The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. In most of those things wherein we are unequal, the inequality is not considerable, so as to be a ground of any unequal dealing with one another. As to strength of body, whatever the difference be, the inequality is not considerable, because as to the greatest effects of strength there is an equality; every man that will venture his own life, may take away another mans,¹ either by open force, or by surprise. As to abilities of mind (which we usually call parts) there is originally a great equality, especially if that received Opinion be true, that souls are equal; And as the French Philosopher Des Cartes hath ingeniously observed,² there is this notable sign of the equality of mens understandings; Nulla res (saith he) aequabilius inter homines distributa est quam bona mens, &c. Nothing is more equally divided among men than a good understanding; Men will acknowledge others to be richer and stronger than themselves, few will acknowledge others to be wiser, or to have better parts than themselves; every man thinks himself to have so good a proportion of parts and wisdom, that even those who are most covetous, and have the most insatiable desires as to other things, and whom nature could never satisfy in any thing else, ³yet would not desire to have more wit than they have, or exchange their parts with any man. Now there is no better sign of an equal distribution of things than that every man is contented with his share. Now because all men generally think thus, it is to be presumed that all are not deceived, but that there is some real equality, which is the ground of this conceit. A difference indeed must be granted, but which ariseth usually from one of these two causes, either an unequal exercise of our parts, or an unequal temper of body. Now those who are so happy, as to exercise their understandings more than others, are very often rather conceited that they are wiser than others, than really so; for the greatest Clerks are not always the wisest men; those who are unhappy in the temper of their bodies, are thereby inclined how weak soever they be, to conceit themselves as wise as others. So that whatever real inequality there be, conceit levels all again.

2. In most of those things wherein wee are unequal, the inequality is not considerable, so as to bee a ground of any unequal dealing with one another. As to strength of body, whatever the difference bee, the inequality is not considerable, because as to the greatest effects of strength there is an equality; every man that will venture his own life, may take away another mans,