o can_v do_v it_o nor_o without_o imminent_a danger_n to_o himself_o and_o his_o people_n for_o though_o subject_n ought_v not_o to_o take_v upon_o they_o to_o oppose_v and_o resist_v their_o prince_n action_n whether_o just_a or_o injust_a as_o have_v beer_n say_v otherwise_o then_o by_o petition_n or_o refuse_v to_o be_v the_o minister_n of_o these_o injust_a command_n and_o such_o doctrine_n they_o ought_v to_o be_v well_o instruct_v in_o with_o the_o reason_n thereof_o yet_o be_v it_o very_o difficult_a to_o impose_v this_o belief_n upon_o man_n for_o each_o man_n natural_o think_v himself_o concern_v as_o a_o subject_a to_o a_o high_a prince_n than_o any_o upon_o earth_n viz._n the_o god_n and_o creator_n of_o all_o thing_n to_o maintain_v and_o uphold_v the_o eternal_a law_n of_o that_o king_n of_o king_n so_o that_o where_o a_o prince_n the_o great_a in_o the_o world_n do_v a_o act_n of_o apparent_a wrong_n and_o injustice_n or_o which_o be_v so_o construe_v and_o apprehend_v all_o party_n so_o understand_v and_o apprehend_v it_o do_v thereby_o conceive_v the_o majesty_n of_o that_o great_a king_n offend_v and_o consequent_o consider_v also_o the_o case_n to_o be_v of_o a_o general_a concernment_n and_o may_v be_v their_o own_o they_o desire_v and_o wish_v to_o see_v such_o irregularity_n as_o they_o conceive_v they_o reform_v and_o thereupon_o often_o engage_v in_o the_o quarrel_n unadvised_o and_o precipitately_a as_o be_v both_o god_n and_o their_o own_o private_a and_o that_o of_o all_o the_o world_n beside_o wherein_o to_o die_v a_o martyr_n must_v meed_n be_v meritorious_a not_o consider_v that_o the_o thing_n which_o they_o conceive_v to_o be_v unjust_a may_v not_o withstand_v be_v most_o just_a and_o reasonable_a and_o the_o error_n not_o in_o their_o prince_n but_o in_o their_o own_o private_a opinion_n and_o judgement_n and_o not_o consider_v that_o if_o the_o prince_n do_v pervert_v justice_n etc._n etc._n yet_o those_o particular_a act_n wherein_o he_o do_v so_o will_v not_o be_v of_o so_o bad_a a_o consequence_n to_o the_o commonwealth_n as_o the_o remedy_n they_o do_v attempt_v viz._n a_o civil_a war_n which_o if_o so_o then_o be_v they_o themselves_o guilty_a of_o a_o great_a injustice_n in_o bring_v great_a calamity_n upon_o a_o nation_n to_o avoid_v the_o lesser_a and_o what_o great_a calamity_n can_v be_v then_o such_o a_o war_n now_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n of_o england_n be_v such_o that_o beside_o the_o old_a law_n approve_v by_o many_o age_n of_o experience_n no_o new_a law_n bind_v the_o people_n which_o be_v not_o or_o have_v not_o be_v ratify_v by_o their_o own_o consent_n the_o king_n therefore_o that_o be_v to_o rule_v according_a to_o those_o law_n wi●●_n certain_o be_v more_o cautious_a in_o observe_v that_o they_o be_v put_v in_o execution_n then_o ●_o he_o be_v leave_v at_o liberty_n and_o unconfined●_n and_o his_o own_o imperial_a command_n or_o e●dicts_n be_v only_o and_o single_o to_o be_v account_v law_n the_o diversity_n betwixt_o such_o a_o government_n as_o this_o of_o we_o and_o such_o a_o tyrannical_a government_n a●_n mr._n hobbes_n speak_v of_o be_v this_o i●_n we_o the_o people_n can_v say_v we_o have_v agree_v and_o submit_v to_o such_o and_o such_o law_n and_o no_o other_o and_o by_o these_o we_o desire_v to_o be_v rule_v and_o if_o you_o govern_v or_o handl●_n we_o otherwise_o you_o do_v we_o apparent_a wrong_n and_o let_v god_n and_o your_o own_o conscience_n judge_v betwixt_o we_o and_o you●_n whether_o you_o observe_v as_o you_o be_v oblige_v by_o the_o mutual_a covenant_n and_o engagement_n betwixt_o we_o and_o you_o but_o in_o these_o absolute_a monarchical_a tyranny_n there_o be_v no_o such_o mutual_a compact_n or_o agreement_n betwixt_o the_o sovereign_n and_o the_o people_n no_o positive_a law_n but_o the_o prince_n command_n or_o edict_n and_o the_o people_n agree_v or_o have_v agree_v to_o be_v subject_a to_o such_o a_o kind_n of_o government_n have_v no_o other_o will_v then_o that_o ●f_n their_o

