Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Books III and IV: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Books III and IV, credited to Thomas Hobbes, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

Librivox recording of Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Books III and IV by Thomas Hobbes. Read by LibriVox Volunteers. In Books 3 and 4 of Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes elaborates on the political philosophy set forth in the first two books, by considering the nature of a Christian commonwealth. Book 3 begins with a wealth of biblical scholarship, directed at establishing the authority of Scripture while at the same time undermining modern claims to supernatural revelation that would subvert civil law. Hobbes concludes that we cannot be sure of anyone else's divine revelation, and that religious authority is therefore subordinate to civil power. Book 4, titled “Of the Kingdom of Darkness,” sets forth the various ways in which Scripture has been misinterpreted by the church, according to Hobbes, in mixing pagan elements with Christianity. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Leon Mire) For more free audiobooks, or to become a volunteer reader, please visit librivox.org.

Recording facts

• Recording title: Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, Books III and IV
• Author credits: Thomas Hobbes
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 24
• Listed recording duration: 10:54:20

Catalogue topics

• political philosophy
• Christian commonwealth
• religion

Track guide

1. 01 - Of the Principles of Christian Politics — 13:47
2. 02 - Chapter XXXIII - Of the Number, Antiquity, Scope, Authority, and Interpreters of the Books of Holy Scripture — 26:40
3. 03 - Chapter XXXIV - Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture — 31:53
4. 04 - Chapter XXXV - Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament — 17:49
5. 05 - Chapter XXXVI - Of the Word of God, and of Prophets — 36:45
6. 06 - Chapter XXXVII - Of Miracles and Their Use — 16:26
7. 07 - Chapter XXXVIII - Of the Signification in Scripture of Eternal Life, Hell, Salvation, the World to Come, and Redemption — 36:07
8. 08 - Chapter XXXIX - Of the Signification in Scripture of the Word Church — 5:58
9. 09 - Chapter XL - Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah — 32:26
10. 10 - Chapter XLI - Of the office of our blessed saviour — 19:36
11. 11 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 1 — 29:11
12. 12 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 2 — 37:49
13. 13 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 3 — 28:28
14. 14 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 4 — 20:37
15. 15 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 5 — 40:05
16. 16 - Chapter XLII - Of Power Ecclesiastical, Part 6 — 29:23
17. 17 - Chapter XLIII - Of What is Necessary for a Man's Redemption into the Kingdom of Heaven — 34:38
18. 18 - Chapter XLIV - Of Spiritual Darkness from the Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 1 — 38:00
19. 19 - Chapter XLIV - Of Spiritual Darkness from Misinterpretation of Scripture, Part 2 — 25:48
20. 20 - Chapter XLV - Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, Part 1 — 24:34
21. 21 - Chapter XLV - Of Demonology and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles, Part 2 — 22:43
22. 22 - Chapter XLVI - Of Darkness from Vain Philosophy and Fabulous Traditions — 42:01
23. 23 - Chapter XLVII - Of the Benefit that Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom it Accrueth — 20:24
24. 24 - Chapter XLVIII - A Review and Conclusion — 23:26

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