Leviathan, or the Matter, Forme, and Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill

First published 1651 · the first edition (1651)

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contents

TO MY MOST HONOR'D FRIEND Mr FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of Godolphin.

The Introduction

Nature (the Art whereby God hath made and governes the World) is by the Art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that…

Part I: Of Man

Concerning the Thoughts of man, I will consider them first Singly, and afterwards in Trayne, or dependance upon one another. Singly, they…

That when a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever, is a truth that no man doubts of. But that when a…

Of the Consequence or Trayne of Imaginations

By Consequence, or Trayne of Thoughts, I understand that succession of one Thought to another, which is called (to distinguish it from…

The Invention of Printing, though ingenious, compared Originall of Speech. with the invention of Letters, is no great matter. But who was…

Of Reason, and Science

When a man Reasoneth, hee does nothing else but conceive Reason what it is. a summe totall, from Addition of parcels; or conceive a…

Of the Interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions; commonly called the Passions. And the Speeches by which they are expressed

There be in Animals, two sorts of Motions peculiar to them: Motion Vitall and Animal. One called Vitall; begun in generation, and continued…

Of the Ends, or Resolutions of Discourse

Of all Discourse, governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End, either by attaining, or by giving over. And in the chain of…

Of the Vertues commonly called Intellectuall; and their contrary Defects

Vertue generally, in all sorts of subjects, is somewhat that Intellectuall Vertue defined. is valued for eminence; and consisteth in…

Of the Severall Subjects of Knowledge

There are of Knowledge two kinds; whereof one is Knowledge of Fact: the other Knowledge of the Consequence of one Affirmation to another.…

Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour, and Worthinesse

The Power of a Man, (to take it Universally,) is his present Power. means, to obtain some future apparent Good. And is either Originall, or…

Of the difference of Manners

By Manners, I mean not here, Decency of behaviour; as how one man should salute another, or how a man should wash his mouth, or pick his…

Seeing there are no signes, nor fruit of Religion, but in Man Religion, in Man onely. onely; there is no cause to doubt, but that the seed…

Of the Naturall Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity, and Misery

Nature hath made men so equall, in the faculties of body, and Men by nature Equall. mind; as that though there bee found one man sometimes…

Of the first and second Naturall Lawes, and of Contracts

The Right of Nature, which Writers commonly call Right of Nature what. Jus Naturale, is the Liberty each man hath, to use his own power, as…

Of other Lawes of Nature

From that law of Nature, by which we are obliged to transferre The third Law of Nature, Justice. to another, such Rights, as being…

Of Persons, Authors, and things Personated

A Person, A Person what. is he, whose words or actions are considered, either as his own, or as representing the words or actions of an…

Part II: Of Common-wealth

Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Common-Wealth

The finall Cause, End, or Designe of men, (who naturally The End of Common-wealth, particular Security: love Liberty, and Dominion over…

Of the Rights of Soveraignes by Institution

A Common-wealth is said to be Instituted, when a Multitude of The act of Instituting a Common-wealth, what. men do Agree, and Covenant,…

Of the severall Kinds of Common-wealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Soveraigne Power

The difference of Common-wealths, consisteth in the difference The different Formes of Commonwealths but three. of the Soveraign, or the…

Of Dominion Paternall, and Despoticall

A Common-wealth by Acquisition, is that, where the Soveraign A Commonwealth by Acquisition. Power is acquired by Force; And it is acquired…

Of the Liberty of Subjects

LIberty, or Freedome, signifieth (properly) the absence Liberty what. of Opposition; (by Opposition, I mean externall Impediments of…

Of Systemes Subject, Politicall, and Private

Having spoken of the Generation, Forme, and Power of The divers sorts of Systemes of People. a Common-wealth, I am in order to speak next…

Of the Publique Ministers of Soveraign Power

In the last Chapter I have spoken of the Similar parts of a Common-wealth: In this I shall speak of the parts Organicall, which are…

Of the Nutrition, and Procreation of a Common-wealth

The Nutrition of a Common-wealth consisteth, in The Nourishment of a Common-wealth consisteth in the Commodities of Sea and Land: the…

