Leviathan

Dedication

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Contents

  1. Dedication
  2. The Introduction
  3. Chapter I. Of Sense
  4. Chapter II. Of Imagination
  5. Chapter III. Of the Consequence or Trayne of Imaginations
  6. Chapter IV. Of Speech
  7. Chapter V. Of Reason, and Science.
  8. Chapter VI. Of the Interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions
  9. Chapter VII. Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse
  10. Chapter VIII. Of the Vertues Commonly Called Intellectual; and Their Contrary Defects
  11. Chapter IX. Of the Severall Subjects of Knowledge
  12. Chapter X. Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour and Worthiness
  13. Chapter XI. Of the Difference of Manners
  14. Chapter XII. Of Religion
  15. Chapter XIII. Of the Naturall Condition of Mankind, as Concerning Their Felicity, and Misery
  16. Chapter XIV. Of the First and Second Naturall Lawes, and of Contracts
  17. Chapter XV. Of Other Lawes of Nature
  18. Chapter XVI. Of Persons, Authors, and Things Personated
  19. Chapter XVII. Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Common-Wealth
  20. Chapter XVIII. Of the Rights of Soveraignes by Institution
  21. Chapter XIX. Of the Severall Kinds of Common-Wealth by Institution, and of Succession to the Soveraigne Power
  22. Chapter XX. Of Dominion Paternall and Despoticall
  23. Chapter XXI. Of the Liberty of Subjects
  24. Chapter XXII. Of Systemes Subject, Politicall, and Private
  25. Chapter XXIII. Of the Publique Ministers of Soveraign Power
  26. Chapter XXIV. Of the Nutrition, and Procreation of a Common-Wealth
  27. Chapter XXV. Of Counsell
  28. Chapter XXVI. Of Civill Lawes
  29. Chapter XXVII. Of Crimes, Excuses, and Extenuations
  30. Chapter XXVIII. Of Punishments, and Rewards
  31. Chapter XXIX. Of Those Things That Weaken, or Tend to the Dissolution of a Common-Wealth
  32. Chapter XXX. Of the Office of the Soveraign Representative
  33. Chapter XXXI. Of the Kingdome of God by Nature
  34. Chapter XXXII. Of the Principles of Christian Politiques
  35. Chapter XXXIII. Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture
  36. Chapter XXXIV. Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture
  37. Chapter XXXV. Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdome of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament
  38. Chapter XXXVI. Of the Word of God, and of Prophets
  39. Chapter XXXVII. Of Miracles, and Their Use
  40. Chapter XXXVIII. Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternall Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption
  41. Chapter XXXIX. Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church
  42. Chapter XL. Of the Rights of the Kingdome of God, in Abraham, Moses, High Priests, and the Kings of Judah
  43. Chapter XLI. Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour
  44. Chapter XLII. Of Power Ecclesiasticall, part 1 of 3
  45. Chapter XLII. Of Power Ecclesiasticall, part 2 of 3
  46. Chapter XLII. Of Power Ecclesiasticall, part 3 of 3
  47. Chapter XLIII. Of What Is Necessary for a Mans Reception Into the Kingdome of Heaven.
  48. Chapter XLIV. Of Spirituall Darknesse From Misinterpretation of Scripture
  49. Chapter XLV. Of Daemonology, and Other Reliques of the Religion of the Gentiles
  50. Chapter XLVI. Of Darknesse From Vain Philosophy, and Fabulous Traditions
  51. Chapter XLVII. Of the Benefit That Proceedeth From Such Darknesse, and to Whom It Accreweth
  52. A Review, and Conclusion

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Leviathan

Dedication

Chapter 1 of 522 min

TO MY MOST HONOR’D FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of GODOLPHIN

HONOR’D SIR.

Your most worthy Brother Mr SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleas’d to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person. For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, ’tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded. But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily; for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power. If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decryed, you may be pleased to excuse your selfe, and say that I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your Brother, and honour you, and have presum’d on that, to assume the Title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am,

Sir,

Your most humble, and most obedient servant, Thomas Hobbes.

Paris APRILL 15/25 1651.

End of chapter