and thus in the state of nature one men comes by a power over another; but yet no absolute or arbitrary power to use a criminal, when he has got him in his hands, according to the passionate heats or boundless extravagancy of his transgression. In transgressing the law of nature, the offender declares himself to live by another rule than that of reason and common equity, which is that measure. God has set to the action of men for their mutual security; and so he becomes dangerous to manking