Page:Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times Vol 2.djvu/66

RV 62 (Rh) mity or Ill. Now if his own Thoughts, or the corrupt Insinuations of other Men, present it often to his Mind, "That his is the occasion of this Calamity, and that if he were deliver'd from this Restraint of  and, he might be much happier:" 'tis very obvious that his Esteem of these good Qualitys must in proportion diminish every day, as the Temper grows uneasy, and quarrels with it-self. But if he opposes to this Thought the Consideration, "That Honesty carrys with it, if not a present, at least a future Advantage, such as to compensate that Loss of private Good which he regrets;" then may this injury to his good Temper and honest Principle be prevented, and his Love or Affection towards Honesty and Virtue remain as it was before.

the same manner, where instead of Regard or Love, there is rather an Aversion to what is good and virtuous, (as, for instance, where Lenity and Forgiveness are despis'd, and Revenge highly thought of, and belov'd) if there be this Consideration added, "That Lenity is, by its Rewards, made the cause of a greater Self-good and Enjoyment than what is found in Revenge;" that very Affection of Lenity and Mildness may come to be industriously nourish'd,