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

them. He will r£i&iurally conduct himself by both
rules; when his instructions al:e clear and positive,
there is an end of all farther deliberation (unless in ..
deed he suspect their authenticity): where his instructions
are silent or dubious, he will endeavour to
supply or explain them, by what he has been able to
-collect from other quarters of his master's geneTaI
inclination or intentions.
Mr. HUME, in his fourth Appendix to his Princi ..
pIes of Morals, has been pleased to complain of the
lDodem scheme of unithttg Ethics "\\Tith the Christian
rheology. lney who find themselves disposed to
join in this complaint will do well to observe what
Mr~ HUME himself has ~n able to make of morality
without ~is union. And for that purpose, let them
read the second p.art of the ninth section of the ab(lVe
essay; which part contains the practical application
of the whole treatise,-a treatise which Mr. HUME
declares to be "incomparably the best he ever wrote."
When they have read it over, let them consider,
whether any motives there proposed are likely to be
found sufficient to withhold men from the gratifica ..
tion of lust, revenge, envy, ambition, avarice, or to
prevent the existence of these passions. Unless they
rise up from this celebrated essay, with stronger im ..
pressions upon their minds, than it ever left upon
mine, they will acknowledge the necessity of addi.
tional sanctions~ But the necessity of these sanctions.
is not now the question. If they be in fact established,
if the rewards and punishments held forth in the
gospel will actually come to pass, they 11ZUJt be con ..
sidered. Such as reject the Christian religion are to
make the best shift they can to build up a system,
and lay the foundations of morality without it.
But it appears to me ~ great inconshitency in those
WhO receive Christianity, and expect something to
,come \ of it, to endeavour to keep all such expecta ..
lions out of sight in their reasonings concerning hu.
man duty.
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