194 Natural Life to be denied. Nature ; that is, though it be againfl our natural inclination as we are Animate, andSenfitive ; is it agreeable to our true Nature as Reafonable : And therefore lay altogether,and it is tobe faid tobe agreeable to Nature limply in fuck a cafe; becaufe it is agreable to the Principal part in nature which flould be predominant ; It is agreeable to nature alfo that Reakon fhould difpofe of the inferiour powers of the foul. Object Bat whenyou have faid all that you can, as long as you plead againgmy nature ,Icannot confent to what youlay;word, are but wind: Toperfwade me to con,lent to die, U as much as to perfwade me not to feel when 1 am hail, or not to be hungry or thirfly er fieepy, which arenot in my power, becaufe theft thing, areNatural. Anfw. r . Though hunger and thirit and other natural and fenfitive appetites or paffions be not in your power , yet a confent of the will to deny thefe is in your power. As natural as it is to hunger and thirft your fuperiour faculty of Reafon can prevail with you to fuffer hunger and thith in a Seige or ficknefs, when the fiiffering of it will fave your life. You will be ruled by your Phyfitian to forbear not only many a difh but many a meal which your appetite defireth. And your Reafon can perfwade you to fuller the opening ofa vein, and the drawing out of your own blood yea or the cutting of a member , when it is to fave your life, for all that feeling and felf-love is na- tural to you. And you are not acquainted with the nature of Friendfhip if you would not fuffer much for a friend ; nor withhumane affeetions if you would not fuffer much for pa- rents, or children or your Countrey ; fo that your will is free, though your fenfe be not free, nor your natural appetite. Though you cannot choofe but feel vhen you are hurt you might confent to that feeling for a greater good. 2. And ac- cording to the tenour of this ObjeCtion, you mayas wifely and honeltlyplead for moil of the wickednefsof the world,and fay It is natural to me to loft, and therefore 1may play the Adulterer aidfulfil it : It is natural to me to define meat and drink: and therefore Imay eat and drink as long as Idefire it. it is natural to me to feikto hurt thole that I ammuch angrywith, or hate:and therefore I may beat or kill them. ] If youmuff deny thePaffions and
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