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poverty-and who look with the most wakeful eye over all the sufferings and necessities of our species-and who open their hand most widely in behalf of the imploring and the friendless-and to whom, in spite of all their mockery, the men of the world are sure, in the negociations of business, to award the readiest confidence

we also know, that the blind and impetuous world exaggerates the few into the many; inverts the process of atonement altogether, by laying the sins of one man upon the multitude; looks at their general aspect of sanctity, and is so engrossed with this single expression of character, as to be insensible to the noble uprightness, and the tender humanity with which this sanctity-and who sustain the most splendid part in is associated. And therefore it is, that we offer the assertion, and challenge all to its most thorough and searching investigation, that the Christianity of these people, which many think does nothing but cant, and profess, and run after ordinances, has augmented their honesties and their liberalities, and that, tenfold beyond the average character of society; that these are the men we oftenest meet with in the mansions of

all those great movements of philanthropy which bear on the general interests of mankind-and who, with their eye full upon eternity, scatter the most abundant blessings over the fleeting pilgrimage of time-and who, while they hold their conversation in heaven, do most enrich the earth we tread upon, with all those virtues which secure enjoyment to families, and uphold the order and prosperity of the commonwealth.

DISCOURSE III.

The Power of Selfishness in promoting the Honesties of mercantile Intercourse. "And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same."-Luke vi. 33.

Ir is to be remarked of many of those | particular testimony when it is rendered. duties, the performance of which confers The other is additional to my right-the the least distinction upon an individual, that they are at the same time the very duties, the violation of which would confer upon him the largest measure of obloquy and disgrace. Truth and justice do not serve to elevate a man so highly above the average morality of his species, as would generosity, or ardent friendship, or devoted and disinterested patriotism; the former are greatly more common than the latter; and, on that account, the presence of them is not so calculated to signalize the individual to whom they belong. But that is one account, also, why the absence of them would make him a more monstrous exception to the general run of character in society. And, accordingly, while it is true, that there are more men of integrity in the world, than there are men of very wide and liberal beneficence-it is also true, that one act of falsehood, or one act of dishonesty, would stamp a far more burning infamy on the name of a transgressor than any defect in those more heroic charities, and extraordinary virtues, of which humanity is capable.

So it is far more disgraceful not to be just to another, than not to be kind to him; and, at the same time, an act of kindness may be held in higher positive estimation than an act of justice. The one is my right -nor is there any call for the homage of a

offering of a spontaneous good will which I had no title to exact; and which, therefore, when rendered to me, excites in my bosom the cordiality of a warmer acknowledgement. And yet, our Saviour, who knew what was in man, saw, that much of the apparent kindness of nature, was resolvable into the real selfishness of nature; that much of the good done unto others, was done in the hope that these others would do something again. And, we believe it would be found by an able analyst of the human character, that this was the secret but substantial principle of many of the civilities and hospitalities of ordinary intercourse--that if there were no expectation either of a return in kind, or of a return in gratitude, or of a return in popularity, many of the sweetening and cementing virtues of a neighbourhood would be practically done away-all serving to prove, that a multitude of virtues, which, in effect, promoted the comfort and the interest of others, were tainted in principle by a latent regard to one's own interest; and that thus being the fellowship of those who did good, either as a return for the good done unto them, or who did good in hope of such a return, it might be, in fact, what our Saviour characterizes in the text-the fellowship of sinners.

