Contracts

"The mutual transferring of right, is that which men call CONTRACT." (IP3 576b)

Covenant Definition

"... one of the contractors, may deliver the thing contracted for on his part, and leave the other to perform his part at some determinate time after, and in the mean time be trusted: and then the contract on his part, is called ... COVENANT ..." (IP3 576b)

Third Law of Nature

"that men perform their covenants made" (IP3 577a)

Justice and Covenants

"the definition of INJUSTICE, is no other than the not performance of covenant." (IP3 577a)

Power Needed

"... covenants of mutual trust, where there is a fear of no performance on either part ... are invalid." (IP3 577a)

"Therefore before the names just, and unjust can have place, there must be some coercive power, to compel men equally to the performance of their covenants, by the terror of some punishment, greater than the benefit they expect by the breach of their covenant ..." (IP3 577b)