pending on the Action which we undertake to do: Sometimes it is the Plenty of Means that offer, and excite our Will by the Facility of acting; and laftly, it is Neceflity, in the Senfe already explained, for we cannot help willing our Well-being. But, in the main, all this comes to the fame End: It is ridiculous to fay, that we will, without knowing why; and all fober, fenfible Men look upon it as downright Folly to will we know not what.

INDEED there are many who fometimes will Things, which they have no clear and distinct Knowledge of; nay, it is no Rarity to will through Curiofity: But to propose something to ourselves as a Good, there must always be a competent Knowledge. We are fometimes deceived by Appearances; but we give over the Pursuit, as soon as Experience has undeceived us, or we have liftened to the whol

fome Warning given us. It would be very wrong to call that Will, which is only a faint or tranfient Attempt termed Velleity. For an acting Principle there must be a fufficient Knowledge, capable of exciting Love, and thereby determining our Will to feck proper

Means

Means to acquire the beloved Object, as the Understanding fuggefts to every one, according to the Measure of his Capacity.

EVERY Man naturally enough apprehends, that what he makes with his own Hands, cannot have more Virtue and Efficacy than he gives it. That Gratitude to the Author of Nature, and a respectful Dependence on him, are very proper, as he is the Source of all Bleffings, and our Deliverer from all Evils; and likewife to Parents who have loved and educated us, and provided for all our Wants. Does not every one that behaves fo to his Children, or to any other Perfon, expect proper Returns for it? As we fhould not like to be killed, to be robbed of our Wives, fpoiled of our Goods, or ftabbed in our Reputation, we readily apprehend, clearly and diftinctly enough, that we must not do so to others, nor fet an Example that would invite them. to make Reprisals. Who is it that does not perceive, that this would be like one Man entering the Lifts against Thousands? Here then is the ftrong Law that perfuades, and makes us act: No fooner is it understood, than we affent to it heartily and fincerely.

BUT

BUT it foon happens, that one of our Fellow Creatures offends or attacks us; or we are feized with a violent Paffion, which makes us long ardently for our Neighbour's Wife, or his Goods, or inftigates us to blast his Reputation, if it traverses our Pursuits and Defigns. Then indeed the divine and human Law, which we fo highly approved and fincerely loved while Reason was calm, appears to us in another Light when disturbed: We look upon it as an uneafy Yoke; we can no longer fo freely confent to it, but feel an Inclination to refift it, and to attempt any thing in order to elude its Effects. Here then is the feeble Law; and it is on Account of this Weaknefs that Endeavours are used to strengthen it by Menaces and Promises, which certainly were not neceffary in the former Cafe.

AND now will you fay, that Men were weak when the Law guided them so easily, but that they are now ftronger? On the contrary, they are funk to the lowest Degree of Weakness; and 'tis their Inability to know, relish, and execute the Law, that hinders its Effect. Perhaps they really wish they were able to do

what

what the Law ordains; but Strength is wanting to take any bold Step towards it: Or, poffibly, they may be covered with such grofs, thick Darkness, that they no longer difcern any Light, and cannot ftir from the Situation they are in.

A MAN in extreme want of Sleep, or finking under exceffive Fatigue, pining with Hunger, parched with Thirft, overwhelmed with Grief, diftracted with excruciating Pain; or else suddenly seized with a pannic Terror, fome impetuous Paffion, or an inveterate Habit that gives him an invincible Bias; in these Cafes he will rather fuffer a thousand Deaths, than take the leaft Step in the Track of a Law which he always approved and loved, and even formerly followed. If you would make him affent to it and fulfil it, first take him out of the deep Mire in which he fticks faft; for while he remains in that deplorable State, no Law can have Power enough to make him

act.

K

CHAP.

B

CHA P. IX.

UT ftill this is not fufficient: He must be furnished with the Means requifite for the Action propofed by the Law, as well in pofitive as negative Duties; for if those Means be wanting, even the Will itself, the ftronger it is, and the more it strives to act effectually, fo much the greater Torment it occafions. But, you'll fay, why should a Man will, when the Means are wanting? I answer, that he is inclined to will, by the Knowledge the Law gives him, though it does not at the fame Time furnish him with Means to execute. We cannot help loving and defiring what to us feems fair and good; but the Means to attain it are not within us, nor is it always in our Power to procure them opportunely; which is too often the Cafe in Sicknefs. In Health one may feek and get a Livelihood; but in Sickness we can neither do that, nor find Medicines, without the charitable Affiftance of those who are in Health.

FROM