But if to do that which is unjust, is still

more disgraceful than not to do that which | into an undisguised hostility against each is kind, it would prove more strikingly than other, in respect to their rights. The mere before, how deeply sin had tainted the disinterested principle would set up a feeble moral constitution of our species-could it barrier, indeed, against a desolating tide of be shown, that the great practical restraint selfishness, now set loose from the consion the prevalence of this more disgraceful deration of its own advantage. The genuthing in society, is the tie of that common ine depravity of the human heart would selfishness which actuates and characterizes burst forth and show itself in its true chaall its members. It were a curious but im-racters; and the world in which we live be portant question, were it capable of being re-transformed into a scene of unblushing solved-if men did not feel it their interest fraud, of open and lawless depredation. to be honest, how much of the actual doings of honesty would still be kept up in the world? It is our own opinion of the nature of man, that it has its honourable feelings, and its instinctive principles of rectitude, and its constitutional love of truth and of integrity; and that, on the basis of these, a certain portion of uprightness would remain amongst us, without the aid of any prudence, or any calculation whatever. All this we have fully conceded; and have already attempted to demonstrate, that, in spite of it, the character of man is thoroughly pervaded by the very essence of sinfulness; because, with all the native virtues which adorn it, there adheres to it that foulest of all spiritual deformities-unconcern about God, and even antipathy to God. It has been argued against the orthodox doctrine of the universality of human corruption, that even without the sphere of the operation of the gospel, there do occur so many engaging specimens of worth and benevolence in society. The reply is, that this may be no deduction from the doctrine whatever, but be even an aggravation of it -should the very men who exemplify so much of what is amiable, carry in their hearts an indifference to the will of that Being who thus hath formed, and thus hath embellished them. But it would be a heavy deduction indeed, not from the doctrine, but from its hostile and opposing argument, could it be shown, that the vast majority of all equitable dealing amongst men, is performed, not on the principle of honour at all, but on the principle of selfishness-that this is the soil upon which the honesty of the world mainly flourishes, and is sustained; that, were the connexion dissolved between justice to others and our own particular advantage, this would go very far to banish the observation of justice from the earth; that, generally speaking, men are honest, not because they are lovers of God, and not even because they are lovers of virtue, but because they are lovers of their ownselves-insomuch, that if it were possible to disjoin the good of self altogether from the habit of doing what was fair, as well as from the habit of doing what was kind to the people around us, this would not merely isolate the children of men from each other, in respect of the obligations of beneficence, but it would arm them

And, perhaps, after all, the best way of arriving practically at the solution of this question would be, not by a formal induction of particular cases, but by committing the matter to the gross and general experience of those who are most conversant in the affairs of business.-There is a sort of undefinable impression you all have upon this subject, on the justness of which however, we are disposed to lay a very considerable stress-an impression gathered out of the mass of the recollections of a whole life-an impression founded on what you may have observed in the history of your own doings-a kind of tact that you have acquired as the fruit of your repeated intercourse with men, and of the manifold transactions that you have had with them, and of the number of times in which you have been personally implicated with the play of human passions, and human interests. It is our own conviction, that a well exercised merchant could cast a more intelligent glance at this question, than a well exercised metaphysician; and therefore do we submit its decision to those of you who have hazarded most largely, and most frequently, on the faith of agents, and customers, and distant correspondents. We know the fact of a very secure and well warranted confidence in the honesty of others, being widely prevalent amongst you: and that, were it not for this, all the interchanges of trade would be suspended; and that confidence is the very soul and life of commercial activity; and it is delightful to think, how thus a man can suffer all the wealth which belongs to him to depart from under his eye, and to traverse the mightiest oceans and continents of our world, and to pass into the custody of men whom he never saw. And it is a sublime homage, one should think, to the honourable and high-minded principles of our nature, that, under their guardianship, the adverse hemispheres of the globe should be bound together in safe and profitable merchandise; and that thus one should sleep with a bosom undisturbed by jealousy, in Britain, who has all, and more than all his property treasured in the warehouses of India-and that, just because there he knows there is vigilance to defend it, and activity to dispose of it, and truth to account for it, and all those trusty virtues which ennoble the

character of man to shield it from injury, | to convict him of the deceitfulness of that

and send it back again in an increasing tide of opulence to his door.

