Liberty, Covenant, and the Old Testament Roots of English Political Thought
Topic
These readings explore the ways in which a number of leading early modern political theorists (Spinoza, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, James Harrington, and John Milton) were influenced by the Old Testament, in particular the ideas of God giving the Law to Moses and the covenant between God and the Hebrew people.
Guide to the Readings
Editions used:
- The Parallel Bible. The Holy Bible containing the Old
and New Testaments translated out of the Original Tongues: being the Authorised
Version arranged in parallel columns with the Revised Version (Oxford
University Press, 1885).
- Benedict de Spinoza, The Chief Works of Benedict de Spinoza, translated
from the Latin, with an Introduction by R.H.M. Elwes, vol. 1 Introduction,
Tractatus-Theologico-Politicus, Tractatus Politicus. Revised edition (London:
George Bell and Sons, 1891).
-
Hobbes’s Leviathan reprinted from the edition of 1651
with an Essay by the Late W.G. Pogson Smith (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1909).
-
John Locke, Two Treatises of Government, ed. Thomas Hollis (London: A. Millar et al.,
1764).
-
James Harrington, The Oceana and Other Works of James
Harrington, with
an Account of His Life by John Toland (London: Becket and Cadell, 1771).
- John Milton, The Prose Works of John Milton, With a Biographical
Introduction by Rufus Wilmot Griswold. In Two Volumes (Philadelphia: John W. Moore, 1847).
See also in the Online Library of Liberty:
Tips on How To use the Online Library of Liberty.
For additional reading see;
Session I: Old Testament
The Parallel Bible. The Holy Bible containing the Old
and New Testaments translated out of the Original Tongues: being the Authorised
Version arranged in parallel columns with the Revised Version (Oxford
University Press, 1885).
Session II: Spinoza
Benedict de Spinoza, The Chief Works of Benedict de Spinoza, translated
from the Latin, with an Introduction by R.H.M. Elwes, vol. 1 Introduction,
Tractatus-Theologico-Politicus, Tractatus Politicus. Revised edition (London:
George Bell and Sons, 1891).
- Chapter XVII.: It Is Shown That No One Can,
Or Need, Transfer All His Rights to the Sovereign Power. of the Hebrew
Republic, As It Was During the Lifetime Or Moses, and After His Death,
Till the Foundation of the Monarchy; and of Its Excellence.
- Chapter XVIII.: From the Commonwealth of the Hebrews, and Their History,
Certain Political Doctrines Are Deduced
- Chapter XIX.: It Is Shown That the Right Over Matters Spirittual, Lies Wholly
With the Sovereign, and That the Outward Forms of Religion Should Be In Accordance
With Public Peace, If We Would Obey God Aright
Session III: Hobbes
Hobbes’s Leviathan reprinted from the edition of 1651
with an Essay by the Late W.G. Pogson Smith (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1909).
Session IV: Locke
Two Treatises of Government, ed. Thomas Hollis (London: A. Millar et al.,
1764).
- First Treatise
- Second Treatise
Session V: Harrington
James Harrington, The Oceana and Other Works of James
Harrington, with
an Account of His Life by John Toland (London: Becket and Cadell, 1771).
Session VI: Milton
John Milton, The Prose Works of John Milton, With a Biographical
Introduction by Rufus Wilmot Griswold. In Two Volumes (Philadelphia: John W. Moore, 1847).
Vol. 2.
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