This can be seen in discussions of natural law and positive law.

For no positive law whatsoever can oblige any people but those to whom it is given.

Among other things he attempted in this to clearly separate moral rules from "positive law."

Such ideas as natural rights belong to the metaphysical age and progress is to be found in positive laws.

Though authorized by statute, these changes do not constitute positive law.

Related is the idea of prescription; a right enjoyed through long custom rather than positive law.

But he doesn't want to say that they are merely positive laws, like any other enactments.

That leaves as the subject matter of legal science only positive law.

Such rights were thought to be natural rights, independent of positive law.

This period was marked by further development of the positive law and judicial independence.