moral complacency with which he looks to his own character, and his own attainments. There is no question, then, as to the fact There is much in it to demonstrate, that of a very extended practical honesty, be- his righteousness are as filthy rags; and that tween man and man, in their intercourse the idolatry of self, however hidden in its with each other. The only question is, as operation, may be detected in almost every to the reason of the fact. Why is it, that one of them. God may combine the sepahe whom you have trusted acquits himself rate interests of every individual of the huof his trust with such correctness and fidel- man race, and the strenuous prosecution of ity? Whether is his mind in so doing, most these interests by each of them, into a harset upon your interest or upon his own? monious system of operation, for the good Whether is it because he seeks your ad- of one great and extended family. But if, vantage in it, or because he finds it is his on estimating the character of each indiviown advantage? Tell us to which of the dual member of that family, we shall find two concerns he is most tremblingly alive- that the mainspring of his actions is the to your property, or to his own character? urgency of a selfish inclination; and that to and whether, upon the last of these feelings, this his very virtues are subordinate: and he may not be more forcibly impelled to that even the honesties which mark his conequitable dealing than upon the first of duct are chiefly, though, perhaps, insensithem? We well know, that there is room bly due to the selfishness which actuates enough in his bosom for both; but to de- and occupies his whole heart;—then, let termine how powerfully selfishness is blen- the semblance be what it may, still the reded with the punctualities and the integrities ality of the case accords with the most morof business, let us ask those who can speak tifying representations of the New Testamost soundly and experimentally on the ment. The moralities of nature are but the subject, what would be the result, if the ele- moralities of a day, and will cease to be apment of selfishness were so detached from plauded when this world, the only theatre the operations of trade, that there was no of their applause, is burnt up. They are such thing as a man suffering in his pros- but the blossoms of that rank efflorescence perity, because he suffered in his good which is nourished on the soil of human name; that there was no such thing as a corruption, and can never bring forth fruit desertion of custom and employment com- unto immortality. The discerner of all seing upon the back of a blasted credit, and a crets sees that they emanate from a princitainted reputation; in a word, if the only ple which is at utter war with the charity security we had of man was his principles, that prepares for the enjoyments, and that and that his interest flourished and aug-glows in the bosoms of the celestial; and, mented just as surely without his princi- therefore, though highly esteemed among ples as with them? Tell us, if the hold we men, they may be in His sight an abominahave of a man's own personal advantage tion. were thus broken down, in how far the vir- Let us, if possible, make this still clearer tues of the mercantile world would survive to your apprehension, by descending more it? Would not the world of trade sustain minutely into particulars. There is not one as violent a derangement on this mighty member of the great mercantile family, with hold being cut asunder, as the world of na- whom there does not obtain a reciprocal inture would on the suspending of the law of terest between himself and all those who gravitation? Would not the whole system, compose the circle of his various corresin fact, fall to pieces, and be dissolved? pondents. He does them good; but his eye Would not men, when thus released from is all the while open to the expectation of the magical chain of their own interest, their doing him something again. They which bound them together into a fair and minister to him all the profits of his employseeming compact of principle, like dogs of ment; but not unless he minister to them rapine let loose upon their prey, overleap of his service, and attention, and fidelity. the barrier which formerly restrained them? Insomuch, that if his credit abandon him, Does not this prove, that selfishness, after his prosperity will also abandon him. If all, is the grand principle on which the he forfeit the confidence of others, he will brotherhood of the human race is made to also forfeit their custom along with it. So hang together; and that he who can make that, in perfect consistency with interest the wrath of man to praise him, has also, being the reigning idol of his soul, he may upon the selfishness of man, caused a most still be, in every way, as sensitive of enbeauteous order of wide and useful inter-croachment upon his reputation, as he would course to be suspended? be of encroachment upon his property; and But let us here stop to observe, that, while be as vigilant, to the full, in guarding his there is much in this contemplation to mag-name against the breath of calumny, or susnify the wisdom of the Supreme Contriver, picion, as in guarding his estate against the there is also much in it to humble man, and inroads of a depredator. Now, this tie of

reciprocity, which binds him into fellowship | ship, hitherto carried forward in smiles, and good faith with society at large, will should break up in reproaches? And that sometimes, in the mere course of business, the whole character of this fellowship should and its unlooked-for fluctuations, draw one or two individuals into a still more special intimacy with himself. There may be a lucrative partnership, in which it is the pressing necessity of each individual, that all of them, for a time at least, stick closely and steadily together. Or there may be a thriving interchange of commodities struck out, where it is the mutual interest of all who are concerned, that each take his assigned part and adhere to it. Or there may be a promising arrangement devised, which it needs concert and understanding to effectuate; and, for which purpose, several may enter into a skilful and well-ordered combination.

