THE INTRODUCTION. NE of the greatest Reasons \ why fo few People understand themfelves, is, that moft Writers are always teaching Men what they should be, and hardly ever trouble their Heads with telling them what they really are. As for my part, without any Compliment to the Courteous Reader, or my self, I believe Man (befides Skin, Flesh, Bones, &c. that are obvious to the Eye) to be a Compound of various · Paffions, that all of them, as they are provoked and come uppermaft, govern· him by turns, whether he will or no. To shew, that these Qualifications, which we all pretend to be asham'd of, are the great Support of a flourishing Society, has been the Subject of the foregoing Poem. Poem. But there being fome Paffages in it feemingly Paradoxical, I have in the Preface promised fome explanatory Remarks on it; which to render more ufeful, I have thought fit to enquire, bow Man, no better qualify'd, might yet by his own Imperfections be taught to diftinguish between Virtue and Vice: And here I must defire the Reader once for all to take notice, that when I fay Men, I mean neither Jews nor Chriftians; but meer Man, in the State of Nature and Ignorance of the true Deity. A N A N ENQUIRY Into the ORIGIN of MORAL VIRTUE A LL untaught Animals are only follicitous of pleafing themselves, and naturally follow the bent of their own Inclinations, without confide ring the good or harm that from their being pleased will accrue to others. This is the Reason, that in the wild State of Nature thofe Creatures are fitteft to live peaceably together in great Numbers, that discover the leaft of Understanding, and have the feweft Appetites to gratify; and confequently no Species of Animals is, without the Curb of Government, less capable of agreeing long together in Mul titudes . titudes than that of Man; yet fuch are his Qualities, whether good or bad, I fhall not determine, that no Creature befides himself can ever be made fociable: But being an extraordinary selfish and headstrong, as well as cunning Animal, however he may be subdued by fuperior Strength, it is impoffible by Force alone to make him tractable, and receive the Improvements he is capable of. The Chief Thing therefore, which Lawgivers and other Wife Men, that have laboured for the Establishment of Society, have endeavour'd, has been to make the People they were to govern, believe, that it was more beneficial for every Body to conquer than indulge his Appetites, and much better to mind the Publick than what feem'd his private Interest. As this has always been a very difficult Task, fo no Wit or Eloquence has been left untried to compafs it; and the Moralifts and Philofophers of all Ages employed their utmost Skill to prove the Truth of fo useful an Affertion. But whether Mankind would have ever believ'd it or not, it is not likely that any body could have perfwaded them to dif approve of their natural Inclinations, or prefer the good of others to their own, if at the fame time he had not fhew'd them an Equivalent to be enjoy'd as a Reward for the Violence, which by fo doing they of neceffity must commit upon themselves. Thofe that have undertaken to civilize Mankind, were not igno rant ny rant of this; but being unable to give fo mareal Rewards as would fatisfy all Perfons for every individual Action, they were forc'd to contrive an imaginary one, that as a general Equivalent for the trouble of Self-denial fhould ferve on all occafions, and without cofting any thing either to themselves or o thers, be yet a most acceptable Recompence to the Receivers. They thoroughly examin'd all the Strength and Frailties of our Nature, and observing that none were either fo favage as not to be charm'd with Praife, or fo defpicable as patiently to bear Contempt, juftly concluded, that Flattery must be the most powerful Argument that could be used to Human Creatures. Making use of this bewitching Engine, they extoll'd the Excellency of our Nature above other Animals, and fetting forth with unbounded Praises the Wonders of our Sagacity and Vaftness of Understanding, beftow'd a thousand Encomiums on the Rationality of our Souls, by the help of which we were capable of performing the most noble Atchievements. Having by this artful way of Flattery infinuated themselves into the Hearts of Men, they began to instruct them in the Notions of Honour and Shame; representing the one as the worst of all Evils, and the other as the highest good to which Mortals could afpire: Which being done, they laid before them how unbecoming it was the |