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 takes away the means of preserving the same.
The desires, and other passions of man, in themselves, are in his own power; his real difficulties are, to know when they are to be controlled, and when not.
A commonwealth is said to be instituted when a multitude of men do agree, and covenant, every one, with every one, that to whatsoever man, or assembly of men, shall be given by the major part, the right to present the person of them all, that is to say, to be their representative.