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Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

4. ver.3.) "Better is he that hath not yet been, than both they;" that

1229 words  |  Chapter 115

is, than they that live, or have lived; which, if the Soule of all them that have lived, were Immortall, were a hard saying; for then to have an Immortall Soule, were worse than to have no Soule at all. And againe,(Chapt. 9.5.) "The living know they shall die, but the dead know not any thing;" that is, Naturally, and before the resurrection of the body. Another place which seems to make for a Naturall Immortality of the Soule, is that, where our Saviour saith, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are living: but this is spoken of the promise of God, and of their certitude to rise again, not of a Life then actuall; and in the same sense that God said to Adam, that on the day hee should eate of the forbidden fruit, he should certainly die; from that time forward he was a dead man by sentence; but not by execution, till almost a thousand years after. So Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive by promise, then, when Christ spake; but are not actually till the Resurrection. And the History of Dives and Lazarus, make nothing against this, if wee take it (as it is) for a Parable. But there be other places of the New Testament, where an Immortality seemeth to be directly attributed to the wicked. For it is evident, that they shall all rise to Judgement. And it is said besides in many places, that they shall goe into "Everlasting fire, Everlasting torments, Everlasting punishments; and that the worm of conscience never dyeth;" and all this is comprehended in the word Everlasting Death, which is ordinarily interpreted Everlasting Life In Torments: And yet I can find no where that any man shall live in torments Everlastingly. Also, it seemeth hard, to say, that God who is the Father of Mercies, that doth in Heaven and Earth all that hee will; that hath the hearts of all men in his disposing; that worketh in men both to doe, and to will; and without whose free gift a man hath neither inclination to good, nor repentance of evill, should punish mens transgressions without any end of time, and with all the extremity of torture, that men can imagine, and more. We are therefore to consider, what the meaning is, of Everlasting Fire, and other the like phrases of Scripture. I have shewed already, that the Kingdome of God by Christ beginneth at the day of Judgment: That in that day, the Faithfull shall rise again, with glorious, and spirituall Bodies, and bee his Subjects in that his Kingdome, which shall be Eternall; That they shall neither marry, nor be given in marriage, nor eate and drink, as they did in their naturall bodies; but live for ever in their individuall persons, without the specificall eternity of generation: And that the Reprobates also shall rise again, to receive punishments for their sins: As also, that those of the Elect, which shall be alive in their earthly bodies at that day, shall have their bodies suddenly changed, and made spirituall, and Immortall. But that the bodies of the Reprobate, who make the Kingdome of Satan, shall also be glorious, or spirituall bodies, or that they shall bee as the Angels of God, neither eating, nor drinking, nor engendring; or that their life shall be Eternall in their individuall persons, as the life of every faithfull man is, or as the life of Adam had been if hee had not sinned, there is no place of Scripture to prove it; save onely these places concerning Eternall Torments; which may otherwise be interpreted. From whence may be inferred, that as the Elect after the Resurrection shall be restored to the estate, wherein Adam was before he had sinned; so the Reprobate shall be in the estate, that Adam, and his posterity were in after the sin committed; saving that God promised a Redeemer to Adam, and such of his seed as should trust in him, and repent; but not to them that should die in their sins, as do the Reprobate. Eternall Torments What These things considered, the texts that mention Eternall Fire, Eternal Torments, or the Word That Never Dieth, contradict not the Doctrine of a Second, and Everlasting Death, in the proper and naturall sense of the word Death. The Fire, or Torments prepared for the wicked in Gehenna, Tophet, or in what place soever, may continue for ever; and there may never want wicked men to be tormented in them; though not every, nor any one Eternally. For the wicked being left in the estate they were in after Adams sin, may at the Resurrection live as they did, marry, and give in marriage, and have grosse and corruptible bodies, as all mankind now have; and consequently may engender perpetually, after the Resurrection, as they did before: For there is no place of Scripture to the contrary. For St. Paul, speaking of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15.) understandeth it onely of the Resurrection to Life Eternall; and not