204 * ^the consequences of the

a nobler, perfecter creature, than an oijier, ora muscle, which, though in some measure per-cipient, are yet percipient but of one constant,necessary sensation. How unreasonable are we IWe would have the liberty of gratifying un-reasonable passions, and pursuing false plea-sures; and yet pretend to quarrel with Godfor allowing us that liberty. Would we befree?This question I shall suppose answered. N°one would chuse to be such a creature as anoijier, or a parcel of inanimate matter. Wouldwe be necejjitated to do good only f —Let it beobserved; we are under all the moralnecejfi'ty , that is, have all the moral motives that thenature of things can admit of: a greater ne-cessity of this kind than we are under is anabsolute impossibility. That wouldsuppojethat virtue might be more reasonable ; or thatwe might have more reason for acting rational'

ly , than we have. -And contrarily,

have none of this necessity at all for doingevil: that too is as absolutely impossible; un-less we call that a necessity which is of ° uirown procuring, by precontracting vicious ha-bits. This is as advantageous and wide a dif-ference as we could conceive—To be pby'sically impelled to good, or repelled stossi