PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Virtue.
5i
might not indulge his humour. But when be reflect~
that his scruples about lying have hitherto pre~erved
him free fronl this vice; that occasions like the present
will return, where the inducement may be equally
strong, but the indulgence much less innoc.:ent ;
that his scruples will wear away by a few transgressions,
~nd leave him subject to one of the meanest and
most pernicioU'S of all bad habits, a habit of lying
\vhenev~~l· it will serve his turn: when all this,. I say,
is considered, a wise man will forego the present, Of
a much greater pleasure, rather than lay the foundation
of a character so vicious and contemptible.
From 'what has been said may be explained also .
the nature of habitual virtue. By the definition of
virtue, placed at the b.eginning of this Chapter, it ap·
pears, that the g.ood of mankind is the subject, . the
will of God the rule, and everlasting happiness the
motive and end of all virtue. Yet in fact a man
shall perfonn many an ac.t of virtue, without having
either the good of manl~ind, the \viII of God, or
everlasting happiness in his thoughts.. How b this
to be understood? In the same manner as that a man
nlay be a very good servant, \vithout being conscious
at every turn of a particular regard to his master's
will, or ()f all express attentio.n to his nlaster's interest;
inl1eecl yo.ur best old servallts are of this sort;
but then he r'lUst have served tor a length of time
under the actual direction of these motives to bring
it to this: in w hier, servjce i1~S n1erlt and virtue C011-
•
Slst.
rrhere are habits, not oIlly of drinl~in{!, S\Vearll19",
1 • t~ n
and lymg, and .of some oth;:r ~hillgs, which arc com ..
monly a~knowledged to be habits, and called so; but
?f eve.ry modification of action, speech, and t.hought.
Man IS a bundle of habits. r-l"here are hal11ts of industry,
attention, vigilance, advertency; of a prompt
lJbedIence to .the judgment occllring, or of yidding
!~ the first Impulse of ~~assion; of extending our
~.'1.ews to the f.uture, or of resting upon the pn1srnt:.