344 Plan of the gradual Abolition Bk. iv. 



impeached on account of that part of the Deca- 

 logue in which he declares that he will visit the 

 sins of the father upon the children; but the objec- 

 tion has not perhaps been sufficiently considered. 

 Without a most complete and fundamental change 

 in the whole constitution of human nature ; with- 

 out making man an angel, or at least something 

 totally different from what he is at present ; it 

 seems absolutely necessary that such a law 

 should prevail. Would it not require a perpetual 

 miracle, which is perhaps a contradiction in terms, 

 to prevent children from being affected in their 

 moral and civil condition by the conduct of their 

 parents ? What man is there, that has been 

 brought up by his parents, who is not at the pre- 

 sent moment enjoying something from their vir- 

 tues, or suffering something from their vices ; 

 who, in his moral character, has not been elevated 

 in some degree by their prudence, their justice, 

 their benevolence, their temperance, or depressed 

 by the contraries ; who, in his civil condition, has 

 not been raised by their reputation, their foresight, 

 their industry, their good fortune, or lowered by 

 their want of character, their imprudence, their 

 indolence, and their adversity ? And how much 

 does a knowledge of this transmission of blessings 

 contribute to excite and invigorate virtuous exer- 

 tion ? Proceeding upon this certainty, how ardent 

 and incessant are the efforts of parents to give their 

 children a good education, and to provide for their 

 future situation in the world ! If a man could 

 neglect or desert his wife and children without 



