Observations, censures, and confutations of notorious errours in Mr. Hobbes his Leviathan and other his bookes to which are annexed occasionall anim-adversions on some writings of the Socinians and such hæreticks of the same opinion with him / by William Lucy ...

Sect. 2.

He goe's on [But because Covenants of mutual trust where there is a feare on either part (as hath been saide in the former chap.) are invalid] The place he mentioned is pag. 68▪ where he deliver's that [If a Covenant be made wherein neither of the p••••••les performe presently, but trust one another; in the condition of mere nature (which is a condition of war of every man against every man) upon any reasonable suspition it is voyd. but if there be a com∣mon power set over them both, with right and force suffici∣ent to compell performance,* 1.1 it is not voyd.]

This proposition, although it make a faire shew, up∣on a superficial view; yet we shall find it, upon diligent examination, to be full of unhappy errours. Had he said, such Covenants are dangerous to be kept: and that men with wicked principles will not keep them, he had said somewhat that might have borne him out in it; but to

say, they are voyd, is to affirme, they have no obliging nature, or Tye with them, which is not to be indured by Iustice.

I will first put him the Case betwixt two neighbour∣ing nations; they enter Leagues of Confederacy;* 1.2 they covenant upon Articles; these two are just like such par∣ticular men, unbodied in a common-wealth: can any man think, that when any of these are afrayd of the other's breach of Articles, it shall therefore be fit for him to breake? can his feare dissolve his Covenant? yes, per∣haps, as in his 14. Chap. to which this related [If this suspition be reasonable] A suspicion, though reasonable, is but a suspicion; and it is possible for any man to finde reasons for suspicions; by this all bargains, and Contracts of nations one with another will be made nothing;* 1.3 for no doubt but all nations may, and will suspect one ano∣ther, and yet dare not breake their promises and Cove∣nants which they make; If this doctrine of his were received, it would make all Commerce betwixt nations voyd, yea, I will tell him, betwixt men in private, so that those sacred Sponsalia betwixt man and woman were voyd, if no Witnesses to them; all those promises, yea Oathes (for they are but a stronger bond of the same Covenant) should be voyd, if no Witnesses to testify the Covenant; If mens Covenants cannot bind them, before they make a Leviathan, why should that Covenant binde them? for the Covenant concerning their superi∣our must be before he is who is an effect of it.* 1.4 Plato in his Protagoras tell's a most ingenious fable, the result of which is this, that the world being uninhabited, Iu∣piter appointed Epimetheus to make all sorts of beasts; but Prometheus he appointed to make men, and indued them with Wisdome; these men built Cities; fenced

themselves from beasts, but by their wisdome were more wicked then beasts, and injured one another most impi∣ously; upon that he sent Mercury amongst them; who brought the men two Sisters, Iustice and Modesty, which regulated them in all vertue, and Civility one towards another; These are universally given to men, and are with them, where evill principles, and wicked customes, h••ve not extirpated them; So that that which the School, from the Philosophers, call's Synder••sis, dictate••s to men those great Axiomes of practice: doe to others as ye would be done unto; and keep your faith, and promise, with the like: and no man doth violate these, but with an Injury to the rest and quiet of his mind. I could tell stories of morall men, innumerable, who would keep Covenant, even with their ruine, and death; but they are obvious: It is apparent, that although men may, and doe break Covenants; yet they are not voyd; they have a Tye upon man in his Conscience▪ which makes them affraid to offend in Scandalous and great Injuries.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Suspition makes not Co∣venants voyd.
• * 1.2

  The case put between two nations en∣tring League of Confedera∣cy.
• * 1.3

  The evil con∣sequences of his opinion.
• * 1.4

  Plato's inge∣nious Fable.