Page:Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times Vol 2.djvu/26

RV 22 (Rh) it is therefore by Affection merely that a Creature is esteem'd good or ill, natural or unnatural; our business will be, to examine Which are the good and natural, and which the ill and unnatural Affections.

N the first place then, it may be observ'd, that if there be an Affection towards any Subject consider'd as private Good, which is not really such, but imaginary; this Affection, as being superfluous, and detracting from the Force of other requisite and good Affections, is in it-self vitious and ill, even in respect of the private Interest or Happiness of the Creature.

there can possibly be suppos'd in a Creature such an Affection towards Self-good, as is actually, in its natural degree, Conducing to his private Interest, and at the same time inconsistent with the publick Good; this may indeed be call'd still a vitious Affection: And on this Supposition a Creature cannot really be good and natural in respect of his Society or Publick, without being ill and unnatural toward himself. But if the Affection be then on- Rh