to_o be_v absolute_o tyrannical_a yet_o de_fw-la facto_fw-la they_o be_v not_o so_o for_o in_o the_o first_o place_n each_o of_o these_o country_n have_v its_o religion_n establish_v and_o certain_a beside_o custom_n which_o arbitrary_o to_o alter_v be_v not_o in_o the_o power_n of_o any_o the_o great_a prince_n among_o they_o second_o though_o the_o prince_n may_v according_a to_o the_o custumes_n of_o some_o of_o those_o country_n by_o their_o high_a prerogative_n and_o without_o infringe_v any_o positive_a law_n take_v away_o the_o estate_n or_o life_n of_o any_o the_o great_a subject_n without_o any_o legal_a proceed_n or_o good_a cause_n show_v or_o real_a guilt_n contrary_a to_o the_o law_n here_o with_o we_o and_o so_o often_o do_v yet_o be_v it_o not_o in_o their_o power_n to_o change_v the_o soul_n of_o man_n and_o make_v they_o approve_v and_o like_v well_o of_o such_o injustice_n and_o wrong_n hence_o it_o be_v that_o further_a than_o their_o absolute_a power_n maintain_v by_o the_o strength_n of_o a_o military_a force_n will_v uphold_v they_o to_o exercise_v these_o tyrannical_a action_n they_o neither_o can_v nor_o dare_n do_v they_o but_o the_o awe_n of_o the_o soldiery_n who_o interest_n such_o prince_n have_v common_o link_v with_o their_o own_o arbitrary_a dominion_n and_o who_o advantage_n usual_o arise_v out_o of_o the_o oppression_n o●_n the_o people_n and_o the_o custom_n whereby_o the_o people_n have_v be_v enure_v to_o such_o subjection_n make_v many_o such_o oppression_n and_o tyranny_n to_o pass_v with_o less_o opposition_n or_o disturbance_n but_o than_o be_v not_o this_o prince_n so_o arbitrary_a in_o his_o government_n as_o be_v suppose_v for_o he_o can_v do_v nothing_o but_o what_o shall_v be_v like_v and_o approve_v of_o by_o his_o army_n or_o soldiery_n with_o who_o he_o must_v always_o carry_v fair_a oblige_v gratify_v and_o please_v they_o and_o even_o they_o further_a than_o their_o own_o interest_n do_v bias_n and_o incline_v they_o will_v never_o be_v draw_v to_o countenance_n and_o maintain_v open_a injustice_n injury_n and_o oppression_n and_o the_o prince_n be_v himself_o in_o the_o power_n of_o these_o by_o who_o power_n he_o tyrannise_v over_o his_o people_n and_o that_o it_o be_v so_o be_v often_o experience_a they_o cast_v he_o off_o upon_o any_o displeasure_n conceive_v and_o set_v up_o who_o they_o please_v but_o by_o reason_n it_o have_v be_v usual_a with_o the_o subject_n of_o such_o prince_n to_o be_v thus_o tyrannize_v over_o be_v well_o acquaint_v with_o the_o irregular_a proceed_n of_o their_o prince_n and_o the_o power_n of_o his_o army_n and_o have_v no_o establish_v law_n but_o his_o will_n nor_o no_o pretence_n of_o any_o law_n to_o defend_v they_o or_o interpose_v against_o such_o wrong_n but_o only_o extrema_fw-la necessitas_fw-la or_o lex_fw-la nature_n they_o be_v content_a to_o bear_v much_o and_o much_o more_o than_o will_v those_o people_n who_o be_v enure_v to_o another_o manner_n of_o government_n and_o have_v positive_a establish_a law_n do_v no_o less_o impatient_o endure_v the_o breach_n or_o infringement_n of_o those_o their_o country_n law_n and_o privilege_n though_o but_o light_o touch_v their_o estate_n person_n or_o conveniency_n than_o the_o other_o do_v the_o great_a extremity_n of_o tyranny_n and_o oppression_n hence_o it_o be_v that_o in_o such_o tyrannical_a government_n the_o prince_n have_v enure_v the_o people_n to_o suffer_v a_o far_o great_a measure_n of_o wrong_n hardship_n and_o slavery_n then_o in_o some_o other_o place_n they_o have_v be_v acquaint_v withal_o may_v with_o more_o safety_n and_o less_o danger_n of_o provoke_v they_o continue_v the_o same_o than_o another_o prince_n command_v a_o free_a people_n and_o better_o acquaint_v with_o more_o liberty_n and_o good_a usage_n may_v reduce_v they_o to_o suffer_v from_o he_o a_o far_o light_a measure_n of_o injustice_n which_o if_o a_o good_a prince_n he_o will_v never_o desire_v to_o do_v nor_o attempt_v if_o a_o bad_a i_o see_v not_o why_o any_o man_n shall_v desire_v that_o he_o shall_v find_v a_o easy_a and_o uninterrupted_a path_n to_o help_v to_o go_v more_o cheerful_o and_o with_o great_a facility_n to_o the_o execution_n of_o his_o bad_a design_n in_o oppress_v and_o grind_v his_o people_n and_o make_v their_o life_n unpleasant_a and_o uncomfortable_a yet_o if_o any_o man_n can_v convince_v i_o that_o the_o people_n be_v make_v only_o for_o the_o prince_n and_o not_o the_o prince_n for_o the_o people_n i_o can_v perhaps_o be_v more_o easy_o induce_v to_o think_v that_o every_o thing_n