a paſſionate and haſty, but a ſedate ſettled deſign upon another man's life, puts him in a ſtate of war with him againſt whom he has declared ſuch an intention, and ſo has expoſed his life to the other's power to be taken away by him, or any one that joins with him in his defence, and eſpouſes his quarrel; it being reaſonable and juſt, I ſhould have a right to deſtroy that which threatens me with deſtruction: for, by the fundamental law of nature, man being to be preſerved as much as poſſible, when all cannot be preſerved, the ſafety of the innocent is to be preferred: and one may deſtroy a man who makes war upon him, or has diſcovered an enmity to his being, for the ſame reaſon that he may kill a wolf or a lion; becauſe ſuch men are not under the ties of the common-law of reaſon, have no other rule, but that of force and violence, and ſo may be treated as beaſts of prey, thoſe dangerous and noxious creatures, that will be ſure to deſtroy him whenever he falls into their power.
§. 17. And hence it is, that he who attempts to get another man into his abſolute power, does thereby put himſelf into a ſtate of war with him; it being to be underſtood as a declaration of a deſign upon his life: for I have reaſon to conclude, that he who would get me into his power without my conſent, would uſe me as he pleaſed when he had got me there, and deſtroy me too
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