Thus, the interests of society require, that contracts be fulfilled; and there is not a more material article either of natural or civil justice: But the omission of a trifling circumstance will often, by law, invalidate a contract, in foro humano, but not in foro conscientiae, as divines express themselves.

In these cases, the magistrate is supposed only to withdraw his power of enforcing the right, not to have altered the right.

Where his intention extends to the right, and is conformable to the interests of society; it never fails to alter the right; a clear proof of the origin of justice and of property, as assigned above.] WHAT IS A MAN'S PROPERTY?
Anything which it is lawful for him, and for him alone, to use.

BUT WHAT RULE HAVE WE, BY WHICH WE CAN DISTINGUISH THESE OBJECTS?
Here we must have recourse to statutes, customs, precedents, analogies, and a hundred other circumstances; some of which are constant and inflexible, some variable and arbitrary.

But the ultimate point, in which they all professedly terminate, is the interest and happiness of human society.