the Law of most countries especially of free states than commit the liberty of the subject to the humour of a magistrate leave in such cases men to themselves. C. 4. THE SCRIPTURES Whoever expects to find in the Scriptures particular looks for more directions for any particular case that arises will be dis than he will meet with appointed directions (and to what a magnitude such a detail of precepts would enlarged have extended the sacred volume may be partly understood from these The Laws of this country including the acts of the legislature admissions of our supreme courts of justice are not contained in fewer than a hundred volumes, and yet it is not time in one case out of three that you can find in any Law Book the case you look for to say nothing of those many points of does not conduct in which the Law profess[es] not to prescribe any thing. Had then the same particularity which obtains in human Laws so far as they go been attempted in the Scriptures throughout the whole extent of morality is manifest they would have been much too bulky. against the moral sense that it is not universal in some countries they think it right to maintain in others to put to death their aged parents-in some to expose, in others to support their children. That the general though not universal approbation of particular actions may be explained even in cases where we have no interest without the supposition of a moral sense. 1st. because a great part of those who approve from precept authority and a habit of approving acquired from example in our infancy. 2. because having experienced in some instances such an action to be beneficial to us, or observed that it would be so, a sentiment of approbation rises up, which sentiment afterwards accompanies the idea or mention of the action, though the private advantage which first excited it be no more. the same happens in money. situation + now he is happy-that would make one happy-the man is happy who has health and complacency-that is a happy eating drinking-music-magnificent sights. sports. † retiring from business-into convents N. B. The young pursue pleasure too much, the old ease. † no delight to a shepherd in his superiority over his dog -to the farmer in his over the shepherd-to the squire in his over the farmer-to the prince in his over the squireto the second wrangler in his over a senior optime, to a senior optime over a lose groat-to a lose groat over his bed maker. A delight to the shepherd in his superiority in wrestling over another shepherd-to the farmer in horses over another farmer-to the squire in wealth over his neighbour squire to the prince in his superiority of strength over another prince. * by a peasant of more strength, a blacksmith of more skill, a soldier of more courage, a tradesman of more wealth, as much as by a prince of more power, a nobleman of more interest and splendour, a general of success. † love of children, relations-bounty to poor, friendship— hence the discontent and peevishness of monks. + a relative term HAPPINESS 2 that condition in which the amount of pleasure is greater than that of pain does not consist in the abundance of sensual pleasures because * 1 they only continue for a little [time] at a time 2 because by frequent repetition they lose their relish does not consist in the absence of bodily pain, labour molestation, +because succeeded by dejection disquiet[ude] thoughts does not consist in greatness +1 because the pleasure consists in a superiority only over those whom we compare ourselves with may be possessed by the meanest * with the comparison soon ceases 2 because the pleasure [consists in a superiority] and new competitions arise consists + in the exercise of the social affections. fortune rarely procures happiness-for the want of it the weariness and misery of rich men-their engaging with so much eagerness in trifling pursuits elections, gaming horse racing. Morality is taught in Scripture in this wise. general rules piety are laid down of justice benevolence as these do as you would forgive as ye would be forgiven and be done by-love our neighbour as ourselves the other of St. that mercy is better than sacrifice Paul at the close of the Epistles these rules are illustrated in fictitious examples as the parable of the Samaritan as the the praise of reproof of the disciples at the Samaritan village or in in the poor widow who cast in stances which actually presented themselves the scribe who his censure of the Pharisees who chose out the chief rooms had found out in that country that to love God and his the honest Scribe who had found of tradition neighbour were more than whole burnt offerings whereby they awarded the command. And this is the way in which all the practical sciences are taught in arithmetic, navigation grammar and the like general rules are laid down and examples are subjoined not that these examples are the cases much less all the cases that will actually occur but by way only of better explaining the principle rule [and the mode] as so many specimens of the mode of applying it. |