Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/220

Inſtrument of any. Beſides, the Right of Property being of mere Human Convention and Inſtitution, every Man may diſpoſe as he pleaſes of what he poſſeſſes: But the Caſe is otherwiſe with regard to the eſſential Gifts of Nature, ſuch as Life and Liberty, which every Man is permitted to enjoy, and of which it is doubtful at leaſt whether any Man has a Right to diveſt himſelf: By giving up the one, we degrade our Being; by giving up the other we annihilate it as much as it is our Power to do ſo; and as no temporal Enjoyments can indemnify us for the loſs of either, it would be at once offending both Nature and Reaſon to renounce them for any Conſideration. But tho' we could transfer our Liberty as we do our Subſtance, the Difference would be very great with regard to our Children, who enjoy our Suſtance but by a Ceſſion of our Right; whereas Liberty being a Bleſſing, which