This being a matter of great consequence, the author intends to treat it
methodically and at large in a treatise apart, and here to give only some
hints of what his large treatise contains. The state of war, natural to
all creatures. War is an attempt to take by violence from others a part
of what they have and we want. Every man, fully sensible of his own
merit, and finding it not duly regarded by others, has a natural right to
take from them all that he thinks due to himself; and every creature,
finding its own wants more than those of others, has the same right to
take everything its nature requires. Brutes, much more modest in their
pretensions this way than men, and mean men more than great ones. The
higher one raises his pretensions this way, the more bustle he makes
about them, and the more success he has, the greater hero. Thus greater
souls, in proportion to their superior merit, claim a greater right to
take everything from meaner folks. This the true foundation of grandeur
and heroism, and of the distinction of degrees among men. War,
therefore, necessary to establish subordination, and to found cities,
kingdoms, &c., as also to purge bodies politic of gross humours. Wise
princes find it necessary to have wars abroad to keep peace at home.
War, famine, and pestilence, the usual cures for corruption in bodies
politic. A comparison of these three—the author is to write a panegyric
on each of them. The greatest part of mankind loves war more than peace.
They are but few and mean-spirited that live in peace with all men. The
modest and meek of all kinds always a prey to those of more noble or
stronger appetites. The inclination to war universal; those that cannot
or dare not make war in person employ others to do it for them. This
maintains bullies, bravoes, cut-throats, lawyers, soldiers, &c. Most
professions would be useless if all were peaceable. Hence brutes want
neither smiths nor lawyers, magistrates nor joiners, soldiers or
surgeons. Brutes having but narrow appetites, are incapable of carrying
on or perpetuating war against their own species, or of being led out in
troops and multitudes to destroy one another. These prerogatives proper
to man alone. The excellency of human nature demonstrated by the vast
train of appetites, passions, wants, &c., that attend it. This matter to
be more fully treated in the author’s panegyric on mankind.
THE HISTORY OF MARTIN—_Continued_.
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