Quote: men must perform their convenants made, enforced by a coercive power

Quotation

From that law of Nature, by which we are obliged to transferre to another, such Rights, as being retained, hinder the peace of Mankind, there followeth a Third; which is this, That men performe their Covenants made: without which, Covenants are in vain, and but Empty words; and the Right of all men to all things remaining, wee are still in the condition of Warre. ... when a Covenant is made, then to break it is Unjust. ... before the names of Just, and Unjust can have place, there must be some coercive Power, to compell men equally to the performance of their Covenants, [p. 101] by the terrour of some punishment, greater than the benefit they expect by the breach of their Covenant   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

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