Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

78 0, f" Natural, Moral, and Civil Liberty: S É R M. encroaching on the rights of any ; the grin= III cipal end, the pra Lice of virtue, with the happinefs refulting from it, doth not require fuch encroachment, but forbiddeth it ; and for the true enjoyment of this life, bounti- ful providence hath made a fufficient pro - vifion for the whole fpecies ; fo that by a proper induftry and labour, to which we are appointed, the profit of the earth, which is or all, is, in the ordinary Rate of things, enough for them, without any one's being hindered to ufe his ability for himfelf, with- in the limits of prudence and virtue. For it is to be obferved, that even in a flute of natural liberty, and where men are not formed into pàrticular communities, where- by they are mutually bound to each other: I fay, even in a Elate of natural liberty, and previoufly to any fuch engagements, they are, by the law of benevolence, obliged to mutual good offices, which is no abridge- ment of natural liberty, for it is the law of our focial nature, an important part of vir- tue, to the re1itude of which our confci- ences bear witnefs, and therefore it hath a conne6tion with liberty, direaing its exer- cife, as hath been obferved. From this principle all the rights of men, publick and private,

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