Thesamemaybesaidofwounds，andchains，andimprisonment，bothbecausethereisnobenefitconsequenttosuchpatience，asthereistothepatienceofsufferinganothertobewoundedorimprisoned，asalsobecauseamancannottellwhenheseethmenproceedagainsthimbyviolencewhethertheyintendhisdeathornot。Andlastlythemotiveandendforwhichthisrenouncingandtransferringofrightisintroducedisnothingelsebutthesecurityofaman’sperson，inhislife，andinthemeansofsopreservinglifeasnottobewearyofit。Andthereforeifamanbywords，orothersigns，seemtodespoilhimselfoftheendforwhichthosesignswereintended，heisnottobeunderstoodasifhemeantit，orthatitwashiswill，butthathewasignorantofhowsuchwordsandactionsweretobeinterpreted。
Themutualtransferringofrightisthatwhichmencallcontract。
Thereisdifferencebetweentransferringofrighttothething，thething，andtransferringortradition，thatis，deliveryofthethingitself。Forthethingmaybedeliveredtogetherwiththetranslationoftheright，asinbuyingandsellingwithreadymoney，orexchangeofgoodsorlands，anditmaybedeliveredsometimeafter。
Again，oneofthecontractorsmaydeliverthethingcontractedforonhispart，andleavetheothertoperformhispartatsomedeterminatetimeafter，andinthemeantimebetrusted；andthenthecontractonhispartiscalledpact，orcovenant：orbothpartsmaycontractnowtoperformhereafter，inwhichcaseshethatistoperformintimetocome，beingtrusted，hisperformanceiscalledkeepingofpromise，orfaith，andthefailingofperformance，ifitbevoluntary，violationoffaith。
Whenthetransferringofrightisnotmutual，butoneofthepartiestransferrethinhopetogaintherebyfriendshiporservicefromanother，orfromhisfriends；orinhopetogainthereputationofcharity，ormagnanimity；ortodeliverhismindfromthepainofcompassion；orinhopeofrewardinheaven；thisisnotcontract，butgift，freegift，grace：whichwordssignifyoneandthesamething。
Signsofcontractareeitherexpressorbyinference。Expressarewordsspokenwithunderstandingofwhattheysignify：andsuchwordsareeitherofthetimepresentorpast；as，Igive，Igrant，Ihavegiven，Ihavegranted，Iwillthatthisbeyours：orofthefuture；
as，Iwillgive，Iwillgrant，whichwordsofthefuturearecalledpromise。
Signsbyinferencearesometimestheconsequenceofwords；sometimestheconsequenceofsilence；sometimestheconsequenceofactions；
sometimestheconsequenceofforbearinganaction：andgenerallyasignbyinference，ofanycontract，iswhatsoeversufficientlyarguesthewillofthecontractor。
Wordsalone，iftheybeofthetimetocome，andcontainabarepromise，areaninsufficientsignofafreegiftandthereforenotobligatory。Foriftheybeofthetimetocome，as，tomorrowIwillgive，theyareasignIhavenotgivenyet，andconsequentlythatmyrightisnottransferred，butremainethtillItransferitbysomeotheract。Butifthewordsbeofthetimepresent，orpast，as，I
havegiven，ordogivetobedeliveredtomorrow，thenismytomorrow’srightgivenawaytoday；andthatbythevirtueofthewords，thoughtherewerenootherargumentofmywill。Andthereisagreatdifferenceinthesignificationofthesewords，volohoctuumessecras，andcrasdabo；thatis，betweenIwillthatthisbethinetomorrow，and，Iwillgiveittheetomorrow：forthewordIwill，intheformermannerofspeech，signifiesanactofthewillpresent；butinthelatter，itsignifiesapromiseofanactofthewilltocome：
andthereforetheformerwords，beingofthepresent，transferafutureright；thelatter，thatbeofthefuture，transfernothing。Butiftherebeothersignsofthewilltotransferarightbesideswords；
