From this fundamental law of nature, by which men are commanded to endeavour peace, is derived this second law; _that a man be willing, when others are so too, as far-forth, as for peace, and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself_. For as long as every man holdeth this right, of doing any thing he liketh; so long are all men in the condition of war. But if other men will not lay down their right, as well as he; then there is no reason for any one, to divest himself of his: for that were to expose himself to prey, which no man is bound to, rather than to dispose himself to peace. This is that law of the Gospel; _whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them_. And that law of all men, _quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris_. [Sidenote: What it is to lay down a right.] To _lay down_ a man’s _right_ to any thing, is to _divest_ himself of the _liberty_, of hindering another of the benefit of his own right to the same. For he that renounceth, or passeth away his right, giveth not to any other man a right which he had not before; because there is nothing to which every man had not right by nature: but only standeth out of his way, that he may enjoy his own original right, without hindrance from him; not without hindrance from another. So that the effect which redoundeth to one man, by another man’s defect of right, is but so much diminution of impediments to the use of his own right original. [Sidenote: Renouncing a right, what it is.]