in the magistracy, it is complete. Now there being no other
commonwealth but this in art or nature, it is no wonder if
Machiavel has shown us that the ancients held this only to be
good; but it seems strange to me that they should hold that there
could be any other, for if there be such a thing as pure
monarchy, yet that there should be such a one as pure aristocracy
or pure democracy is not in my understanding. But the magistracy,
both in number and function, is different in different
commonwealths. Nevertheless there is one condition of it that
must be the same in every one, or it dissolves the commonwealth
where it is wanting. And this is no less than that, as the hand
of the magistrate is the executive power of the law, so the head
of the magistrate is answerable to the people, that his execution
be according to the law; by which Leviathan may see that the hand
or sword that executes the law is in it and not above it.
Now whether I have rightly transcribed these principles of a
commonwealth out of nature, I shall appeal to God and to the
world -- to God in the fabric of the Commonwealth of Israel, and
to the world in the universal series of ancient prudence. But in
regard the same commonwealths will be opened at large in the
Council of legislators, I shall touch them for the present but
slightly, beginning with that of Israel.
The Commonwealth of Israel consisted of the Senate, the
people, and the magistracy.
The people by their first division, which was genealogical,
were contained under their thirteen tribes, houses, or families;
whereof the first-born in each was prince of his tribe, and had
the leading of it: the tribe of Levi only, being set apart to
serve at the altar, had no other prince but the high-priest. In
their second division they were divided locally by their
agrarian, or the distribution of the land of Canaan to them by
lot, the tithe of all remaining to Levi; whence, according to
their local division, the tribes are reckoned but twelve.
The assemblies of the people thus divided were methodically
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