then，thoughthegiftbefree，yetmaytherightbeunderstoodtopassbywordsofthefuture：asifamanpropoundaprizetohimthatcomesfirsttotheendofarace，thegiftisfree；andthoughthewordsbeofthefuture，yettherightpasseth：forifhewouldnothavehiswordssobeunderstood，heshouldnothaveletthemrun。
Incontractstherightpasseth，notonlywherethewordsareofthetimepresentorpast，butalsowheretheyareofthefuture，becauseallcontractismutualtranslation，orchangeofright；andthereforehethatpromisethonly，becausehehathalreadyreceivedthebenefitforwhichhepromiseth，istobeunderstoodasifheintendedtherightshouldpass：forunlesshehadbeencontenttohavehiswordssounderstood，theotherwouldnothaveperformedhispartfirst。Andforthatcause，inbuying，andselling，andotheractsofcontract，apromiseisequivalenttoacovenant，andthereforeobligatory。
Hethatperformethfirstinthecaseofacontractissaidtomeritthatwhichheistoreceivebytheperformanceoftheother，andhehathitasdue。Alsowhenaprizeispropoundedtomany，whichistobegiventohimonlythatwinneth，ormoneyisthrownamongstmanytobeenjoyedbythemthatcatchit；thoughthisbeafreegift，yetsotowin，orsotocatch，istomerit，andtohaveitasdue。Fortherightistransferredinthepropoundingoftheprize，andinthrowingdownthemoney，thoughitbenotdeterminedtowhom，butbytheeventofthecontention。Butthereisbetweenthesetwosortsofmeritthisdifference，thatincontractImeritbyvirtueofmyownpowerandthecontractor’sneed，butinthiscaseoffreegiftIamenabledtomeritonlybythebenignityofthegiver：incontractI
meritatthecontractor’shandthatheshoulddepartwithhisright；
inthiscaseofgift，Imeritnotthatthegivershouldpartwithhisright，butthatwhenhehaspartedwithit，itshouldbemineratherthananother’s。AndthisIthinktobethemeaningofthatdistinctionoftheSchoolsbetweenmeritumcongruiandmeritumcondigni。ForGodAlmighty，havingpromisedparadisetothosemen，hoodwinkedwithcarnaldesires，thatcanwalkthroughthisworldaccordingtothepreceptsandlimitsprescribedbyhim，theysayhethatshallsowalkshallmeritparadiseexcongruo。Butbecausenomancandemandarighttoitbyhisownrighteousness，oranyotherpowerinhimself，butbythefreegraceofGodonly，theysaynomancanmeritparadiseexcondigno。This，Isay，Ithinkisthemeaningofthatdistinction；butbecausedisputersdonotagreeuponthesignificationoftheirowntermsofartlongerthanitservestheirturn，Iwillnotaffirmanythingoftheirmeaning：onlythisIsay；
whenagiftisgivenindefinitely，asaprizetobecontendedfor，hethatwinnethmeriteth，andmayclaimtheprizeasdue。
Ifacovenantbemadewhereinneitherofthepartiesperformpresently，buttrustoneanother，intheconditionofmerenaturewhichisaconditionofwarofeverymanagainsteverymanuponanyreasonablesuspicion，itisvoid：butiftherebeacommonpowersetoverthemboth，withrightandforcesufficienttocompelperformance，itisnotvoid。Forhethatperformethfirsthasnoassurancetheotherwillperformafter，becausethebondsofwordsaretooweaktobridlemen’sambition，avarice，anger，andotherpassions，withoutthefearofsomecoercivepower；whichintheconditionofmerenature，whereallmenareequal，andjudgesofthejustnessoftheirownfears，cannotpossiblybesupposed。Andthereforehewhichperformethfirstdoesbutbetrayhimselftohisenemy，contrarytotherighthecanneverabandonofdefendinghislifeandmeansofliving。
