Page:Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times Vol 2.djvu/53

RV 49 (Rh) much misled as to his Notion of Right and Wrong. If in following the Precepts of his suppos'd, or doing what he esteems necessary towards the satisfying of such his , he is compel'd only by Fear, and, contrary to his Inclination, performs an Act which he secretly detests as barbarous and unnatural; then has he an Apprehension or Sense still of Right and Wrong, and, according to what has been already observ'd, is sensible of Ill in the Character of his ; however cautious he may be of pronouncing any thing on this Subject, or so thinking of it, as to frame any formal or direct Opinion in the case. But if by insensible degrees, as he proceeds in his religious Faith and devout Exercise, he comes to be more and more reconcil'd to the Malignity, Arbitrariness, Partiality, or Revengefulness of his believ'd ; his Reconciliation with these Qualities themselves will soon grow in proportion; and the most cruel, unjust, and barbarous Acts, will, by the power of this Example, be often consider'd by him, not only as just and lawful, but as divine, and worthy of imitation.

whoever thinks there is a, and pretends formally to believe that he is just and good, must suppose that there is independently such a thing as Justice and Injustice, Truth Rh