Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/216

 paternal Authority, we hould rather ay that it is to the former that the latter owes its principal Force: No one Individual was acknowledged as the Father of everal other Individuals, till they ettled about him. The Father's Goods, which he can indeed dipoe of as he pleaes, are the Ties which hold his Children to their Dependence upon him, and he may divide his Subtance among them in proportion as they hall have deerved his Attention by a continual Deference to his Commands. Now the Subjects of a Depotic Chief, far from having any uch Favour to expect from him, as both themelves and all they have are his Property, or at leat are conidered by him as uch, are obliged to receive as a Favour what he relinquihes to them of their own Property. He does them Jutice when he trips them; he treats them with Mercy when he uffers them to live.