farther, to make this Edition still more compleat and useful than the former, to each Section References are continually made to the large Work of The Law of Nature and Nations,9and, as often as could be, to The Rights of War and Peace;10that those who read this Epitome, and have a mind to see any Point therein more fully handled and illustrated, may be readily directed, where to have recourse to the Place where it is at large discoursed of, not only by this Author himself, but also by Grotius, an Author of equal Reputation for his judicious and learned Writings on Subjects of the same nature. Besides these References, as some of the Author’s Opinions, laid down in this Treatise, have been controverted by some Writers, and defended by the Author in some other of his Works, the Reader is directed to those Places in them where these Cavils and Exceptions are taken notice of, and satisfactorily answered.11 But then, when any Exceptions can justly be made, and there is good Reason for differing from the Author’s Opinion in any Point, the Reasons are given for so doing in some Notes at the Bottom of the Page;12 which Notes, however, are neither many nor long, since it would be very absurd to run into Prolixity in Comments to a Work where Brevity is principally aim’d at; into which therefore nothing ought to be admitted, but what is essentially and absolutely necessary to the Subject treated of. And on this Account also it is, that whereas the same Matters have, in the former Editions, been found to occur in more than one Place, in this Edition such superfluous Repetitions have been par’d off, by putting together what has been said on the same Point in different Places, and comprehending the whole under one Head or Section.13 And lastly, that nothing might be wanting to render this in all Points perfect, a Compleat Index is added.
CONTENTS
Chap. I. Of Human Actions Page
II. Of the Rule of Human Actions, or of Laws in general
IV. Of the Duty of Man towards God, or concerning Natural Religion
V. Of the Duty of Man towards himself
VI. Of the Duty of one Man towards another, and first, of doing no Injury to any Man
VII. The Natural Equality of Men to be acknowledged
VIII. Of the mutual Duties of Humanity
IX. The Duty of Men in making Contracts
X. The Duty of Men in Discourse
XI. The Duty of those that take an Oath
XII. Duties to be observ’d in acquiring Possession of Things
XIII. The Duties which naturally result from Man’s Property in Things
XIV. Of the Price and Value of Things
XV. Of those Contracts in which the Value of Things is presupposed, and of the Duties thence arising
XVI. The several Methods by which the Obligations arising from Contracts are dissolved
XVII. Of Meaning or Interpretation
Chap. I. Of the natural State of Men
II. Of the Duties of the married State
III. The Duty of Parents and Children
IV. The Duties of Masters and Servants
V. The impulsive Cause of Constituting Communities
VI. Of the Internal Frame and Constitution of any State or Government
VII. Of the several Parts of Government
VIII. Of the several Forms of Government
IX. The Qualifications of Civil Government
X. How Government, especially Monarchical, is acquired
XI. The Duty of supreme Governours
XII. Of the special Laws of a Community
XIII. Of the Power of Life and Death
XV. Of the Power of Governours over the Goods of their Subjects
