(¶ 1.8) Let us then endeavour to find what account he gives us of this
fatherly Authority, as it lies scattered in the several parts of his
writings. And first, as it was vested in Adam, he says
"Not only Adam, but the succeeding patriarchs, had by right of
fatherhood royal authority over their children"
[Filmer].
"This lordship which Adam by command had over the whole world, and by
right descending from him the patriarchs did enjoy, was as large and ample
as the absolute dominion of any monarch which has been since creation"
[Filmer]
"Dominion of life and death, making war, and concluding peace"
[Filmer]
"Adam and the patriarchs had absolute power of life and death"
[Filmer]
"Kings, in the right of parents, succeed to the exercise of supreme
jurisdiction"
[Filmer]
"As kingly power is by the law of God, so it has no inferior law to
limit it, Adam was lord of all."
[Filmer]
"The father of a family governs by no other law than by his own
will"
[Filmer]
"The superiority of princes is above laws"
[Filmer]
"The unlimited jurisdiction of kings is so amply described by
Samuel"
[Filmer]
"Kings are above the laws"
[Filmer]
And to this purpose, see a great deal more which our A......... delivers in
Bodin's words: [etc] O. p.279. [Then returns to Filmer quotes:]
"The reason why laws have been also made by kings was this: When kings
were either busied with wars, or distracted with public cares, so that
every private man could not have access to their persons, to learn their
will and pleasure, then were laws of necessity invented, that so every
particular subject might find his prince's pleasure deciphered unto him in
the table of his laws"
[Filmer]
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