_Of Fundamentals._
Every Party, when they find a Maxim for their turn, they presently call it
a Fundamental, they think they nail it with a Peg of Iron, whereas in
truth they only tie it with a wisp of Straw.
The word soundeth so well that the Impropriety of it hath been the less
observed. But as weighty as the word appeareth, no Feather hath been more
blown about in the World than this word, _Fundamental_.
It is one of those Mistakes that at sometimes may be of use, but it is a
Mistake still.
Fundamental is used as Men use their Friends; commend them when they have
need of them, and when they fall out, find a hundred Objections to them.
Fundamental is a Pedestal that Men set every thing upon that they would
not have broken. It is a Nail every body would use to fix that which is
good for them: for all Men would have that Principle to be immoveable,
that serves their use at the time.
Every thing that is created is Mortal, _ergo_ all Fundamentals of human
Creation will die.
A true Fundamental must be like the Foundation of a House; if it is
undermined the whole House falleth.
The Fundamentals in Divinity have been changed in several Ages of the
World.
They have made no difficulty in the several Councils, to destroy and
excommunicate Men for asserting Things that at other Times were called
Fundamentals.
Philosophy, Astronomy, _&c._ have changed their Fundamentals as the Men of
Art no doubt called them at the time. Motion of the Earth, _&c._
Even in Morality one may more properly say, There _should be_ Fundamentals
allowed, than that there _are_ any which in Strictness can be maintained.
However this is the least uncertain Foundation: Fundamental is less
improperly applied here than any where else.
Wise and good Men will in all Ages stick to some Fundamentals, look upon
them as sacred, and preserve an inviolable Respect for them; but Mankind
in general make Morality a more malleable thing than it ought to be.
There is then no certain Fundamental but in _Nature_, and yet _there_ are
Objections too. It is a Fundamental in Nature that the Son should not kill
the Father, and yet the Senate of _Venice_ gave a Reward to a Son who
brought in his Father's Head, according to a Proclamation.
_Salus Populi_ is an unwritten Law, yet that doth not hinder but that it
is sometimes very visible; and as often as it is so, it supersedeth all
other Laws which are subordinate Things compared.
The great Punishments upon Self-murder, are Arguments that it was rather a
tempting Sin to be discouraged than an unnatural Act.
It is a Fundamental that where a Man intendeth no hurt he should receive
none, yet Manslaughter, _&c._ are Cases of Mercy.
That a Boy under Ten shall not suffer Death, yet where _Malitia supplet
aetatem_, otherwise.
That there were Witches--much shaken of late.
That the King is not to be deceived in his Grant--The practical
Fundamental the contrary.
That what is given to God cannot be alienated. Yet in practice it is,
Treaties, _&c._ and even by the Church itself, when they get a better
bargain by it.
I can make no other Definition of a true Fundamental than this: _viz._
That whatever a Man hath a desire to do or to hinder, if he hath
uncontested and irresistable Power to effect it, that he will certainly
do it.
If he thinketh he hath that Power, though he hath it not, he will
certainly go about it.
Some would define a Fundamental to be the settling the Laws of Nature and
common Equity in such a sort as that they may be well administered: even
in this case there can be nothing _fixed_, but it must _vary_ for the Good
of the whole.
A Constitution cannot make itself; some body made it, not at once but at
several times. It is alterable; and by that draweth nearer Perfection; and
without suiting itself to differing Times and Circumstances, it could not
live. Its Life is prolonged by changing seasonably the several Parts of it
at several times.
The Reverence that is given to a Fundamental, in a general unintelligible
Notion, would be much better applyed to that _Supremacy or Power_ which is
set up in every Nation in differing Shapes, that altereth the Constitution
as often as the Good of the People requireth it.
Neither _King_ nor _People_ would now like just the _original
Constitution_, without any varyings.
If Kings are only answerable to God, that doth not secure them even in
this World; since if God upon the Appeal thinketh fit not to stay, he
maketh the People his Instruments.
I am persuaded that where ever any single Man had Power to do himself
right upon a _deceitful Trustee_, he would do it. That Thought well
digested would go a great way towards the discouraging Invasions upon
Rights, _&c._
I lay down then as a Fundamental, 1st, that in every Constitution there is
_some Power_ which neither will nor ought to be bounded.
2. That the King's Prerogative should be as _plain_ a thing as the
People's Obedience.
3. That a Power which may by parity of Reason destroy the whole Laws, can
never be reserved by the Laws.
4. That in all limited Governments it must give the Governor Power to
_hurt_, but it can never be so interpreted as to give him Power to
_destroy_, for then in effect it would cease to be a limited Government.
5. That Severity be rare and great; for as _Tacitus_ sayeth of _Nero_,
"Frequent Punishments made the People call even his Justice Cruelty."
6. That it is necessary to make the Instruments of Power easy; for Power
is hard enough to be digested by those under it at the best.
7. That the People are never so perfectly backed, but that they will kick
and sting if not stroked at seasonable times.
8. That a Prince must think if he loseth his People he can never regain
them.
It is both wise and safe to think so.