tho' in
all Times and Places, wherein Men have not degenerated into a
downright Brutish, or altogether Animal Life (as some whole Nations
have done) but have set any Rules, or Measures to their Actions, the
dictates of right Reason have more, or less, taken Place with them, so
far as the manifest advantages, or rather necessity thereof to the
subsistence or convenience of Society, has directed Men. And so much
as Custom, or the Injunctions of some Lawgiver inforc'd these dictates
of Reason, or Nature, so far and no further, did obedience thereunto
denominate Men Vertuous; without any distinction made in reference to
these prescriptions, as being Precepts of the Eternal Law of Right, or
as obligatory any other ways than as being part of the Law, or Fashion
of that Country, or Society, wherein these Rules had prevail'd or were
establish'd. A firm and steady adherence to which, whether
conformable, or not, to the Law of Reason, being alike that which ever
intitled Men to be esteem'd Vertuous among those who profess'd to live
by the same Rule.

Now since Man is a Creature that has variable, and disagreeing
Inclinations, as having passions very changeable, and oftentimes
contradictory one to another, there is not any fix'd Rule, or Measure,
whatsoever that can possibly be set to his Actions, which can
constantly be adher'd to by him, without some difficulty, or
uneasiness; because any steady, and unalterable Rule must necessarily
oftentimes, thwart and cross his changeable Appetites, and differing
Inclinations; even altho' that Rule was contriv'd, and intended ever
so much, to be indulgent to the Passions, and Desires of Humane Nature
in general.

Conformity therefore of Mens actions to any fix'd, and unvariable
Rule, is a thing of some difficulty, be the Rule what it will: And
therefore Transgression against that Rule which Men profess'd
themselves oblig'd to act by, has always, every where been; and but
few Men comparatively, were strictly Vertuous: That is, did in all
things conform, or sincerely endeavour to conform their Actions to
that, which they acknowledged for the Rule of them.

Those yet who believ'd a Superior Invisible Power that made them,
could not be satisfy'd with themselves in Transgressing against that
which they thought ought to be their Rule: For however they
understood this Rule to be deriv'd, they yet believ'd it carry'd with
it, some way or other, an obligation upon them to Obedience; since
othe