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

59
a just economy I)f Providence, to admit one patt of
mallkind into he-.~n, an.d condemn t~ other to
hell, since t},.ere must iJ~ very little to choose, ~tween
the _worst man who is rec~!ved into heaven, and me
best who is excluded. And hll~ know we, it might '
be answered, but that there mA)' be as little to
choose in their conditions ?
Without entering into a detail of SCriphll'e m~
rality which would anticipate our . subject, tht: £01.
lowing general positions may be advanced, I tI¥nk,
with safety :
J
1. That a state of happiness is not to be expected
by those who are conscious of no moral or religiot\s
rule. I mean those, who carlnot ,vith truth say,
that they have been prompted to one action, or
withheld from one gratification, by any regard to
virtue or religion, either immediate or habitual.
There needs· -no other proof of this, than the consideration,
that a brute would be as proper an objectof
reward as such a man; and that, if the case were
so, the penal sanctions of religion could have no
place. For WhOOl wouid you punish, if you make
such a one as this happy ?-or rather indeed religion
itself, both natural and revealed, would cease to have
either use or authority.
2. That a state of happiness is not to be expected
by those, VJho reserve to themselves the habittla!
practice of anyone sin, or neglect of one known
~~lty.
Bec~use no obedience can proceed upon proper
ml1tives ~~ich is not universal, that is, \vhich-is not
dir,~cted to evt.::-y command of God alike, as they
all stand upon the Si:L~e autbor~ty.
Because, such an allowan~e Wt)uld in effect amorlnt
to a toleration of e"lery vice in tht: world.
And because, tbe strain of scripturt: language exclude~~
any such hope. Whin our duties are !,pcited"
they are put- collectively, that is~ as all and every (I·t