MORAL PHILOSOPHY. 



681 



M*ra1 yet, be observes, thit no man would hesitate to make 



Mlnxphj. guc i, a . to gave so many millions from destruc- 



crvatinn holds true with regard to culti- 



thropy the vatct ' man, whowr mind h;i been trained to ob-crve 



f the variou- dependencies in human society, and to see 



itiacmcnt. the principle of philanthropy generated at fir-l in the 



narrow family circle, gradually diffusing itself through 



the whole family of mankind. 



Friend, parent, neighbour, first it win embrace, 

 Ili> country next, and next all human race. 



But an uninformed savage who has not learned to 

 read the will of heaven, in the ordinations of Provi- 

 dence, and to perceive that his own happiness will be 

 promoted by expanded feelings, would not give one 

 joint of one finger to save half the world from ruin ; 

 and this, surely, is as clear a proof as can be desired, 

 that philanthropy is not the result of any particular 

 moral sense or natural feeling, but the consequence of 

 enlightened reason, of improved principle, and of ma- 

 tured wisdom. 



Limited Thus, from limited views of expediency, very great 

 view* of errors may arise ; for a man is extremely apt to con- 

 txpcdko- sidcr every thing as inexpedient which thwarts his 

 *J* views, or obstructs his favourite pursuits. To this 



contracted principle, may be ascribed all the ravings 

 of party spirit, and the aggravated colouring in which 

 y partisan represents his opponents. These are 

 exhibitions of human character, which sound wisdom 

 will teach us rather to pity than condemn ; for we can 

 easily perceive that no man can have any great liking 

 for qualities which eclipse his own fame, or prevent 

 >\*n advancement. When placed beyond the pos- 

 sibility of interfering with our interests, we can praise 

 and admire them ; when death removes the grounds of 

 rUBiilnim, we can shed a tear over the ashes of a rival 

 whom, when living, we feared and detested. Ejctinc- 

 iHt tnaltiimr idem. Though this is nut exactly what 

 it should be, and though it presents not a very flatter- 

 ing ricw of human n:durr. yet it must almost neces- 

 sarily take place in a complicated state of society, where 

 10 many are contending for the same prize, and eager- 

 ly desiring the same enjoyment. In such a state, one 

 man's interest must often stand in the way of another's, 

 and the prosperity of one mui>t often be at the expence 

 of another's comfort. Hence arise envy, je dousy, and 

 detraction, qualities extremely odious, hut naturally 

 springing out of limited views of expediency and in- 

 terest, and not easily corrected, we fear, by considera- 

 tions merely moral ; for though reason may easily chow 

 their impropriety, it cannot so easily subvert their in- 

 fluence in the human hurt. But let it be remembered 

 that the evident design of the Supreme Lawgiver is to 

 promote the general good of the human specie* ; and 

 that whi n this object is accomplished, individuals are 

 not to consider their partial inconveniences as any ex- 

 ception to the divine goodness. If they suffer in one 

 respect, they may be improved in another ; the loss 

 of worldly wealth may be the acquisition of substan- 

 tial wisdom; and the trials to which they are exposed 

 may be the means of calling forth their mental ener- 

 gies, and of exhibiting a display of virtues and en- 

 dowments to meliorate and improve the world. 

 Tbcidmef Let it then be kept in view, that man is accountable 

 g"*- for his action* at a higher tribunal than that which is 

 constituted either by conscience or public opinion, (and 

 ^ without this con-i<iertion there can be no moral rc- 

 ofcipcdi. tponsibility,) let this be kept in view, and there will 



CBCT. VOL. XIV. J'ART jj. 



be little danger of abusing the doctrine of expediency, Moml 

 or of making it subservient to low and selfish gratifi- Philosophy- 

 cations. Every individual will then consider himself as T""' 

 bound to promote that general happiness which he sees 

 sn carefully consulted and provided for by the Parent 

 of the Universe ; even though, in doing so, he should 

 be compelled to forego some private advantage of his 

 own. But it is not generally necessary to make such a 

 sacrifice; for public prosperity cannot possibly arise out 

 of general individual misfortunes; and those measures 

 which are best for the whole, will generally be found 

 best for every individual of which the aggregate of so- 

 ciety is composed. 



The same observations hold true with regard to the 

 general intercourse of nations with each other. Jus- 

 tice, in the long run, will always be found to be their 

 best policy ; though the violation of this principle may 

 often promise many great and decided temporary ad- 

 vantages. It is not long since we heard it proclaimed, 

 in the face of the whole world, that it was expedient 

 for the safety of the French empire that Spain should 

 be annexed to its already overgrown possessions. The 

 same argument has always been employed wherever a 

 powerful nation wished to invade the rights of its feebler 

 neighbours; and in all cases the general result has - 

 been the same ; either an enthusiastic spirit of resist- 

 ance has been produced, which defatted the design of 

 the aggressors ; or passive acquiescence begets in them 

 a supineness and effeminacy, which soon render them, 

 fit and easy objects of vengeance. 



When this merited retribution occurs, it is very ge- Visible re- 

 nerally reckoned an interposition of Providence to pu- '"buiions 

 nish the guilty. We conceive this opinion to be erro- *",, 'ned" 1 * 

 neons. Xo interposition is necessary in such cases ; i merpo e si . 

 they fall under the general laws of an overrul- tions of 

 ing Providence ; and Dy the operation of natural Provi- 

 principles and feelings, they bring their own corrective dence. 

 along with them. We see, no doubt, the hand of Pro. 

 vidence, whenever the foolish reap the fruits of their 

 folly ; or when the presumptuous fall by their own 

 pride, or the profligate by their own excesses. But 

 there is nothing unusual here, to deserve the name <;!' 

 an interposition ; all tliex- instances are embraced by 

 the ordinary principles which regulate the dispense 

 of Providence, and which have fixed, with unerring 

 certainty, the consequences of human conduct. Were 

 it possible to preserve moderation when in possession 

 of absolute power ; or prudence, when crowned with 

 continued success ; or energy, when wallowing in lux- 

 ury ; or abstinence, when unrestrained by principle ; 

 in such circumstances, it might be necessary for the 

 Supreme Ruler to depart from the usual principles of 

 his government, and to interpose in an extraordinary 

 manner to punish the guilty, or to break the rod of the 

 oppressor. But the case is amply provided for by the 

 ordinary arrangements of Providence; and the circum- 

 stances which we have stated never fail to produce 

 such consequences as tend to bring mankind back to 

 the sound principles established by the law of God, 

 and illustrated in his moral government of the world. 



We trust, then, that it will appear, from what has What i 

 been said, that whatever is right, and just, and proper, right is 1- 

 is also most expedient, both for individuals and for na- ""y* " 



tions; for the ways of Providence, which evidently pcdl 



.' . ' . ,? ana VIK 



sanction these principles, never can be supposed to di- 



reel mankind to a course of conduct which will he ul- 

 timately unprofitable. This proposition, indeed, will 

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