Discourses Concerning Government

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1704 edition. Excerpt: ...we have many approve examples, and occafional particular commands to the contrary....-. 1. To the firft: The point of Paternity being explain'd; the duty of Children to Parents prov'd to proceed from the benefits receiv'd from them, and that the power over them, which at the firft feems to have bin left at large, becaufe it was thought they would never abufe it, has long fince bin much reftrain'd in all civiliz'd Nations, and particularly in our own; We may conclude that men are all made of the fame pafte, and that one ows no more to another than another to him, unlefs for fome benefit receiv'd, or by virtue of fome promife made. The duty arifing from a benefit receiv'd muft be proportionable to it: that which grows from a promife is determin'd by the promife or contract made, according to the true fehfe and meaning of it. He therefore that would know what the BalyIonians, Hebrews, Athenians, or Romans did owe to Nimrod, Saul, Thefeus.or Romulus, muft inquire what benefits were receiv'd from them, or what waspromis'd to them. It cannot be faid that any thing was due to them for the fake of their Parents; they could have no prerogative by birth: Nimrod was the fixth Son of Chujh the Son of Cham, who was the youngeft Son of Noah his Kingdom was ere&ed whilft Noah and his elder Sons Shem and Japhet, as well as Cham, Chujh and his elder Sons were'ftill living. Saul was the Son of Chifo, a man of Benjamin, who Was the youngeft Son of Jacob; and he was chofen in the moft DemocraxicaTway by Lot amongft the whole People. Thtfeus according to the cuftomof the times pretended to be the Son of Neptune-, andft/xttwas fo Well pleas'd with the Soldier that had gotten her with child, that he refolv'd to think or fay that Mars was the Fatherof...