BOOK III PART I
is the common one, there may often arise dis-
putes concerning what is natural or unnatu-
ral; and one may in general affirm, that we
are not possessed of any very precise standard,
by which these disputes can be decided. Fre-
quent and rare depend upon the number of ex-
amples we have observed; and as this number
may gradually encrease or diminish, it will be
impossible to fix any exact boundaries betwixt
them. We may only affirm on this head, that
if ever there was any thing, which coued be
called natural in this sense, the sentiments of
morality certainly may; since there never was
any nation of the world, nor any single per-
son in any nation, who was utterly deprived of
them, and who never, in any instance, shewed
the least approbation or dislike of manners.
These sentiments are so rooted in our consti-
tution and temper, that without entirely con-