The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
16. And seeing men cannot be afraid of the power they believe not,
and an oath is to no purpose, without fear of him they swear by, it
is necessary that he that sweareth, do it in that form which himself
admitteth in his own religion, and not in that form which he useth,
that putteth him to the oath. For though all men may know by nature,
that there is an Almighty power, nevertheless they believe not, that
they swear by him in any other form or name, than what their own,
which they think the true, religion teacheth them.
[Sidenote: Oath addeth not to the obligation.]
17. And by the definition of an oath, it appeareth that it addeth
not a greater obligation to perform the covenant sworn, than the
covenant carrieth in itself, but it putteth a man into a greater
danger, and of greater punishment.
[Sidenote: Covenants bind but to endeavour.]
18. Covenants and oaths are _de voluntariis_, that is, _de
possibilibus_. Nor can the covenantee understand the covenanter to
promise _impossibles_; for they fall not under deliberation: and
consequently, (by chap. XIII. sect. 10 of the _Treatise of Human
Nature_, which maketh the covenantee interpreter) no covenant is
understood to bind further, than to our best endeavour, either in
performance of the thing promised, or in something equivalent.
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CHAPTER III.
1. That men stand to their covenants. 2. Injury defined. 3. That
injury is done only to the covenantee. 4. The signification of
those names, just, unjust. 5. Justice not rightly divided into
commutative, and distributive. 6. It is a law of nature, that he
that is trusted, turn not that trust to the damage of him that
trusteth. 7. Ingratitude defined. 8. It is a law of nature, to
endeavour to accommodate one another: 9. And that man forgive
upon caution for the future: 10. And that revenge ought to
respect the future only: 11. That reproach and contempt
declared, is against the law of nature: 12. That indifference of
commerce is of the law of nature: 13. That messengers employed
to procure or maintain peace, ought to be safe by the law of
nature.
[Sidenote: That men stand to their covenants.]