76 Of Natural, Moral, and Civil Liberty, SE R M. his nature, and directed by his reafon to IIII. purfue : In this, I fay, we have alfo liberty, that is, the privilege of confidering, of judg- ing for ourfelves, of forming our fchemes, and chuffing the meafures which appear to us belt and fitteft, in order to attain our ends, as indeed without freedom of choice there can be no rational profecution of any ends. Thefe two kinds of liberty are pa- rallel to each other in feveral important re- fpedls. The Deity, as moral governor of mankind, hath endued them with a capa- city of virtue, together with a high degree of happinefs arifing from it, and with li- berty which is neceffary to their attaining this end ; as natural governor of this world, he bath placed man in it with a capacity of ufefulnefs and enjoyment fuitable to his con- dition of being, which like the former (the moral perfection and happinefs) in a great meafure depend upon himfelf, being put in his own power; and for thefe ends alfo he is endued with a proportionable freedom: And, as in the firft cafe, the felf-refleaing power, or confcience, eftablifheth the ne- cef ity of rational liberty, is the guide of its proper exercife, and enforceth it with a fandion ; fo, in the latter cafe, prudence in purfuing the ends of rational felf -love, mak- eth
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