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BENEDICT DE SPINOZA: Theological-Political Treatise

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chapter 18<br />

Some political principles are inferred from the<br />

Hebrew state and its history<br />

[1] The Hebrew state, as we analysed it in the last chapter,mighthave<br />

lasted for ever, but no one can now imitate it, and it would not be wise<br />

to try to do so. For if anyone wished to transfer their right to God, they<br />

would have to make an explicit covenant with God, just as the Hebrews<br />

did, and this would require not only the will of those who were transferring<br />

their right, but also the will of God to whom it was to be<br />

transferred. But God has revealed through the Apostles that His covenant<br />

is no longer written in ink or on stone tablets but rather on the<br />

heart by the spirit of God. 1 Moreover, such a form of state would<br />

probably only be useful to those desirous of living without interacting<br />

with others, shutting themselves up within their own borders and<br />

separating themselves from the rest of the world, but not to those who<br />

need to have commerce with others. There are very few who would ¢nd<br />

such a form of state advantageous to them. Yet though it cannot be<br />

emulated as a whole, it nevertheless has numerous features that are at<br />

least well worth noticing, and which it would perhaps be very wise to<br />

imitate.<br />

[2] Since, as I said above, it is not my intention to discuss the state<br />

systematically, I will leave out a great many things and specify only what<br />

222 is relevant to my purpose. First, it is not contrary to God’s rule to choose<br />

a supreme magistrate who will have the sovereign right of government.<br />

After the Hebrews transferred their right to God, they handed over the<br />

1 2 Corinthians 3.3.<br />

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