Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/211

 exited before the Laws themelves, is a Suppoition too ridiculous to deerve I hould eriouly refute it.

It would be equally unreaonable to imagine that Men at firt threw themelves into the Arms of an abolute Mater, without any Conditions or Conideration on his Side; and that the firt Means contrived by jealous and unconquered Men for their common Safety was to run hand over head into Slavery. In fact, why did they give themelves Superiors, if it was not to be defended by them againt Oppreion, and protected in their Lives, Liberties, and Properties, which are in a manner the contitutional Elements of their Being? Now in the Relations between Man and Man, the wort that can happen to one Man being to ee himelf at the Dicretion of another, would it not have been contrary to the Dictates of good Sene to