Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/361

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Meditations, &c.
181

ture[1] are Uppermost : Now I am for the latter part of the Disjunction ; and lay it down for a ground in the first place, that I am part of that Whole which is all under Natures Government. Secondly , I am in some measure Related to those Beings which are of my own Order and Species. These Points being agreed, I shall apply them : Insomuch then as I am apart of the Universe, I shall never be displeas'd with the General Appointment : For that can never be prejudicial to the parts , which is serviceable to the whole. Neither is the Universe clog'd with any Incumbrance. For the Nature of no Being is an Enemy to it self. But the World [2] has this Advantage above other particular Beings, that there is nothing to Limit, or Over-rule it : No Foreign power to force it upon Unfriendly Productions. Since therefore I am a Member of so Magnificent a Body , and belong to such an Uncontrolable Soveraignty, I shall freely Acquiess in what ever happens to me. Farther, in as much as I have a particular Relation to my own Species, I will never do any thing against Common Right , or the Interest of Society, On the other hand, I shall make it my Business to Oblige Mankind , lay out my whole Life for the advantage of the Publick, and for-

N 3
bear
  1. God.
  2. or God.