that_o make_v the_o way_n more_o plain_a and_o open_a for_o the_o more_o absolute_a dominion_n of_o the_o prince_n and_o the_o most_o absolute_a slavery_n of_o the_o subject_a be_v to_o be_v make_v a_o part_n of_o our_o creed_n but_o this_o be_v a_o doctrine_n no_o well-advised_a man_n methinks_v shall_v ever_o desire_v to_o set_v on_o foot_n nor_o no_o wise_a or_o good_a prince_n will_v ever_o make_v any_o use_n of_o his_o people_n great_a assurance_n of_o a_o happy_a estate_n under_o his_o government_n be_v his_o own_o great_a glory_n and_o content_a and_o though_o he_o himself_o may_v be_v good_a and_o therefore_o need_v no_o restrictive_a law_n to_o limit_v he_o his_o action_n yet_o he_o know_v not_o what_o his_o successor_n may_v prove_v or_o how_o fit_a or_o unfit_a to_o be_v trust_v with_o so_o great_a and_o arbitrary_a a_o power_n and_o therefore_o be_v well_o content_v to_o give_v the_o people_n all_o the_o security_n he_o can_v which_o may_v be_v consistent_a with_o his_o and_o their_o safety_n for_o enjoy_v themselves_o and_o their_o estate_n in_o the_o best_a manner_n that_o subject_n can_v be_v capable_a of_o without_o desire_v that_o all_o shall_v be_v arbitrary_a and_o depend_v only_o upon_o the_o will_n and_o fancy_n of_o he_o that_o shall_v sit_v in_o the_o roval_n seat_n which_o be_v that_o which_o mr._n hobbes_n will_v needs_o make_v essential_a to_o it_o for_o say_v he_o in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr cive_z the_o rule_n of_o good_a and_o evil_n just_a and_o unjust_a honest_a and_o dishane_v be_v civil_a law_n and_o therefore_o what_o the_o lawgiver_n command_v be_v to_o be_v take_v for_o good_a what_o he_o forbid_v for_o evil_a and_o again_o before_o empire_n there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o just_a or_o unjust_a therefore_o lawful_a king_n make_v those_o thing_n which_o they_o command_v just_a by_o command_v of_o they_o and_o what_o they_o forbid_v by_o forbid_v of_o they_o they_o make_v they_o injust_a and_o a_o subject_a can_v sin_v in_o obey_v his_o prince_n if_o this_o shall_v be_v all_o take_v for_o gospel_n by_o all_o the_o world_n as_o mr._n hobbes_n will_v have_v it_o there_o need_v no_o more_o than_o the_o succession_n of_o a_o bad_a prince_n or_o two_o in_o each_o several_a nation_n to_o destroy_v the_o generation_n of_o mankind_n from_o off_o the_o earth_n what_o brave_a sport_n will_v some_o of_o those_o roman_a emperor_n as_o nero_n caligula_n etc._n etc._n have_v make_v if_o all_o their_o subject_n will_v have_v be_v so_o exact_o obedient_a to_o their_o command_n yet_o in_o some_o case_n mr._n hobbes_n will_v allow_v the_o subject_a to_o deny_v obedience_n to_o his_o prince_n for_o say_v he_o soon_o after_o we_o must_v not_o obey_v the_o prince_n if_o he_o command_v we_o to_o dishonour_n god_n or_o not_o to_o worship_v he_o for_o to_o dishonour_v he_o or_o not_o to_o worship_v he_o can_v be_v by_o none_o understand_v for_o any_o manner_n of_o worship_n nor_o have_v any_o one_o before_o the_o constitution_n of_o a_o civil_a government_n the_o right_a to_o deny_v honour_n due_a to_o god_n and_o therefore_o can_v not_o transfer_v such_o right_n upon_o the_o civil_a power_n well_o then_o mr._n hobbes_n grant_v the_o lawgiver_n be_v not_o always_o to_o be_v obey_v when_o be_v it_o then_o lawful_a to_o disobey_v say_v mr._n hobbes_n when_o he_o command_v we_o direct_o to_o dishonour_n god_n or_o not_o to_o worship_v he_o and_o why_o may_v we_o not_o dishonour_n god_n or_o not_o worship_v he_o sure_o i_o think_v for_o no_o other_o cause_n but_o because_o it_o be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n therefore_o by_o consequence_n whensoever_o the_o lawgiver_n command_v we_o any_o thing_n direct_o concrary_a to_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n we_o be_v no_o oblige_v to_o obey_v according_a to_o mr._n hobbes_n his_o concession_n and_o such_o be_v all_o command_v contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n viz._n justice_n charity_n temperance_n etc._n etc._n as_o have_v be_v show_v but_o mr._n hobbes_n will_v say_v such_o command_n must_v be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n and_o not_o by_o consequence_n only_o i_o will_v not_o trouble_v myself_o with_o the_o meaning_n of_o this_o distinction_n but_o affirm_v