Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. Consider, nothing but good can be the Object of a Rational Appetite. The Will cannot direct its motion to any thing under the notion of evil, evil in it self, or evil to it; whatsoever Courts it, must present it self in the quality of a good in its own nature, or in its present Circumstances to the present state and condition of the desire; it will not else else touch or affect the Will. This is the language of that faculty, Who will show me any good^*? And good is as inseparably the Object of the wills motion, as truth is of the understandings inquiry. Whatsoever a Man would allure another to comply with, he must propose to the Person under the notion of some beneficialness to him in point of honour, profit, or pleasure; To act after this manner, is the proper Character of a Rational Creature. And though that which is evil, is often embraced, instead of that which is good; and what we entertain as conducing to our felicity, proves our misfortune, yet that is from our ignorance, and not from a formal choice of it as evil; for what evil is chosen, it is not possible to choose under the conception of evil, but under the appearance of a good, though it be not so in reality. 'Tis inseparable from the Wills of all Men, to propose to themselves that which in the opinion and judgment of their understandings or imagination is good, though they often mistake and cheat themselves.

1. Consider, nothing but good can be the Object of a Rational Appetite. The Will cannot direct its motion to any thing under the notion of evil, evil in it self, or evil to it; whatsoever Courts it, must present it self in the quality of a good in its own nature, or in its present Circumstances to the present state and condition of the desire; it will not else else touch or affect the Will. This is the language of that faculty, Who will shew me any good^*? And good is as inseparably the Object of the wills motion, as truth is of the understandings inquiry. Whatsoever a Man would allure another to comply with, he must propose to the Person under the notion of some beneficialness to him in point of honour, profit, or pleasure; To act after this manner, is the proper Character of a Rational Creature. And though that which is evil, is often embrac'd, instead of that which is good; and what we entertain as conducing to our felicity, proves our misfortune, yet that is from our ignorance, and not from a formal choice of it as evil; for what evil is chosen, it is not possible to choose under the conception of evil, but under the appearance of a good, though it be not so in reality. 'Tis inseparable from the Wills of all Men, to propose to themselves that which in the opinion and judgment of their understandings or imagination is good, though they often mistake and cheat themselves.