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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 17, page id 778263916:0033
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No innate practical Principles.
8. 5. That Men Mould kecp. their Compacts, is certain lY 2 Preat anc
undeniable Rule in Moralies: But Ver iF a Christian, Who hasthe vier ot
Hlappinels arid Miserr in anocher Lile, beastred whs a Man mult secp his
NNord, he ill eive chis as a Reason: Because Crod, Who HaS FHC POIer
ol eternal Lise arid Dcath, reguires it oEus. But il an sTobbist De astred
rtir; he will anliver: Because thue Publick requires it; and the Leviathan
will punistr vou, if you do nor. And it one ol the old Lcarhen Philolo-
pliers hac been astcec, he vould hare antvered: Becaule it was distonest,
belor thie Dignity oF a Man, and oppolite to Vertuc, the highest Perte-
Ction ol humane Nature.
5. 6. Hlence naturalls Aours the great rarietr ol Opinions, concermins
Moral Rules, Wtrich are to be Found amonest Mon, accordinq to the dif-
ferene lores oE Hlappinels, they have a Prospeet ot, or propole to them-
selves: Wtich could nor be, il practical Principles vere innate, and im
princed in our Minds immediately by the Fland oF Crod. Igrant the ex-
iltence oF God, is so many wazs manisest, and the Obedience re orchim,
(0 consruous to the Light oF Reason, that a great part or Mankind gire
Feltimons tothe Lar of Nature: But s et L chink it mult be allowec, ThaF
sereral Moral Rules, may receive, trom Mankind, a very general Appro.
bation, ichout cither bnorins. Or admitting the true ground ot Mora-
lier; Wrhich can ouly be the Lar ota Grod, irho sées Men in the darte,
and has Poer enough ro punistr cheproudest Otender. For Cod, harine.
by an inseparable connection, joined Vertue and publick FTapriness tose-
ther; and made the Prastice chereot, neceltary tothe preservation oF 50.
ciets, and vilibls beneficial co all, wich nhom the vertuous Man haS to
do; it is no monder, chat everr one Mould, nac orly allo, but recom.
mend, and magnitie chose Rules ro ochers, Trom whole observance olthem,
he is sure to reap Advantase to himselF. FTemay, out of Interest, a5 Well
as Conviction, cry up that for Sacred; Which if onco trampled on, and
prophaned, hehimself cannot be late nor secure. This, though it tales
nochins trom the Moral and Eternal Oblisation, Which these Rules evi-
denels have; vet it phers, thac che outrard achnomledoment Mon pay
tothem in cheir Words, proves not chat thes are innare brinciples: Nar
ic proves not somuch, as, chat Nsen assene to them inwardly incheir omn
Minds, as the inviolable Rules of their omn Practice: Since re tind that
SelF Interest and the Conveniences oE this Lite, makco mans Men oirn an
outmard Profection and Approbation of them, Whole Actions sufficienty
Prove, thac cher very licele consider the La- giver, that prescribed chese
Rules; nor, che HTeIl he has ordain dFor the Punistiment ol those thattrans.
Eressthem.
5. 7. FOr, il re ill not in Cirilies allon too much Sinceriey to the
Prolestions oF most Men, but chinke their actions eo be the Interpreters ot
cheir Thouglus; we all And, that thes hare no such internal Veneration
For chese Rules, nor (0 fuit a Persivasion of their Certainty and Obligation.
The great Principle ot Moralier, T0 do as one vould be done to, is more
commendec, chan practised. But the Breach oE this Rulc cannot bea grea.
ter Vice, than toteach others, That it is no Moral Rule, nor Obligators.
ould be thouglut Madnels, and contrary eo char Interest Men Cacrifice rO,
Wrhenther breals it chemselves. Perhaps Conscience will be urgedas checte
ins us for such Breaches, and so che internal Oblisation and P. stablittment.
Ot the Rule De preserved.
h. B. 2i duret eatd o, ut Mtou deu mttett o
cheir Fleares, mans Men, may, by the lame ras chatther cometo the
Bnomtecee ot ocher chimes, comC 19 alteve 10 leverat Moral Pules, anel