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. 10.

The second part of his answeare is this [But contrari∣ly to refuse to doe it (that is, what is commanded.) is against the Law of Nature that forbiddeth breach of Cove∣nant] It is true, that the breach of Covenant considered,

in its self, is against the Law of Nature; for a man by Covenant give's away his liberty of using,* 1.1 or acting that thing for which he covenanted, otherwise then by his Covenant: but consider now, if a man, that hath ali∣enated away formerly his right to an estate, or had no right to it, should make a deed of that estate to ano∣ther man, such an act could be of no benefit to that other: This is that man's case who shall Covenant to act against the Law of God, written in books or hearts; he cannot covenant to doe it, it is voyd ipso facto, it is God's due, and he cannot alien it, and what he shall act, according to such a Covenant, is wicked, the very pretence to have power to doe it, is a Conspiracy against God and his right of Dominion over us: so that there can be no breach of such a Covenant, which had no right to tye or bind any man; that Conclusion therefore was a great mistake of Mr. Hobbes, and is justly censured here, because conducing to other ill Consequences hereafter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No breach of Covenant which had not a right to bi••d.