登陆注册
5393300000030

第30章 Chapter 15 Of the Divesting Natural Right by Gift

13. It is a question often moved, whether such covenants oblige, as are extorted from men by fear. As for example: whether, if a man for fear of death, have promised to give a thief an hundred pounds the next day, and not discover him, whether such covenant be obligatory or not. And though in some cases such covenant may be void, yet it is not therefore void, because extorted by fear. For there appeareth no reason, why that which we do upon fear, should be less firm than that which we do for covetousness. For both the one and the other maketh the action voluntary. And if no covenant should be good, that proceedeth from fear of death, no conditions of peace between enemies, nor any laws could be of force; which are all consented to from that fear. For who would lose the liberty that nature hath given him, of governing himself by his own will and power, if they feared not death in the retaining of it? What prisoner in war might be trusted to seek his ransom, and ought not rather to be killed, if he were not tied by the grant of his life, to perform his promise? But after the introduction of policy and laws, the case may alter; for if by the law the performance of such a covenant be forbidden, then he that promiseth anything to a thief, not only may, but must refuse to perform it. But if the law forbid not the performance, but leave it to the will of the promiser, then is the performance still lawful: and the covenant of things lawful is obligatory, even towards a thief.

14. He that giveth, promiseth, or covenanteth to one, and after giveth, promiseth, or covenanteth the same to another, maketh void the latter act. For it is impossible for a man to transfer that right which he himself hath not; and that right he hath not, which he himself hath before transferred.

15. An OATH is a clause annexed to a promise, containing a renunciation of God's mercy, by him that promiseth, in case he perform not as far as is lawful and possible for him to do. And this appeareth by the words which make the essence of the oath (viz.) so help me God. So also was it amongst the heathen. And the form of the Romans was, Thou Jupiter kill him that breaketh, as I kill this beast. The intention therefore of an oath being to provoke vengeance upon the breakers of covenants; it is to no purpose to swear by men, be they never so great, because their punishment by divers accidents may be avoided, whether they will, or no; but God's punishment not. Though it were a custom of many nations, to swear by the life of their princes; yet those princes being ambitious of divine honour, give sufficient testimony, that they believed, nothing ought to be sworn by, but the Deity.

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.

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.

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, 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.

同类推荐
  • 释门自镜录

    释门自镜录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿那邠邸化七子经

    阿那邠邸化七子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 膳夫录

    膳夫录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 楚辞补注

    楚辞补注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伤寒审证表

    伤寒审证表

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 至尊魅医

    至尊魅医

    落姽婳,21世纪最得意的第一神医,无人不能治,无人不能济。盛名远扬,却因一次意外,一朝重生在了紫魅国护国府最受宠的二小姐身上。本以为依靠着护国府强大的实力,她可以无忧无虑,集荣华富贵和万千宠爱于一体,锦衣玉食的度过一生,没想到,护国府一夜之间竟然惨遭朝廷灭门。遇到诬陷,没关系,她可以让那些污蔑过她的人一一得到报应。遇到欺负,没关系,她的修炼速度达到了紫魅国历史巅峰,用不了多久,她就能回报回去。遇到无赖,没关系,对付这样的狗皮膏药,她当然是奉陪到底。-万年以后。“夫人,你既然都说了我是无赖,那我这个无赖,自然是要赖定你生生世世。”
  • 冷宫德妃