Butinacivilestate，wherethereapowersetuptoconstrainthosethatwouldotherwiseviolatetheirfaith，thatfearisnomorereasonable；andforthatcause，hewhichbythecovenantistoperformfirstisobligedsotodo。
Thecauseoffear，whichmakethsuchacovenantinvalid，mustbealwayssomethingarisingafterthecovenantmade，assomenewfactorothersignofthewillnottoperform，elseitcannotmakethecovenantvoid。Forthatwhichcouldnothinderamanfrompromisingoughtnottobeadmittedasahindranceofperforming。
Hethattransferrethanyrighttransferreththemeansofenjoyingit，asfarasliethinhispower。Ashethatsellethlandisunderstoodtotransfertheherbageandwhatsoevergrowsuponit；norcanhethatsellsamillturnawaythestreamthatdrivesit。Andtheythatgivetoamantherightofgovernmentinsovereigntyareunderstoodtogivehimtherightoflevyingmoneytomaintainsoldiers，andofappointingmagistratesfortheadministrationofjustice。
Tomakecovenantswithbrutebeastsisimpossible，becausenotunderstandingourspeech，theyunderstandnot，noracceptofanytranslationofright，norcantranslateanyrighttoanother：andwithoutmutualacceptation，thereisnocovenant。
TomakecovenantwithGodisimpossiblebutbymediationofsuchasGodspeakethto，eitherbyrevelationsupernaturalorbyHislieutenantsthatgovernunderHimandinHisname：forotherwiseweknownotwhetherourcovenantsbeacceptedornot。Andthereforetheythatvowanythingcontrarytoanylawofnature，vowinvain，asbeingathingunjusttopaysuchvow。Andifitbeathingcommandedbythelawofnature，itisnotthevow，butthelawthatbindsthem。
Thematterorsubjectofacovenantisalwayssomethingthatfallethunderdeliberation，fortocovenantisanactofthewill；thatistosay，anact，andthelastact，ofdeliberation；andisthereforealwaysunderstoodtobesomethingtocome，andwhichjudgedpossibleforhimthatcovenantethtoperform。
Andtherefore，topromisethatwhichisknowntobeimpossibleisnocovenant。Butifthatproveimpossibleafterwards，whichbeforewasthoughtpossible，thecovenantisvalidandbindeth，thoughnottothethingitself，yettothevalue；or，ifthatalsobeimpossible，totheunfeignedendeavourofperformingasmuchasispossible，fortomorenomancanbeobliged。
Menarefreedoftheircovenantstwoways；byperforming，orbybeingforgiven。Forperformanceisthenaturalendofobligation，andforgivenesstherestitutionofliberty，asbeingaretransferringofthatrightinwhichtheobligationconsisted。
Covenantsenteredintobyfear，intheconditionofmerenature，areobligatory。Forexample，ifIcovenanttopayaransom，orserviceformylife，toanenemy，Iamboundbyit。Foritisacontract，whereinonereceiveththebenefitoflife；theotheristoreceivemoney，orserviceforit，andconsequently，wherenootherlawasintheconditionofmerenatureforbiddeththeperformance，thecovenantisvalid。Thereforeprisonersofwar，iftrustedwiththepaymentoftheirransom，areobligedtopayit：andifaweakerprincemakeadisadvantageouspeacewithastronger，forfear，heisboundtokeepit；unlessashathbeensaidbeforetherearisethsomenewandjustcauseoffeartorenewthewar。AndeveninCommonwealths，ifIbeforcedtoredeemmyselffromathiefbypromisinghimmoney，Iamboundtopayit，tillthecivillawdischargeme。ForwhatsoeverImaylawfullydowithoutobligation，thesameImaylawfullycovenanttodothroughfear：andwhatIlawfullycovenant，Icannotlawfullybreak。
Aformercovenantmakesvoidalater。Foramanthathathpassedawayhisrighttoonemantodayhathitnottopasstomorrowtoanother：andthereforethelaterpromisepassethnoright，butisnull。