show itself more unequivocally as it comes nearer to its close? And that some of its members, as they are becoming disengaged from the bond of mutual interest, should also become disengaged from the bond of those mutual delicacies and proprieties, and even honesties, which had heretofore marked the whole of their intercourse?-Insomuch, that a matter in which all the parties looked so fair, and magnanimous, and liberal, might at length degenerate into a contest of keen appropriation, a scramble of downright and undisguised selfishness?

whole influence of this consideration, or the degree in which honesty of character is resolvable into selfishness of character, it would be necessary to suppose, that the tie of reciprocity was dissolved, not merely between the individual and those with whom he had been more particularly and more intimately associated—but that the tie of reciprocity was dissolved between the individual and the whole of his former acquaintanceship in business.

But though this may happen sometimes, we are far from saying that it will hap pen generally. It could not, in fact, withWe are neither saying that this is very out such an exposure of character, as might general in the mercantile world, or that it not merely bring a man down in the estiis in the slightest degree unfair. But you mation of those from whom he is now withmust be sensible, that, amid the reelings and drawing himself, but also in the estimation movements of the great trading society, the of that general public with whom he is still phenomenon sometimes offers itself of a linked; and on whose opinion of him there groupe of individuals who have entered still rests the dependence of a strong perinto some compact of mutual accommoda-sonal interest. To estimate precisely the tion, and who, therefore, look as if they were isolated from the rest by the bond of some more strict and separate alliance. All we aim at, is to gather illustration to our principle, out of the way in which the members of this associated cluster conduct themselves to each other; how such a cordiality may pass between them, as one could suppose to be the cordiality of genuine friendship; how such an intercourse might be maintained among their families, as might look like the intercourse of unmingled affection; Now, the situation which comes nearest how such an exuberance of mutual hospi- to this, is that of a man on the eve of banktality might be poured forth as to recal those ruptcy, and with no sure hope of so retrievpoetic days when avarice was unknown, and ing his circumstances as again to emerge men lived in harmony together on the fruits into credit, and be restored to some emof one common inheritance; and how nobly ployment of gain or of confidence. If he disdainful each member of the combination have either honourable or religious feelappeared to be of such little savings, as could ings, then character, as connected with be easily surrendered to the general good principle, may still, in his eyes, be someand adjustment of the whole concern. And thing; but character, as connected with all this, you will observe, so long as the con- prudence, or the calculations of interest, cern prospered, and it was for the interest may now be nothing. In the dark hour of each to abide by it; and the respective of the desperation of his soul, he may feel, accounts current gladdened the heart of in fact, that he has nothing to lose; and let every individual by the exhibition of an us now see how he will conduct himself, abundant share of the common benefit to when thus released from that check of rehimself. But then, every such system of putation which formerly held him. In operations comes to an end. And what we these circumstances, if you have ever seen ask is, if it be at all an unlikely evolution the man abandon himself to utter regardof our nature, that the selfishness which lay lessness of all the honesties which at one in wrapt concealment, during the progress time adorned him, and doing such disgraceof these transactions, should now come for- ful things as he would have spurned at the ward and put out to view its cloven foot, very suggestion of, in the days of his proswhen they draw to their termination? And perity; and, forgetful of his former name as the tie of reciprocity gets looser, is it not practising all possible shifts of duplicity to a very possible thing, that the murmurs of prolong the credit of a tottering establishsomething like unfair or unhandsome con- ment; and to keep himself afloat for a few duct should get louder? And that a fellow-months of torture and restlessness, weaving

such a web of entanglement around his many friends and companions, as shall most surely implicate some of them in his fall; and, as the crisis approaches, plying his petty wiles how to survive the coming ruin, and to gather up of its fragments to his family. O! how much is there here to deplore; and who can be so ungenerous as to stalk in unrelenting triumph over the helplessness of so sad an overthrow! But if ever such an exhibition meet your eye, while we ask you not to withhold your pity from the unfortunate, we ask you also to read in it a lesson of worthless and sunken humanity; how even its very virtues are tinctured with corruption; and that the honour, and the truth, and the equity, with which man proudly thinks his nature to be embellished, are often reared on the basis of selfishness, and lie prostrate in the dust when that basis is cut away.

