( 270 ) Bk. iv. 



CHAP. II. 



Of the Effects which would result to Society from the 

 Prevalence of moral Restraint. 



One of the principal reasons which have prevented, 

 an assent to the doctrine of the constant tendency 

 of population to increase beyond the means of 

 subsistence, is a great unwillingness to believe 

 that the Deity would by the laws of nature bring 

 beings into existence, which by the laws of nature 

 could not be supported in that existence. But if, 

 in addition to that general activity and direction 

 of our industry put in motion by these laws, we 

 further consider that the incidental evils arising 

 from them are constantly directing our attention 

 to the proper check to population, moral restraint; 

 and if it appear that, by a strict obedience to the 

 duties pointed out to us by the light of nature and 

 reason, and confirmed and sanctioned by reve- 

 lation, these evils may be avoided, the objection 

 will, I trust, be removed, and all apparent impu- 

 tation on the goodness of the Deity be done away. 



The heathen moralists never represented hap- 

 piness as attainable on earth, but through the 

 medium of virtue ; and among their virtues pru- 

 dence ranked in the first class, and by some was 

 even considered as including every other. The 

 Christian religion places our present as well as 



