9. Civil law the measure of crimes and innocence.
Secondly, the civil law--the rule set by the commonwealth to
the actions of those who belong to it--is another rule to which men refer their actions; to judge whether they be
criminal or no. This law nobody overlooks: the rewards and punishments that enforce it being ready at hand, and
suitable to the power that makes it: which is the force of the Commonwealth, engaged to protect the lives,
liberties, and possessions of those who live according to its laws, and has power to take away life, liberty, or
goods, from him who disobeys; which is the punishment of offences committed against his law.
