Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

make us cling rather to felfishness, which we can always gratify. At the fame time, tho' there is not room for a more extenfive lift of particular objects, yet the faculty we have of uniting numberless individuals into one complex object, enlarges greatly the sphere of benevolence. By that faculty our country, our government, our religion, become objects of public fpirit, and of a lively affection. The individuals that compose the group, confidered apart, may be too minute, or too diftant, for our benevolence: but when united into one whole, accumulation makes them great, greatness makes them confpicuous; and affection, preferved entire and undivided, is bestow'd upon an abstract object, as upon one that is fingle and vifible; but with energy proportioned to its greater dignity and importance: Thus the principle of benevolence is not too fparingly scattered It is indeed made fubordiamong men. nate to felf-intereft, which is wifely ordered, as will afterward be made evident (a): but its power and extent are nicely proportioned to the limited capacity of man, and to his fituation in this world;

(a) Sect. 7.

G 2

2

fo

fo as better to fulfil its deftination, than if it were an overmatch for felf-intereft, and for every other principle.

SE C T. V.

Laws refpecting Rewards and Punishments.

Reflecting on the moral branch of our nature qualifying us for fociety in a manner fuited to our capacity, we cannot overlook the hand of our Maker for means fo finely adjusted to an important end, never happen by chance. It must however be acknowledged, that in many individuals, the principle of duty has not vigour nor authority fufficient to ftem every tide of unruly paffion: by the vigilance of fome paffions, we are taken unguarded; deluded by the fly infinuations of others; or overwhelmed with the ftormy impetuofity of a third fort. Moral evil is thus introduced, and much wrong is done. This new fcene fuggests to us, that there must be some article ftill want

ing to complete the moral fyftem; fome means for redreffing fuch wrongs, and for preventing the reiteration of them. To accomplish these important ends, there are added to the moral fyftem, laws relativeto rewards and punifhments, and to reparation; of which in their order.

Many animals are qualified for fociety by inftinct merely; fuch as beavers, sheep, monkeys, bees, rooks. But men are feldom led by inftinct: their actions are commonly prompted by paffions; of which there is an endlefs variety, focial and selfish, benevolent and malevolent. And were every paffion equally entitled to gratification, man would be utterly unqualified for fociety: he would be a fhip without a rudder, obedient to every wind, and moving at random without any ultimate destination. The faculty of reason would make no oppofitión; for were there no fenfe of wrong, it would be reasonable to gratify every defire that harms not ourfelves and to talk of punishment would be abfurd; for punishment, in its very idea, implies fome wrong that ought to be redreffed. Hence the neceffity of the moral fenfe, to qualify us for fociety: by in

ftructing

ftructing us in our duty, it renders us accountable for our conduct, and makes us fufceptible of rewards and punishments. The moral fenfe fulfils another valuable purpose: it erects in man an unerring ftandard for the application and measure of rewards and punishments.

To complete the fyftem of rewards and punishments, it is neceffary that a provifion be made, both of power and of willingness to reward and punish. The author of our nature hath provided amply for the former, by entitling every man to reward and punifh as his native privilege. And he has provided for the latter, by a noted principle in our nature; prompting us to exercise the power. Impelled by that principle, we reward the virtuous with approbation and efteem, and punish the vicious with difapprobation and contempt. And there is an additional motive for exercifing that principle, which is, that we have great fatisfaction in rewarding, and no lefs in punishing.

As to punishment in particular, an action done intentionally to produce mifchief, is criminal, and merits punishment. Such an action, being disagree

able,

able, raises my refentment, even where I have no connection with the perfon injured; and the principle mentioned impells me to chastise the delinquent with indignation and hatred. An injury done to myself raises my refentment to a higher tone: I am not fatisfied with fo flight a punishment as indignation and hatred: the author must by my hand fuffer mischief, as great as he has made me fuffer.

Even the moft fecret crime escapes not punishment. The delinquent is tortured with remorfe: he even defires to be punished, sometimes fo ardently as to punish himself. There cannot be imagined

[ocr errors]

* Mr John Kello, minifter of Spot in Eaft Lothian, had an extraordinary talent for preaching, and was univerfally held a man of fingular piety. His wife as handfome, chearful, tender-hearted, and in a word poffeffed all the qualities that can endear a woman to her husband. A pious and rich widow in the neighbourhood tempted his avarice. She clung to him as a fpiritual guide; and but for his little wife, he had no doubt of obtaining her in marriage. He turned gradually peevish and difcontented. His change of behaviour made a deep impreffion on his wife, for fhe loved him dearly; and yet he was anxious to conceal her treatment from

a

the

« AnteriorContinuar »