By LIBERTY, is understood, according to the proper signification of the word, the absence of external impediments: which impediments, may oft take away part of a man’s power to do what he would; but cannot hinder him from using the power left him, according as his judgment, and reason shall dictate to him. [Sidenote: A law of nature what.] A LAW OF NATURE, _lex naturalis_, is a precept or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that, which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that, by which he thinketh it may be best preserved. For though they that speak of this subject, use to confound _jus_, and _lex_, _right_ and _law_: [Sidenote: Difference of right and law.] yet they ought to be distinguished; because RIGHT, consisteth in liberty to do, or to forbear; whereas LAW, determineth, and bindeth to one of them: so that law, and right, differ as much, as obligation, and liberty; which in one and the same matter are inconsistent. [Sidenote: Naturally every man has right to every thing.] And because the condition of man, as hath been declared in the precedent chapter, is a condition of war of every one against every one; in which case every one is governed by his own reason; and there is nothing he can make use of, that may not be a help unto him, in preserving his life against his enemies; it followeth, that in such a condition, every man has a right to every thing; even to one another’s body. And therefore, as long as this natural right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no security to any man, how strong or wise soever he be, of living out the time, which nature ordinarily alloweth men to live. [Sidenote: The fundamental law of nature.] And consequently it is a precept, or general rule of reason, _that every man, ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek, and use, all helps, and advantages of war_. The first branch of which rule, containeth the first, and fundamental law of nature; which is, _to seek peace, and follow it_. The second, the sum of the right of nature; which is, _by all means we can, to defend ourselves_. [Sidenote: The second law of nature.]