al principle.

18. Of little use if they were innate.

For let us consider this proposition as to its meaning, (for it is
the sense, and not sound, that is and must be the principle or common
notion,) viz. "Virtue is the best worship of God," i.e. is most
acceptable to him; which, if virtue be taken, as most commonly it is,
for those actions which, according to the different opinions of several
countries, are accounted laudable, will be a proposition so far from
being certain, that it will not be true. If virtue be taken for actions
conformable to God's will, or to the rule prescribed by God--which is
the true and only measure of virtue when virtue is used to signify what
is in its own nature right and good--then this proposition, "That virtue
is the best worship of God," will be most true and certain, but of very
little use in human life: since it will amount to no more but this, viz.
"That God is pleased with the doing of what he commands";--which a man
may certainly know to be true, without knowing what it is that God doth
command; and so be as far from any rule or principle of his actions
as he was before. And I think very few will take a proposition which
amounts to no more than this, viz. "That God is pleased with the doing
of what he himself commands," for an innate moral principle written on
the minds of all men, (however true and certain it may be,) since it
teaches so little. Whosoever does so will have reason to think hundreds
of propositions innate principles; since there are many which have as
good a title as this to be received for such, which nobody yet ever put
into that rank of innate principles.

19. Scarce possible that God should engrave principles in words of
uncertain meaning.

Nor is the fourth proposition (viz. "Men must repent of their sins")
much more instructive, till what those actions are that are meant by
sins be set down. For the word peccata, or sins, being put, as it
usually is, to signify in general ill actions that will draw punishment
upon the doers, what great principle of morality can that be to tell us
we should be sorry, and cease to do that which will bring mischief upon
us; without knowing what those particular actions are that will do so?
Indeed this is a very true proposition, and fit to be inculcated on and
received by those who are supposed to have been taught WHAT actions in
all kinds ARE sins: but neither this nor the former can be imagined to
be innate principles;