The free-holders grand inquest touching our Sovereign Lord the King and his Parliament to which are added observations upon forms of government : together with directions for obedience to governours in dangerous and doubtful times / by the learned Sir Robert Filmer, Knight.

XI.

Pag. 102. Dominion paternal not attained by Genera∣tion, but by Contract, which is the Childs Consent, either express, or by other sufficient Arguments declared. How a Child can express Consent, or by other sufficient Arguments declare it before it comes to the Age of Discretion I understand not, yet all men grant it is due before Consent can be given; and I take it Mr. Hobs is of the same Mind, pag. 249. where he teacheth, that Abrahams Chil∣dren were bound to obey what Abraham should declare to them for Gods Law: which they could not be but in Vertue of the Obedience they owed to their Parents; they owed, not they covenanted to give. Also where he saith pag. 121. the Father and Master being before the Institution of Commonweals absolute Sovereigns in their own Families, how can it be said that ei∣ther Children or Servants were in the State of jus naturae till the Institutions of Commonweals? It is said by Mr. Hobs, in his Book De Cive, cap. 9. Section 7. the Mother originally hath the Govern∣ment of her Children, and from her the Father de∣rives his Right, because she brings forth and first nourisheth them. But we know that God at the Creation gave the Sovereignty to the man over the Woman, as being the nobler and principal

Agent in Generation. As to the Objection, that it is not known who is the Father to the Son, but by the discovery of the Mother, and that he is his Son whom the Mother will, and therefore he is the Mother's: The answer is, that it is not at the Will of the Mother to make whom she will the Father, for if the Mother be not in possession of a Husband, the Child is not reckoned to have any Father at all; but if she be in the possession of a man, the Child, notwithstand∣ing whatsoever the Woman discovereth to the con∣trary, is still reputed to be his in whose possession she is. No Child naturally and infallibly knows who are his true Parents, yet he must obey those that in common reputation are so, otherwise the Commandement of Honour thy Father and thy Mo∣ther were in vain, and no Child bound to the obedience of it.