How fallacious it is to judge of the nature of things, by the ordinary Counsell what. and inconstant use of words, appeareth in nothing…

Of Civill Lawes

By Civill Lawes, I understand the Lawes, that Civill Law what. men are therefore bound to observe, because they are Members, not of this,…

Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations

A Sinne, is not onely a Transgression of a Law, but also any Sinne what. Contempt of the Legislator. For such Contempt, is a breach of all…

Of Punishments, and Rewards

A Punishment, is an Evill inflicted by publique Authority, The definition of Punishment. on him that hath done, or omitted that which is…

Of those things that Weaken, or tend to the Dissolution of a Common-wealth

Though nothing can be immortall, which mortals make; Dissolution of Commonwealths proceedeth from their Imperfect Institution. yet, if men…

Of the Office of the Soveraign Representative

The Office of the Soveraign, (be it a Monarch, or an The Procuration of the Good of the People. Assembly,) consisteth in the end, for which…

Of the Kingdome of God by Nature

That the condition of meer Nature, that is to say, of absolute The scope of the following Chapters. Liberty, such as is theirs, that…

Part III: Of a Christian Common-wealth

Of the Principles of Christian Politiques

I Have derived the Rights of Soveraigne The Word of God delivered by Prophets is the main principle of Christian Politiques. Power, and the…

Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture

By the Books of Holy Scripture, are understood those, which Of the Books of Holy Scripture. ought to be the Canon, that is to say, the…

Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture

Seeing the foundation of all true Ratiocination, is the constant Body and Spirit how taken in the Scripture. Signification of words; which…

Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdome of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament

The Kingdome of God in the Writings of Divines, and The Kingdom of God taken by Divines Metaphorically, but in the Scriptures properly.…

Of the Word of God, and of Prophets

When there is mention of the Word of God, or of Man, it Word what. doth not signifie a part of Speech, such as Grammarians call a Nown, or…

Of Miracles, and their Use

By Miracles are signified the Admirable works of God: & therefore A Miracle is a work that causeth Admiration. they are also called…

Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternall Life, Hell, Salvation, The World To Come, and Redemption

The maintenance of Civill Society, depending on Justice; and Justice on the power of Life and Death, and other lesse Rewards and…

Of the signification in Scripture of the word Church

The word Church, (Ecclesia) signifieth in the Books of Holy Church the Lords house. Scripture divers things. Sometimes (though not often)…

Of the Rights of the Kingdome of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah

The Father of the Faithfull, and first in the Kingdome of God The Soveraign Rights of Abraham. by Covenant, was Abraham. For with him was…

Of the Office of our Blessed Saviour

We find in Holy Scripture three parts of the Office of the Three parts of the Office of Christ. Messiah: The first of a Redeemer, or…

Of Power Ecclesiasticall

For the understanding of Power Ecclesiasticall, what, and in whom it is, we are to distinguish the time from the Ascension of our Saviour,…

Of what is Necessary for a Mans Reception into the Kingdome of Heaven

The most frequent prætext of Sedition, and Civill Warre, The difficulty of obeying God and Man both at once, in Christian Common-wealths…

Part IV: Of the Kingdome of Darknesse

Of Spirituall Darknesse from Misinterpretation of Scripture

Besides The Kingdom of Darknesse what. these Soveraign Powers, Divine, and Humane, of which I have hitherto discoursed, there is mention in…

Of Dæmonology, and other Reliques of the Religion of the Gentiles

The impression made on the organs of Sight, by lucide Bodies, The Originall of Dæmonology. either in one direct line, or in many lines,…

Of Darknesse from Vain Philosophy, and Fabulous Traditions

By Philosophy, is understood the Knowledge acquired What Philosophy is. by Reasoning, from the Manner of the Generation of any thing, to…

Of the Benefit that proceedeth from such Darknesse, and to whom it accreweth

Cicero maketh honorable mention of one of the Cassii, a severe He that receiveth Benefit by a Fact, is presumed to be the Author. Judge…

A Review, and Conclusion

From the contrariety of some of the Naturall Faculties of the Mind, one to another, as also of one Passion to another, and from their…