the Resurrection to Punishment. And of the first, he saith that the Body is "Sown in Corruption, raised in Incorruption; sown in Dishonour, raised in Honour; sown in Weaknesse, raised in Power; sown a Naturall body, raised a Spirituall body:" There is no such thing can be said of the bodies of them that rise to Punishment. The text is Luke 20. Verses 34,35,36. a fertile text. "The Children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they that shall be counted worthy to obtaine that world, and the Resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more; for they are equall to the Angells, and are the Children of God, being the Children of the Resurrection:" The Children of this world, that are in the estate which Adam left them in, shall marry, and be given in marriage; that is corrupt, and generate successively; which is an Immortality of the Kind, but not of the Persons of men: They are not worthy to be counted amongst them that shall obtain the next world, and an absolute Resurrection from the dead; but onely a short time, as inmates of that world; and to the end onely to receive condign punishment for their contumacy. The Elect are the onely children of the Resurrection; that is to say the sole heirs of Eternall Life: they only can die no more; it is they that are equall to the Angels, and that are the children of God; and not the Reprobate. To the Reprobate there remaineth after the Resurrection, a Second, and Eternall Death: between which Resurrection, and their Second, and Eternall death, is but a time of Punishment and Torment; and to last by succession of sinners thereunto, as long as the kind of Man by propagation shall endure, which is Eternally. Answer Of The Texts Alledged For Purgatory Upon this Doctrine of the Naturall Eternity of separated Soules, is founded (as I said) the Doctrine of Purgatory. For supposing Eternall Life by Grace onely, there is no Life, but the Life of the Body; and no Immortality till the Resurrection. The texts for Purgatory alledged by Bellarmine out of the Canonicall Scripture of the old Testament, are first, the Fasting of David for Saul and Jonathan, mentioned (2 Kings,
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1. Chapter 1 2. 6. OF THE INTERIOUR BEGINNINGS OF VOLUNTARY MOTIONS, COMMONLY CALLED THE 3. 8. OF THE VERTUES, COMMONLY CALLED INTELLECTUALL, AND THEIR CONTRARY 4. 13. OF THE NATURALL CONDITION OF MANKIND AS CONCERNING THEIR FELICITY 5. 16. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THINGS PERSONATED 6. 19. OF SEVERALL KINDS OF COMMON-WEALTH BY INSTITUTION; AND OF SUCCESION 7. 29. OF THOSE THINGS THAT WEAKEN, OR TEND TO THE DISSOLUTION OF A 8. 31. OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY NATURE 9. 33. OF THE NUMBER, ANTIQUITY, SCOPE, AUTHORITY, AND INTERPRETERS OF THE 10. 34. OF THE SIGNIFICATION, OF SPIRIT, ANGELL, AND INSPIRATION IN THE 11. 35. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, OF HOLY, 12. 38. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF ETERNALL LIFE, HEL, SALVATION, 13. 40. OF THE RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, IN ABRAHAM, MOSES, THE HIGH 14. 43. OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR MANS RECEPTION INTO THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN 15. 47. OF THE BENEFIT PROCEEDING FROM SUCH DARKNESSE; AND TO WHOM IT 16. 48. A REVIEW AND CONCLUSION 17. PART I. 18. CHAPTER I. OF SENSE 19. CHAPTER II. OF IMAGINATION 20. CHAPTER III. OF THE CONSEQUENCE OR TRAYNE OF IMAGINATIONS 21. CHAPTER IV. OF SPEECH 22. CHAPTER V. OF REASON, AND SCIENCE. 23. CHAPTER VI. OF THE INTERIOUR BEGINNINGS OF VOLUNTARY MOTIONS 24. CHAPTER VII. OF THE ENDS OR RESOLUTIONS OF DISCOURSE 25. CHAPTER VIII. OF THE VERTUES COMMONLY CALLED INTELLECTUAL; AND THEIR 26. 10. 20.) some said, "He hath a Divell, and is mad;" whereas others 27. CHAPTER IX. OF THE SEVERALL SUBJECTS OF KNOWLEDGE 28. 1. Consequences from the Accidents common to all Bodies Naturall; 29. 2. PHYSIQUES, or Consequences from Qualities 30. 1. Of Consequences from the Institution of COMMON-WEALTHS, to 31. 2. Of Consequences from the same, to the Duty and Right of 32. CHAPTER X. OF POWER, WORTH, DIGNITY, HONOUR AND WORTHINESS 33. CHAPTER XI. OF THE DIFFERENCE OF MANNERS 34. CHAPTER XII. OF RELIGION 35. CHAPTER XIII. OF THE NATURALL CONDITION OF MANKIND, 36. CHAPTER XIV. OF THE FIRST AND SECOND NATURALL LAWES, AND OF CONTRACTS 37. CHAPTER XV. OF OTHER LAWES OF NATURE 38. introduction of Warre; which is against the Law of Nature; and is 39. CHAPTER XVI. OF PERSONS, AUTHORS, AND THINGS PERSONATED 40. PART II. 41. CHAPTER XVII. OF THE CAUSES, GENERATION, AND DEFINITION OF A 42. CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE RIGHTS OF SOVERAIGNES BY INSTITUTION 43. 1. The Subjects Cannot Change The Forme Of Government 44. 2. Soveraigne Power Cannot Be Forfeited 45. 3. No Man Can Without Injustice Protest Against The Institution Of The 46. 4. The Soveraigns Actions Cannot Be Justly Accused By The Subject 47. 