compared with that f God. i ß y given us in aid of virtue our chief good.. For, SERM. as that is neceffarily the objeft of approbation XI. to every moral agent, it muff tend to ftrengthen esvv virtuous difpofitions in us, and be a powerful motive to virtuous a Lions, that we are deter- mined to feek the efteem of other rational beings, which can no otherwife be obtained. However that be, we find in fart, that the efteem of others is a great article in the en- joyment of life ; and on the contrary, their difefteem and contempt renders us extremely uneafy ; fo that if it be univerfal, or of per - fons highly valued, we can hardly imagine a more painful circumftance in human life. But, reafon teaches us to make a great dif- ference in this point, and that the defire of approbation together with the pleafure arifing from it, ought to be according to the cha- rafters of the obfervers, the meafure of their wifdom and their moral worth. Who would not prefer the efteem of a few wife and good men to the applaufe of a foolifh and vicious multitude ? Nay, to be thoroughly approved by one perfon of fingular merit, of great difcernment, and extraordinary probity, will fupport a man, and be a fufficient confolation agaìnft the rafh cenfures of many. Now, let us remember that it is not only with our own
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