OCR Text |
Show r: u 3 ls a {late of nature we have a right to make the da- the perfons that have injured us, repair in mages that they have done us ; and it is jult as them, us to inflict fuch puniflnncnt upon the are neceflary to reltrain them from doing defign and end whole like for the future : The of punifhing being either to reclaim the individual punifhed, or to deter others from being guilty of fimilar crimes: Whenever punifiirnent exceeds thefe bounds, it becomes cruelty and revenge, and directly contrary to the law Our wants and neceflities being of nature. inch, as to render it impoflible in molt cafes to enjoy life in any tolerable degree, without enttring into fociety, and there being innumerable cafes, wherein we need the alliftance of others, which if not afforded, we {hould very foon perilh ; hence the law of nature requires, that we lhould endeavour to help one another, to the ntmof‘r of our power in all cafes, where our allittance is necellary. It is our duty to rndeavour always to promote the general good ; to do to all, as we would be willing to he done by, were we in their cireumflanccs, to do inllly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before GOD. Thefe are fome of the laws of nature, which every man in the world is bound to oblerve, and which whoever violates, expo" ill-:s himl‘elf to the rc‘ientment of mankind, the till-CS of his own confcience, and the judgs 5 This plainly mews, that the .iezit of heaven. , lictt fies. cl lllECi {y fnbjefls us to the law of V) t i lay ‘ .. 1., of7 Con. é\r;\tlllil‘¥.f‘.ll. 'n , ., .. ;:_ w . rug . T) i‘ ' v ' ' ~~ - .; . Manon: to -- ihe i ‘ tin: in‘ obeying (lifl‘ltCS dictates of right reafon, and l'ubmitting to me tural law. When a man goes beyond, or contrary to the law or" nature and realon, he be- comes the {lave of hate paflions, and vile lufis, he introduces confidion and dilbrder into loci- ety, and brings mitery and defli‘uétion upon himfelf. This therefore cannot be called a Rate of freedom, but a {late of the vileit llavery, and the melt dreadful bondage : The fervants of fin and corruption are {injected to the worlt kind of tyranny in the univerfe. Hence we conclude, that where licencioulhefs begins, liberty ends. THE law of nature is a perfect {landard and meafure of action for beings that perf‘evere in a ftate of moral reflitude. But the cafe is far difl'erent with us, who are in a fallen and dege- nerate eftate. We have a law in our members, which is continually warring againft the law of the mind; by which we often become en- flaved to the hated. lults, and are brought into bondage to the vilclt pallions. The llrong propenlities of our animal nature often over- come the fober dictates ofreafon and confcience, and betray us into actions injurious to the p1,1l.>lic,and dcllrucTive of the fafety and happinefis ol'fociety. Men of unbridled hills, Were they not reltrain'd by the power of the civil magiltrate, would fpread horror and delblation all around them. This makes it abfolntely ne- ceihiry, that focieties {hould form thernlelves into politick bodies, that they may enact laws for the public fafety, and appoint particular penalties |