5. What Soever The Soveraigne Doth, Is Unpunishable By The Subject 48. 6. The Soveraigne Is Judge Of What Is Necessary For The Peace And 49. 7. The Right of making Rules, whereby the Subject may every man know 50. 8. To Him Also Belongeth The Right Of All Judicature And Decision Of 51. 9. And Of Making War, And Peace, As He Shall Think Best: 52. 10. And Of Choosing All Counsellours, And Ministers, Both Of Peace, And 53. 11. And Of Rewarding, And Punishing, And That (Where No 54. 12. And Of Honour And Order 55. CHAPTER XIX. OF THE SEVERALL KINDS OF COMMON-WEALTH BY INSTITUTION, 56. CHAPTER XX. OF DOMINION PATERNALL AND DESPOTICALL 57. 21. 2,3) "Go into the Village over against you, and you shall find a 58. CHAPTER XXI. OF THE LIBERTY OF SUBJECTS 59. CHAPTER XXII. OF SYSTEMES SUBJECT, POLITICALL, AND PRIVATE 60. CHAPTER XXIII. OF THE PUBLIQUE MINISTERS OF SOVERAIGN POWER 61. CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE NUTRITION, AND PROCREATION OF A COMMON-WEALTH 62. CHAPTER XXV. OF COUNSELL 63. CHAPTER XXVI. OF CIVILL LAWES 64. 1. The Legislator in all Common-wealths, is only the Soveraign, be he 65. 2. The Soveraign of a Common-wealth, be it an Assembly, or one Man, is 66. 3. When long Use obtaineth the authority of a Law, it is not the 67. 4. The Law of Nature, and the Civill Law, contain each other, and are 68. 5. If the Soveraign of one Common-wealth, subdue a people that have 69. 6. Seeing then all Lawes, written, and unwritten, have their Authority, 70. 7. That Law can never be against Reason, our Lawyers are agreed; and 71. 8. From this, that the Law is a Command, and a Command consisteth in 72. 1. The Edicts, Constitutions, and Epistles Of The Prince, that is, of 73. 2. The Decrees Of The Whole People Of Rome (comprehending the Senate,) 74. 3. The Decrees Of The Common People (excluding the Senate,) when they 75. 4. Senatus Consulta, the Orders Of The Senate; because when the people 76. 5. The Edicts Of Praetors, and (in some Cases) of the Aediles: such as 77. 6. Responsa Prudentum; which were the Sentences, and Opinions of those 78. 7. Also, Unwritten Customes, (which in their own nature are an imitation 79. CHAPTER XXVII. OF CRIMES, EXCUSES, AND EXTENUATIONS 80. CHAPTER XXVIII. OF PUNISHMENTS, AND REWARDS 81. CHAPTER XXIX. OF THOSE THINGS THAT WEAKEN, OR TEND TO THE DISSOLUTION OF 82. CHAPTER XXX. OF THE OFFICE OF THE SOVERAIGN REPRESENTATIVE 83. CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD BY NATURE 84. PART III. 85. CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN POLITIQUES 86. CHAPTER XXXIII. OF THE NUMBER, ANTIQUITY, SCOPE, AUTHORITY, AND 87. 27. which was also commanded to be written on stones, in their entry 88. 22. 8 & 23. 1,2,3) 89. 14. 15. 63. 90. 126. whereby it is manifest that the Psalter was compiled, and put into 91. CHAPTER XXXIV. OF THE SIGNIFICATION OF SPIRIT, ANGEL, AND INSPIRATION IN 92. 8. 1. Where when the earth was covered with Waters, as in the beginning, 93. CHAPTER XXXV. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF KINGDOME OF GOD, OF 94. CHAPTER XXXVI. OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND OF PROPHETS 95. 18. 1.) by an apparition of three Angels; and to Abimelech (Gen. 20. 3.) 96. 26. 24.) to Isaac in the night; (that is, in his sleep, or by dream): 97. 12. 6,7,8.) "If there be a Prophet among you, I the Lord will make my 98. 4. 2, &c) speaking expressely of the means to examine Spirits, whether 99. CHAPTER XXXVII. OF MIRACLES, AND THEIR USE 100. 13. 58.) that he wrought not many Miracles in his own countrey, because 101. 18. of Deuteronomy; That wee take not any for Prophets, that teach any 102. CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF ETERNALL LIFE, 103. CHAPTER XXXIX. OF THE SIGNIFICATION IN SCRIPTURE OF THE WORD CHURCH 104. CHAPTER XL OF THE RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOME OF GOD, IN ABRAHAM, MOSES, 105. CHAPTER XLI. OF THE OFFICE OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR 106. CHAPTER XLII. OF POWER ECCLESIASTICALL 107. 24. where he saith, "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be 108. 5. 39.) "Search the Scriptures; for in them yee thinke to have eternall 109. 2. of the same Chapter) "Serving of Tables," is a service done to the 110. CHAPTER XLIII. OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR A MANS RECEPTION INTO THE 111. 11. 30.) that "Christs yoke is Easy, and his burthen Light:" Nor that 112. 4. 2. "Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the 113. PART IV. 114. CHAPTER XLIV. OF SPIRITUALL DARKNESSE FROM MISINTERPRETATION OF 115. 4. ver.3.) "Better is he that hath not yet been, than both they;" that 116. 1. 12.); and againe, (2 Sam. 3. 35.) for the death of Abner. This 117. CHAPTER XLV. OF DAEMONOLOGY, AND OTHER RELIQUES OF THE RELIGION OF THE 118. CHAPTER XLVI. OF DARKNESSE FROM VAIN PHILOSOPHY, AND FABULOUS TRADITIONS 119. CHAPTER XLVII. OF THE BENEFIT THAT PROCEEDETH FROM SUCH DARKNESSE, AND

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