PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

478 Of War, and of
cial direction of Heaven, held the same station: and
in the history of this transaction we discover not the
sinallest intimation, that Cornelius, upon becoming
a Christian, quitted the service of the Roman legion;
that his profession was objected to, or his continuance
in it considered as in any wise in~onsistent with 11is
new character,
In applying the principles of morality to the affairs
of nations, the difficulty which meets us arises frc1m
hence,." lhat th,~ particlar consequence solnetimes
appears to exceed the .value of the general rule." In
this circumstance is founded the only distinction that
exists between the case of independent states, and of
independent individuals. In the transa,::tions of pli-
.. vate persons, no advantage that results from the
breach of a general law of justice, can clJmpensate to
the public for the violatioIl of the law; in the concerns
of empire, this may sometimes be doubted.
Thus, that the faith of promises ought to be maintained,
as far as is la wful, and as far ~s \vas intended
by the parties, whatever inconveniency either of them
, may suffer by his" fidelity, in the intercourse of pri~
vate life, is 'seldom disputed; because it is evident t(;
almost every man who reflects upon the subject, that
the common happiness gains more by the-preservation
of the rule, than it could do by the removal of
the inconveniency. But when the adherence to a
public treaty would ens!ave a whole people, would
block up seas, rivers, or harbours, depopulate cities,
condemn fertile regions to eternal desolation, cut oft"
a country from its sources of provision, or deprive it
of those commercial advantages to which its climate,
produce, or situation naturally intitle it.; the magnitude
of the particular evil iIlduccs us ~·o call in ques.
tion the obligation of ~he general rule. NIoral philosophy
furnishes no precise solution to these doubts ..
She cannot pronoucc that any rule of morality is SCI
rigid as to bend to no exceptions; nor, on the other
11and, can she cOlnprise tllese exceptions within an~,
previous dcscriI)tion. S~l(: \":Oflfcsscs tllat the obliga,.,
tion of every bw depends upon its ultimate utility;