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bound in time to perish。 （206） I am now speaking only of the first
commonwealth； for the second was a mere shadow of the first； inasmuch as the
people were bound by the rights of the Persians to whom they were subject。
（207） After the restoration of freedom； the high priests usurped the rights
of the secular chiefs； and thus obtained absolute dominion。 （208） The
priests were inflamed with an intense desire to wield the powers of the
sovereignty and the high priesthood at the same time。 （209） I have；
therefore； no need to speak further of the second commonwealth。 （210）
Whether the first； in so far as we deem it to have been durable； is capable
of imitation； and whether it would be pious to copy it as far as possible；
will appear from what fellows。 （211） I wish only to draw attention； as a
crowning conclusion； to the principle indicated already … namely； that it is
evident； from what we have stated in this chapter； that the Divine right； or
the right of religion； originates in a compact： without such compact；
none but natural rights exist。 （212） The Hebrews were not bound by their
religion to evince any pious care for other nations not included in the
compact； but only for their own fellow…citizens。
＇18：0＇ CHAPTER XVIII … FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE HEBREWS； AND
THEIR HISTORY； CERTAIN POLITICAL DOCTRINES ARE DEDUCED。
＇18：1＇ （1） Although the commonwealth of the Hebrews； as we have conceived
it； might have lasted for ever； it would be impossible to imitate it at the
present day； nor would it be advisable so to do。 （2） If a people wished to
transfer their rights to God it would be necessary to make an express
covenant with Him； and for this would be needed not only the consent of
those transferring their rights； but also the consent of God。 （3） God；
however； has revealed through his Apostles that the covenant of God is no
longer written in ink； or on tables of stone； but with the Spirit of God in
the fleshy tables of the heart。
（18：4） Furthermore； such a form of government would only be available for
those who desire to have no foreign relations； but to shut themselves up
within their own frontiers； and to live apart from the rest of the world； it
would be useless to men who must have dealings with other nations； so that
the cases where it could be adopted are very few indeed。
（18：5） Nevertheless； though it could not be copied in its entirety； it
possessed many excellent features which might be brought to our notice； and
perhaps imitated with advantage。 （6） My intention； however； is not to write
a treatise on forms of government； so I will pass over most of such points
in silence； and will only touch on those which bear upon my purpose。
（18：7） God's kingdom is not infringed upon by the choice of an earthly ruler
endowed with sovereign rights； for after the Hebrews had transferred their
rights to God； they conferred the sovereign right of ruling on Moses；
investing him with the sole power of instituting and abrogating laws in
the name of God； of choosing priests； of judging； of teaching； of
punishing … in fact； all the prerogatives of an absolute monarch。
（18：8） Again； though the priests were the interpreters of the laws； they had
no power to judge the citizens； or to excommunicate anyone： this could only
be done by the judges and chiefs chosen from among the people。 （9） A
consideration of the successes and the histories of the Hebrews will bring
to light other considerations worthy of note。 To wit：
（18：9） I。 That there were no religious sects； till after the high priests；
in the second commonwealth； possessed the authority to make decrees； and
transact the business of government。 （10） In order that such authority might
last for ever； the high priests usurped the rights of secular rulers； and
at last wished to be styled kings。 （11） The reason for this is ready to
hand； in the first commonwealth no decrees could bear the name of the high
priest； for he had no right to ordain laws； but only to give the answers of
God to questions asked by the captains or the councils： he had； therefore；
no motive for making changes in the law； but took care； on the contrary； to
administer and guard what had already been received and accepted。 （12） His
only means of preserving his freedom in safety against the will of the
captains lay in cherishing the law intact。 （13） After the high priests had
assumed the power of carrying on the government； and added the rights of
secular rulers to those they already possessed； each one began both in
things religious and in things secular； to seek for the glorification of his
own name； settling everything by sacerdotal authority； and issuing every
day； concerning ceremonies； faith； and all else； new decrees which he sought
to make as sacred and authoritative as the laws of Moses。 （14） Religion thus
sank into a degrading superstition； while the true meaning and
interpretation of the laws became corrupted。 （15） Furthermore； while the
high priests were paving their way to the secular rule just after the
restoration； they attempted to gain popular favour by assenting to
every demand； approving whatever the people did； however impious； and
accommodating Scripture to the very depraved current morals。 （16） Malachi
bears witness to this in no measured terms： he chides the priests of his
time as despisers of the name of God； and then goes on with his invective as
follows （Mal ii：7； 8）： 〃For the priest's lips should keep knowledge；
and they should seek the law at his mouth： for he is the messenger of
the Lord of hosts。 （17） But ye are departed out of the way； ye have
caused many to stumble at the law； ye have corrupted the covenant of
Levi； saith the Lord of hosts。〃 （18） He further accuses them of interpreting
the laws according to their own pleasure； and paying no respect to God but
only to persons。 （19） It is certain that the high priests were never so
cautious in their conduct as to escape the remark of the more shrewd among
the people； for the latter were at length emboldened to assert that no
laws ought to be kept save those that were written； and that the decrees
which the Pharisees （consisting； as Josephus says in his 〃 Amtiquities；〃
chiefly； of the common people）； were deceived into calling the traditions of
the fathers； should not be observed at all。 （20） However this may be； we can
in nowise doubt that flattery of the high priest； the corruption of religion
and the laws； and the enormous increase of the extent of the last…named；
gave very great and frequent occasion for disputes and altercations
impossible to allay。 （21） When men begin to quarrel with all the ardour of
superstition； and the magistracy to back up one side or the other； they can
never come to a compromise； but are bound to split into s