BOOK III PART II
ties are connected with our natural, that the for-
mer are invented chiefly for the sake of the lat-
ter; and that the principal object of government
is to constrain men to observe the laws of na-
ture. In this respect, however, that law of na-
ture, concerning the performance of promises,
is only comprized along with the rest; and its
exact observance is to be considered as an ef-
fect of the institution of government, and not
the obedience to government as an effect of the
obligation of a promise. Though the object of
our civil duties be the enforcing of our natu-
ral, yet the first (First in time, not in dignity or
force.) motive of the invention, as well as per-
formance of both, is nothing but self-interest:
and since there is a separate interest in the obe-
dience to government, from that in the perfor-
mance of promises, we must also allow of a
separate obligation. To obey the civil magis-