_Liberty_, and _necessity_ are consistent: as in the water, that hath not only _liberty_, but a _necessity_ of descending by the channel; so likewise in the actions which men voluntarily do: which, because they proceed from their will, proceed from _liberty_; and yet, because every act of man’s will, and every desire, and inclination proceedeth from some cause, and that from another cause, in a continual chain, whose first link is in the hand of God the first of all causes, proceed from _necessity_. So that to him that could see the connexion of those causes, the _necessity_ of all men’s voluntary actions, would appear manifest. And therefore God, that seeth, and disposeth all things, seeth also that the _liberty_ of man in doing what he will, is accompanied with the _necessity_ of doing that which God will, and no more, nor less. For though men may do many things, which God does not command, nor is therefore author of them; yet they can have no passion, nor appetite to anything, of which appetite God’s will is not the cause. And did not his will assure the _necessity_ of man’s will, and consequently of all that on man’s will dependeth, the _liberty_ of men would be a contradiction, and impediment to the omnipotence and _liberty_ of God. And this shall suffice, as to the matter in hand, of that natural _liberty_, which only is properly called _liberty_. [Sidenote: Artificial bonds, or covenants.] But as men, for the attaining of peace, and conservation of themselves thereby, have made an artificial man, which we call a commonwealth; so also have they made artificial chains, called _civil laws_, which they themselves, by mutual covenants, have fastened at one end, to the lips of that man, or assembly, to whom they have given the sovereign power; and at the other end to their own ears. These bonds, in their own nature but weak, may nevertheless be made to hold, by the danger, though not by the difficulty of breaking them. [Sidenote: Liberty of subjects consisteth in liberty from covenants.]