but that FROM HIS MAKE, CONSTITUTION, OR NATURE, HE IS IN THE
STRICTEST AND MOST PROPER SENSE A LAW TO HIMSELF. He hath the rule
of right within: what is wanting is only that he honestly attend to
it.

The inquiries which have been made by men of leisure after some
general rule, the conformity to or disagreement from which should
denominate our actions good or evil, are in many respects of great
service. Yet let any plain, honest man, before he engages in any
course of action, ask himself, Is this I am going about right, or is
it wrong? Is it good, or is it evil? I do not in the least doubt
but that this question would be answered agreeably to truth and
virtue, by almost any fair man in almost any circumstance. Neither
do there appear any cases which look like exceptions to this, but
those of superstition, and of partiality to ourselves. Superstition
may perhaps be somewhat of an exception; but partiality to ourselves
is not, this being itself dishonesty. For a man to judge that to be
the equitable, the moderate, the right part for him to act, which he
would see to be hard, unjust, oppressive in another, this is plain
vice, and can proceed only from great unfairness of mind.

But allowing that mankind hath the rule of right within himself, yet
it may be asked, "What obligations are we under to attend to and
follow it?" I answer: It has been proved that man by his nature is
a law to himself, without the particular distinct consideration of
the positive sanctions of that law: the rewards and punishments
which we feel, and those which from the light of reason we have
ground to believe, are annexed to it. The question, then, carries
its own answer along within it. Your obligation to obey this law is
its being the law of your nature. That your conscience approves of