ΤΟ

MY MOST HONOR'D FRIEND

Mr FRANCIS GODOLPHIN

Honor'd Sir,

YOU

of Godolphin.

Our most worthy Brother M Sidney Godolphin, when he lived, was pleas'd to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person. For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhærent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend, on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, 'tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded. But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill

Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there,) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily; for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power. If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decryed, you may be pleased to excuse your selfe, and say I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your Brother, and honour you, and have presum'd on that, to assume the Title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am,

Paris. Aprill. 1651.

SIR,

Your most humble, and most obedient servant,

THO. HOBBES.

2. Of Imagination.

3. Of the Consequence or Train of Imaginations.
4. Of Speech.

5. Of Reason and Science.

6. Of the interiour Beginnings of Voluntary Motions,
commonly called the Passions; And the Speeches
by which they are expressed.

7. Of the Ends or Resolutions of Discourse.

8.

Of the Vertues, commonly called Intellectuall, and
their contrary Defects.

9. Of the severall Subjects of Knowledge.

10. Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour, and Worthi-

nesse.

11. Of the Difference of Manners.

12. Of Religion.

13. Of the Naturall Condition of Mankind as concerning

their Felicity and Misery.

14. Of the first and second Naturall Lawes, and of

Contract.

15. Of other Lawes of Nature.

16. Of Persons, Authors, and things Personated.