.NDE2.ODczMg

22.

mutual hostilities, to forc'd to act peaceably; so yt. 'tis now unlawful to attack any man's property; so yt. according to this wild Philosopher this compact is ye. origin of justice, & ye. foundation of duty & moral obligations.

But he may with great propriety be ask'd what obligations a man is under to keep his promise, if their is no moral tie distinct from yt. promise, & independent & previous to it? If there is none, his promise will be void & men are as great Barbarians as before ye. union; but if there are obligations previous to fidelity Honour & regard to engagements, then right, & Wrong; justice, & injustice are previous to deletion that /deletion agreement. He may indeed tell us yt. yt. necessity of ye. case or a regard to our own Safety, which is included in unclear of ye. publick, makes us keep our engagements. We may be punish'd for breach of faith, by those to whom we deletion unclear /deletion transfer our Rights. If we will speak out, ye. deletion force /deletion addition superior strength /addition of ye. Majority to punish ye. deletion perverse /deletion addition contumacious /addition is undoubtedly ye. true foundation of ye. obligation, & Self love is its only Judge & Measure. If this be so, deletion how unclear oblig'd /deletion addition what obligation is Man /addition under to Gratitude, Friendship, & all other duties of Humanity, which fall not under ye. cognizance of Law? & what are ye. obligations to private Veracity, Honesty, & Fidelity, when a man with safety may be a knave? Therefore, ye. scheme yt. sets us loose from such obligations, & involves us in such Absurdities, must of itself be absurd & wicked. yt. State of Nature which is supposes as its foundation, is only ideal, which from ye. nature of ye. creature we have no reason think ever subsisted;