Page 199
Sect. 7.
What he farther instances in, concerning Wounds, Chaines, and Imprisonment,* 1.1 how th••t the same may be said of them as of a mans life; that no covenant can passe away a man's right of rescuing himself from them, may seeme answered in what was applyed to those of Life; because if we may passe away our right to our own life, much ra∣ther to these lesser things; but I will examine his rea∣son [both (saith he) because there is no benefit consequent to such patience, as there is to the patience of suffering another to be Wounded or Imprisoned] no benefit? Yes surely, great every way, when these afflictions are laid upon us by lawfull Magistrates,* 1.2 then there is the benefit of obedience then which no sacrifice is more gratefull to Almighty God; it is that which is the foundation of politie, and without which no Common-wealth can subsist; for if men should not subject for Conscience, and think that obe∣dience to punishments a vertuous duty, which carrie's its reward in its self, no man would ever submit, so long as he could find any meanes to struggle; the innumerable instances might be made of this, might of themselves fill a volumne; take but that one of Marcus Regulus, how he rather then he would violate a little promise, and that with an Enemy, did expose and thrust himself ••nto such vengeance, and tortures, as the greatest malice could impose upon him; how much rather upon those weigh∣ty, though implicite Covenants, which every man make's with that Common-wealth wherein he live's, to obey the Lawes made for the good of it, how much ra∣ther may they exact a submission to them, though with our owne losse and injurie?