§. 111. But the golden age (though before vain ambition, and amor sceleratus
habendi, evil concupiscence had corrupted men's minds into a mistake of true
power and honour) had more virtue, and consequently better governors, as well
as less vicious subjects; and there was then no stretching prerogative on the
one side to oppress the people, nor, consequently, on the other, any dispute
about privilege, to lessen or restrain the power of the magistrate; and so no
contest betwixt rulers and people about governors or government.[1]
Yet, when ambition and luxury, in future ages, would retain and increase the
power, without doing the business for which it was given, and aided by
flattery, taught princes to have distinct and separate interests from their
people, men found it necessary to examine more carefully the original and
rights of government, and to find out ways to restrain the exorbitances and
prevent the abuses of that power, which they having entrusted in another's
hands, only for their own good, they found was made use of to hurt them.
