§. 131. But though men when they enter into society give up the equality,
liberty, and executive power they had in the state of Nature into the hands of
the society, to be so far disposed of by the legislative as the good of the
society shall require, yet it being only with an intention in every one the
better to preserve himself, his liberty and property (for no rational creature
can be supposed to change his condition with an intention to be worse), the
power of the society or legislative constituted by them can never be supposed
to extend farther than the common good, but is obliged to secure every one's
property by providing against those three defects above mentioned that made the
state of Nature so unsafe and uneasy. And so, whoever has the legislative or
supreme power of any commonwealth, is bound to govern by established standing
laws, promulgated and known to the people, and not by extemporary decrees, by
indifferent and upright judges, who are to decide controversies by those laws;
and to employ the force of the community at home only in the execution of such
laws, or abroad to prevent or redress foreign injuries and secure the community
from inroads and invasion. And all this to be directed to no other end but the
peace, safety, and public good of the people.
