Serm. o. isrequiredbetween Man andMan ? 223 obey, signifies very little in this cafe, for there are but few fuch fools in theworld, bur would govern if they can : So that by vertue of wif- dom or parts, no man can challenge a priviledge, or prerogative to himfelf above others, which another will not pretend to, as well as he. 3. In all thofe things wherein mega are unequal, the inequality is not fixt and canflant, but mutable and by turns. All tnings chat belong to us are either the endowments of the mi,d, the accidents of the body, or thecir- c%mflarces of our outwardcute Now thole that are moll unequal in any of thefe, may be equal, or the inequality may turn and be as much on the other fide.A difeafe may ruine the moil happy and excellent me- anlyy, and make a man forget his oavn name ; a little knock on any (ide of the head, may level the higheil underflanding with the meanefl ; beaysty,hcalth and firength maybe blafied by a difeafe,or a thoufandother accidents ; R;ches, and Honour, and Reputation are the moil Ilippery and brittle things that belong to us, and when thefe are gone, friends will fall off, like leaves in Autemu.Nowwhy Ihould I defpife another man, when I may be as filly as he ; or bear down another by my firength, when I may be as weak as he; or infult over anothers poor and low condition, when a day may level me with his meannefs, and raife him tobe as great and rich as I am ? 4. Another ground is, themutual and unive.rfal equity and advantage of this Rule. Upon thofe terms I and all men filial). be equally dealt with, it will be well with me, and well with all men. The obfervatiota of this Rule would fecure peace to the world, and if it were generally praetifed,thofe few that Ihould offend againii it, would be looked upon as the peas and troublers of humane fociecy. As by the violationof this Rule, every man becomes a Wolf, and beafl of prey to another, fo by the mutual obfervation of ir, every man would be a God co ano- ther ; men would be full of mutual goodncfs, and pity, and co:npaf -- fion, they would be mutual benefadlors one to another ; All men would be as happy as it is poflible for them to be in this world, and no man could be miferabie if it were in the power of his neighbour to help him. 5. The lafi ground I (hall mention is, the abfsrdity and inconvenience ofthe contrary. And this is the rnofi proper way of proving this ; for as Ariflotle tells us, Firfl Principles which are cvidern by their own light, cannot he proved by way of demonflration, hut of convic`t'ion ; As thus, centradiflions cannot be true at once; This cannot be de!nonlirated a priori; be.cufe alert
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