NATURAL THEOLOGY. 165 



are alike trials ; have both their duties and temp- 

 tations, not less arduous or less dangerous in one 

 case than the other ; so that if the final award 

 follow the character, the original distribution of 

 the circumstances under which that character is 

 formed, may be defended upon principles not only 

 of justice but of equality. What hinders, there- 

 fore, but that mankind may draw lots for their 

 condition? They take their portion of faculties 

 and opportunities, as any unknown cause, or con- 

 course of causes, or as causes acting for other pur- 

 poses, may happen to set them out : but the event 

 is governed by that which depends upon them- 

 selves, the application of what they have received. 

 In dividing the talents, no rule was observed : none 

 was necessary: in rewarding the use of them, 

 that of the most correct justice. The chief differ- 

 ence at last appears to be, that the right use of 

 more talents, i. e. of a greater trust, will be more 

 highly rewarded than the right use of fewer tal- 

 ents, i. e. of a less trust. And since, for other 

 purposes, it is expedient that there be an inequal- 

 ity of concredited talents here, as well probably 

 as an inequality of conditions hereafter, though all 

 remuneratory, — can any rule, adapted to that in- 

 equality, be more agreeable, even to our appre- 

 hensions of distributive justice, than this is ? 



We have said that the appearance of casualty 

 which attends the occurrences and events of life, 

 not only does not interfere with its uses as a state 

 of probation, but that it promotes these uses. 