graceful, are not held to be so disgraceful in this department of a man's personal transactions. The cry of indignation, which would be lifted up against the falsehood or dishonesty of a man's dealings in his own neighbourhood, is mitigated or unheard, though, in his dealings with the state, there should be the very same relaxation of principle. On this subject, there is a convenience of popular feeling, which, if extended to the whole of human traffic, would banish all its securities from the world. Giving reason to believe, that much of the good done among men, is done on the expectation of a good that will be rendered back again; and that many of the virtues, by which the fellowship of human beings is regulated and sustained, still leave the imputation unredeemed, of its being a fellowship of sinners; and that both the practice of morality, and the demand for it, are measured by the operation of a self-love, which, so far from signalizing any man, or preparing him for eternity, he holds in common with the fiercest and most degenerate of his species; and that, apart from the consideration of his own interest, simplicity and godly sincerity are, to a great degree, unknown; insomuch, that though God has interposed with a law, of giving unto all their dues, and tribute to whom tribute is due-we may venture an affirmation of the vast majority of this tribute, that it is rendered for wrath's sake, and not for conscience's sake. Of so little effect is unsupported and solitary conscience to stem the tide of selfishness. And it is chiefly when honesty and truth go overbearingly along with this tide, that the voice of man is lifted up to acknowledge them, and his heart becomes feelingly alive to a sense of their obligations.

But other instances may be quoted, which go still more satisfactorily to prove the very extended influence of selfishness on the moral judgments of our species; and how readily the estimate, which a man forms on the question of right and wrong, accommodates itself to his own interest. There is a strong general reciprocity of advantage between the government of a country and all its inhabitants. The one party, in this relation, renders a revenue for the expenses of the state. The other party renders back again protection from injustice and violence. Were the means furnished by the former withheld, the benefit conferred by the latter would cease to be administered. So that, with the government, and the public at large, nothing can be more strict, and more indispensable, than the tie of reciprocity that is between them. But this is not felt, and therefore not acted upon by the And let us here just ask, in what relation separate individuals who compose that pub- of criminality does he who uses a contralic. The reciprocity does not come home band article stand to him who deals in it? with a sufficiently pointed and personal ap-In precisely the same relation that a replication to each of them. Every man may ceiver of stolen goods stands to a thief or a calculate, that though he, on the strength depredator. There may be some who reof some dexterous evasions, were to keep volt at the idea of being so classified. But, back of the tribute that is due by him, the if the habit we have just denounced can be mischief that would recoil upon himself is fastened on men of rank and seemly repudivided with the rest of his countrymen; tation, let us just humble ourselves into the and the portion of it which comes to his admission of how little the righteous pracdoor would be so very small, as to be alto- tice of the world has the foundation of righgether insensible. To all feeling he will teous principle to sustain it; how feeble are just be as effectually sheltered, by the pow- the securities of rectitude, had it nothing to er and the justice of his country, whether uphold it but its own native charms, and he pay his taxes in full, or under the guise native obligations; how society is held toof some skilful concealment, pay them but gether, only because the grace of God can partially; and therefore, to every practical turn to account the worthless propensities effect, the tie of reciprocity, between him of the individuals who compose it; and and his sovereign, is in a great measure dis-how, if the virtues of fidelity, and truth, and solved. Now, what is the actual adjust- justice, had not the prop of selfishness to ment of the moral sense, and moral conduct, rest upon, they would, with the exception of the population, to this state of matters? of a few scattered remnants, take their deIt is quite palpable. Subterfuges, which in parture from the world, and leave it a prey private business, would be held to be dis- to the anarchy of the human passions to

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