A general collection of discourses of the virtuosi of France, upon questions of all sorts of philosophy, and other natural knowledg made in the assembly of the Beaux Esprits at Paris, by the most ingenious persons of that nation / render'd into English by G. Havers, Gent.

II. Which is the greatest Vice.

Upon the Second Point it was said, There is but one goodness absolutely such, namely, God. All other things are term'd good by the participation and respect which they have to the di∣vine goodness, or by the comparison made of one with another, and according to the different estates and professions of Men. Thus, amongst Divines, he is call'd a good Man who hath most Piety; amongst Merchants, he who hath most credit. But when a Captain bids his Souldiers behave themselves like gens de bien, good Men, his meaning is, that they defeat the Enemy, and not give ground. Even the lowest rank of actions have their kind of goodness. So we call him a good Man who leaves his Wife to do all. Since therefore Evil or Vice is nothing else but the privation of goodness and Virtue, the reason of either is the same, and the word Great, in the question, shews that 'tis onely com∣parison intended in it; nothing being great but in comparison of something less. Wherefore this question ought to be resolv'd se∣verally in each profession, and according to the different estate of persons. Thus taking the word Vice lagely for Evil, the greatest in Divinity is Atheisme; and the next, Heresie; the first rendring a Man a beast, the second making him shake off the yoke of the Church. The greatest Vice of a States-man is

Imprudence; of a Souldier, Cowardice; of a Friend, Treachery; of a Physitian, playing the Mountebank or Cheat; of a Lawyer or Procurator, Prevarication, and when he sells the Cause of his Country; of a Judge, Injustice; of a Mer∣chant, false Weights and Measures; of a Notary, Falsification or Forgery; of a Labourer, purloining the Seed; of a Father, forgetfulness of his Family; of a Wife, Adultery; of a Child, Disobedience; of a Servant, Domestick Thieft.

The Second said, That the different inclination and judgement of Nations is solely of consideration herein. 'Twas no Vice at Sparta to be a subtle Thief, nor at present among those roamers who take upon them the name of Egyptians; but amongst peo∣ple of Honour, 'tis one of the most ignominious. And as for Drunkenness, the Northern Nations and we do not agree about it. Yet if Vices be consider'd in general, some one may be assign'd greater then all the rest in Humane Society. For of corporeal things which we call great, there are some which are so onely in comparisons of individual of the same species; so the same size which denominates a Dog great, denominates a Horse small. But some are greater then all others, namely, the highest of the Heavens. So likewise there are some Vices greater, and some less, compar'd one with another; as Theft with Sacri∣ledge. But there is also some one greater then all others, which I conceive to be Pride, not onely in comparison of Humility, its contrary, the foundation of all Christian and Moral Virtues, but also because all Vices take their original from it. 'Tis that which caus'd the fall of Angels and the first Man, which hath caus'd and continu'd all the mischiefs which befall us. Yea, 'tis not onely the greatest, but also the most odious. As is prov'd, in that if you see a Prodigal, a Miser, a debauch'd person, a Thief, or a very Murtherer pass by, you are not mov'd to so much hatred against them, as against some proud fool; who beholding others disdainfully, knows not in what posture to put himself.

Of those which spoke afterwards, One said that he di∣stinguish'd Vice from Sin, and Malice, or Enormity. The first being an habitude to evil, the second the act thereof, and the third the deformity which follows them both. Another held Atheisme to be the greatest Vice. Others said, it was the sin against Nature. One assign'd Philautie, or the inordinate love of ones self, as being the impulsive cause of all other Vices, to Ingratitude, Covetousness and Idleness; each maintaining the same to be the root of all other evils. Injustice was also instanc'd to comprehend all Vices, as Justice contains in it self all Virtues. For he who is proud, covetous, prodigal, or a Murtherer, would not be so if he were not unjust, whilst he attributes more to him∣self, and less to others, then is due. And for conclusion it was said, That as of the diseases of the Body, those are term'd the greatest which invade the most noble part, or have the most

dangerous symptomes; (as the prick of a pin in the heart is more mortal then the cutting off of an arm, and the same puncture is more perillous when Convulsions thereupon befall the whole bo∣dy, then a wound with a sword in some fleshy part without any accidents;) so Ignorance and Imprudence are the greatest vices, because they possess the most noble Faculty of man, the Under∣standing, and produce all the rest.

At the hour of Inventions, a Proposition was reported to draw Smith's-coal out of the lands of this Kingdom, and in so doing to cut channels for the draining of Marshes, and making rivers Navigable, in order to the conveniency of transportation, sacilitation of commerce, feeding of Cattel, and preservation of Forests. This Invention, besides the advantage it will bring to the meaner sort of people, in reference to their domestick fuel, is of much benefit for the making of Brick, Tile and Lime; as much of which may be made thereby in three days as is made in eight or nine with wood, which is the ordinary fashion. It will be a matter of great saving to the whole Kingdom, especi∣ally to the abovesaid Artists, who are here in great number, and are forc'd to buy such Coal from England at dear rates. The Proposer offer'd to continue the experience which he had made thereof, at his own charges, for satisfaction of the curious.