3² A Vietò of ibe DEISTicAL Writers. Let. 25.

* reaſon, as far as our natural imperfections admit, I acknow- ¹e lege moſt readily. But from the difficulty we have to judge, * and from the uncertainty of our ndgient⸗ in a multitude ** of caſes which lie within our bounds, I would demonſtrate ce the folly of thoſe who affect to have knowlege beyond them. They are unable on many occaſions to deduce from the con- ** ſtitution of their own ſyſtem, and the laws of their own c nature, with preciſion and certainty, what theſe ewüie of c them; and what is right or wrong, juſt or unjuſt for them ** to do s.“ T'o this may be added d acknowlegement he hath made, that“the law of nature is hid from our ſight ⁴by all the variegated clouds of civil laws and cuſtoms. Some * gleams of true light may be ſeen through them; but they *e render it a dubious light, and it can be no better to thoſé Who have the keeneſt e till thoſe interpoſitions are re- chmoved h.““ So that after all his boafts, as if the law of na- ture were clear and obvious to all men that they cannot miſtake it, he owns it to have been Susſn our hooht, by the clouds of civil laws and cuſtoms, and that it is rendered a dubious light, even to thoſe who have the keeneſt ſight. And ſurely nothing can be more proper to remove and diſpel theſe inter poſitions of contrary laws and cuſtoms, than the light of divine revelation enforced by a divine authority. He himſelf obſerves, that“ Teenis in his firſt book of his evangelical 8 preparation gives a long catalogue of abſurd laws and **cuſtoms, contradictory to the law o nature in all ages and *e countries, for a very good purpoſe, to ſhew in ſeveral in- ſtances, how ſuch abſurd laws and cuſtoms as theſe have ¹l been reformed by the Goſpel, that is, by a law which re- ee newed and confirmed the original law of nature i.“

Theſe obſervations may ſuffice with regard to what Lord Holi¹ ze0se 1 hath offered concerning the law of naturé in gene- ral, and its abſolute Eertacnt and clearneſs to all mankind:*1 ſhall now proceed to make ſome particular reffections on the account he gives of the contents of that law, or the duties which are there preſcribed: As alſo of the grounds of the obligation of that law, and the ſanction whereby it is en- for Ked.

I. With regard to the contents or matter of the law of nature, he obſerves, that“ ſelf-love directed by inſtinét or mutual *«pleaſure, made the union between man and woman. Self- ** love made that of parents and children: Self-love begat ſo-

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8 Vol. v. p. 444. h Ibid. p. 1035. i Ibid. p. 100, 101. clability: