therefore, is not a particular affection or particular pursuit, but
it is the general principle of self-love, and the general pursuit of
our own interest, for which reason the word SELFISH is by every one
appropriated to this temper and pursuit. Now as it is ridiculous to
assert that self-love and the love of our neighbour are the same, so
neither is it asserted that following these different affections
hath the same tendency and respect to our own interest. The
comparison is not between self-love and the love of our neighbour,
between pursuit of our own interest and the interest of others, but
between the several particular affections in human nature towards
external objects, as one part of the comparison, and the one
particular affection to the good of our neighbour as the other part
of it: and it has been shown that all these have the same respect
to self-love and private interest.

There is indeed frequently an inconsistence or interfering between
self-love or private interest and the several particular appetites,
passions, affections, or the pursuits they lead to. But this
competition or interfering is merely accidental, and happens much
oftener between pride, revenge, sensual gratifications, and private
interest, than between private interest and benevolence. For
nothing is more common than to see men give themselves up to a
passion or an affection to their known prejudice and ruin, and in
direct contradiction to manifest and real interest, and the loudest
calls of self-love: whereas the seeming competitions and
interfering, between benevolence and private interest, relate much
more to the materials or means of enjoyment than to enjoyment
itself. There is often an interfering in the former when there is
none in the latter. Thus as to riches: so much money as a man
gives away, so much less will remain in his possession. Here is a