§. 6. But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence;
though man in that state have an uncontrollable liberty to dispose of his
person or possessions, yet he has not liberty to destroy himself, or so much as
any creature in his possession, but where some nobler use than its bare
preservation calls for it. The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern
it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind
who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to
harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the
workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of
one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about His business;
they are His property, whose workmanship they are made to last during His, not
one another's pleasure. And, being furnished with like faculties, sharing all
in one community of Nature, there cannot be supposed any such subordination
among us that may authorise us to destroy one another, as if we were made for
one another's uses, as the inferior ranks of creatures are for ours. Every one
as he is bound to preserve himself, and not to quit his station wilfully, so by
the like reason, when his own preservation comes not in competition, ought he
as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind, and not unless it be to do
justice on an offender, take away or impair the life, or what tends to the
preservation of the life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another.