17. Secondly, Modes not false cannot be false in reference to essences of things.
Secondly, neither can our complex ideas of modes,in reference to the essence of anything really existing,be false; because whatever complex ideas I have of any mode, it hath no reference to any pattern existing,and made by nature; it is not supposed to contain in it any other ideas than what it hath; nor to represent anything but such a complication of ideas as it does.Thus, when I have the idea of such an action of a man who forbears to afford himself such meat, drink, and clothing, and other conveniences of life, as his riches and estate will be sufficient to supply and his station requires, I have no false idea; but such an one as represents an action, either as I find or imagine it, and so is capable of neither truth nor falsehood. But when I give the name FRUGALITY or VIRTUE to this action, then it may be called a false idea, if thereby it be supposed to agree with that idea to which, in propriety of speech, the name of frugality doth belong,or to be conformable to that law which is the standard of virtue and vice.