The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
1. A difficulty concerning absolute subjection to man, arising
from our absolute subjection to God Almighty, propounded. 2.
That this difficulty is only amongst those Christians that
deny the interpretation of the Scripture to depend upon the
sovereign authority of the commonwealth. 3. That human laws
are not made to govern the consciences of men, but their words
and actions. 4. Places of Scripture to prove obedience due
from Christians to their sovereign in all things. 5. A
distinction propounded between a fundamental point of faith,
and a superstruction. 6. An explication of the points of
faith, that be fundamental. 7. That the belief of those
fundamental points, is all that is required to salvation, as
of faith. 8. That other points not fundamental, are not
necessary to salvation as matter of faith; and that no more is
required by way of faith to the salvation of one man, than to
the salvation of another. 9. That superstructions are not
points of the faith necessary to a Christian. 10. How faith
and justice concur to salvation. 11. That in Christian
commonwealths, obedience to God and man stand well together.
12. This tenet, whatsoever is against the conscience, is sin,
interpreted. 13. That all men do confess the necessity of
submitting of controversies to some human authority. 14. That
Christians under an infidel are discharged of the injustice of
disobeying him, in that which concerneth the faith necessary
to salvation, by not resisting.
[Sidenote: A difficulty concerning absolute subjection to man,
arising from our absolute subjection to God Almighty,
propounded.]
1. Having showed, that in all commonwealths whatsoever, the
necessity of peace and government requireth, that there be existent
some power, either in one man, or in one assembly of men, by the
name of the power sovereign, which it is not lawful for any member
of the same commonwealth to disobey; there occurreth now a
difficulty, which, if it be not removed, maketh it unlawful for a
man to put himself under the command of such absolute sovereignty as
is required thereto. And the difficulty is this; we have amongst us
the Word of God for the rule of our actions: now if we shall subject
ourselves to men also, obliging ourselves to do such actions as
shall be by them commanded, when the commands of God and man shall
differ, we are to obey God, rather than man; and consequently, the
covenant of general obedience to man is unlawful.
[Sidenote: That this difficulty is only amongst those Christians
that deny the interpretation of Scripture to depend upon
the sovereign authority of the commonwealth.]