    冷宫德妃

    《冷宫德妃》简介:当场抓‘奸’,不贞的德妃,她被刺字淫——妃,鲜红的血迹,青花般的字印,一辈子背负,忍受屈辱,在所有人的嘲讽目光中,她依然挺直了身躯,步入那个,于她而言是另外一片天的——冷宫她是今朝冷宫‘淫’妃,她是前朝冷宫‘淫’妃,不同的人,相同的命运。人生,有多少的因缘巧合,因为缘分,她入了宫,当了宫妃。相貌平凡的她,一直默默无闻,虽然贵为德妃,无权无势,只想保全,却在后宫选秀之际,受到皇帝的宠爱。隐含目的、尊贵不凡的他说:“爱妃,替朕生个孩子吧。”是真是假,她分不清。只能,淡淡一笑回避。豪迈奔放却一往情深的他说:“虽然你是我的皇嫂,但是知音难求,为何,相遇太晚。”阴柔狠绝却饱含痛苦的他说:“你是他的女人,而他的母后,抢走了我的一切,所以,他的女人,我要抢回来。”温文如玉却邪魅深情的他说:“即使你是他的宫妃,我也只爱你。”谁真谁假,她分不清。平凡如她,何德何能,面对所有的一切,她从不说,但,并不代表她不知道,她所求的,只是,一片干净而宁静的天空而已。这是大概简介,或许有更多的男猪,也或许更加的少,简介只是简介,内容如何,大家陪飘舞一起挖坑吧。此文结局皆大欢喜,亲们,飘舞不会弄个悲剧的,亲们安心的跳坑吧。推荐飘舞新文《绝魅残颜皇后》赵云倾,一个冷淡随性的现代女子,没人比她更倒霉,赏个湖景都可以跌入湖中,穿越至毁容的贤德皇后身上。云倾,大月皇朝的贤德皇后,不贤不德,尖酸刻薄心眼小心胸狭窄――两道‘狡诈’先皇的遗旨,她,成了太后与皇帝争斗下的牺牲品,抑或,是母仪天下、万千恩宠于一身的残颜皇后?人不负我我不负人以心相交以魂交融最终,谁与她,执子之手,与子偕老?片断我许你一个稳固江山,你许我――一生一世一双人!“朕命你,过来!”冷魅阴沉的皇帝,眯眼看着浴火中的女人,一丝不易察觉的惊惶一闪而过,更多的是恼怒,怒吼着命令她,掩不住的心虚――他伸出手,喜气的大红龙袍上栩栩如生的九爪金龙,猩红的龙眼熠熠发光,狂狷地看着贤德皇后,仿佛在嘲笑她一样。今晚,是他的纳妃大日——一生一世一双人,云倾淡定一笑,隔着火焰笑看她倾心爱过的男子,凤眸只余清冷绝决。灼灼的火焰化作一条条火龙,在她周边张扬吞吐火舌,烈火辉映着她如玉的凝脂,只见她扫了皇帝一眼,看着怀中缓缓皱眉的稚儿,额头因为焦热沁出了细细的密汗,她怜惜一笑,“炎儿,随母后一起,可好?”
  • 鸿蒙邪君

    鸿蒙邪君

    吞噬天地灵丹,修成霸世魔体,秒杀荒古魔兽,挑战远古众神。废柴大少郭慕受尽嘲讽,一次机缘唤醒神秘血脉,从而一飞冲天!杀贵族,灭强者,纵横天下莫敢不从!调戏调戏诱惑妖姬,勾搭勾搭豪门圣女,推倒众多绝色佳丽,祸害万千清纯少女!
  • 摄政王的妖孽冷妃

    摄政王的妖孽冷妃

    穿越后一朝变王府的侧妃,好不容易逃离苦海却被无赖抓了回来,那她就好好折腾他这摄政王府,闹他个天翻地覆,看他还受的了吗?
  • 王爷盛宠:毒妃会盗墓

    王爷盛宠:毒妃会盗墓

    穿越成陪葬又怎么样?还不是从坟墓里爬出来!误闯密室又怎么样?纵横“考古界”的她还不是信手拈来!撒娇耍赖斗智斗勇盗墓寻宝机关统统难不倒她!只是某清冷男子重重一哼:“王妃,说好的以身相许呢!”她还是羞红着脸跑了……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 帝妃之锦绣宏图

    帝妃之锦绣宏图

    一直视同亲人的孟族遭灭族之祸,孟玉绮借故人之女的身份入宫为妃,誓要当日领兵的皇九子沐震与整个大夏朝付出代价。然而在实现复仇大计的过程,她不仅与沐震携手并进,更数度为他所救,在一场场宫闱间的明争暗斗中,她渐渐迷乱了自己的心思。但亡者的冤屈时刻催促着她,在历经重重磨难,终于帮助沐震登上帝位后,她开始着手进行计划的第二步。这时孟族遗孤忽然来到,也在无意中揭开了当日灭族之祸的巨大隐情。当一切真相都大白于天下,她与沐震已然势成水火,纵然他痴心未改,她仍然选择了远走高飞,从此天涯不见。
  • 有仙自远方来

    有仙自远方来

    这浑浊的世界上还有片净土,所有人都说那未知的世界不存在,也有少数人相信他存在,但也只能小心翼翼的去相信,如果说出来还会被当成傻子疯子。那片净土有着云端之上的清净,有缘人见过,每个人也都听过,但从未有人去过,或许有人去过,那个人从此之后在也就没有出现过。
  • 舍与得的人生经营课(畅销精读本)

    舍与得的人生经营课(畅销精读本)

    人生就是一个不断“舍”与“得”的过程,在“舍”与“得”之间,每个人都需作出自己的抉择。舍,并不是全部舍掉,而是舍掉那些沉重的、阻碍你前行的种种负累,留下那些轻快的、灵性的美好,从而让你闪耀着含蓄、内敛、从容的光芒。本书主要告诉读者如何在舍与得中达到幸福和平衡,并且一直保持着幸福的状态。只要你能用“放下、乐观、平和、宽容、坚强”的心态来面对人生的变数,你就一定能经营好你的人生。
  • 重林巨蜥

    重林巨蜥

    这是一个蜥蜴成长为巨龙的冒险故事,也是一部玄幻和科技文明的战争史。让我们以一头巨龙的视角,来体验这种宇宙星空的恢弘的战争。
  • 皇经集注

    皇经集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。