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

The Necessity oJGeneral Rules. i,9
either what to expect or how to act. Rewards and
punishments would cease to be such-would become
accidents. Like the stroke of a thunderbolt, or the
discovery of a mine, like a blank or b~nefit ticket in
a lottery, they would occasion pain or pleasure when
they happened; but following in no known order,
from any particular course of action, they could have
no previous influence or effect upon the conduct. ~
An attention to g\.~neral rules, therefore, is included
in th~ "ery idea of reward and punishment. Consequently
wha, . ~r reason there is to expect future re·
ward and punishment at the hand of God, tqere is I
the same reason to believe, that he will proceed i
the distribution of it by ~neral rules.
Before we pros.ecute the consideration of general
consequences any farther, it may be proper to anticipate
a reflection, which will be apt enough to sug ..
gest itself in the progress of our argument.
As the general consequence of an action, upon
which so much of the guilt of a bad action depends,
consists in the example; it should seem, ithat, if the
action be done with perfect secrecy, so as to furnish
no bad· example, that 1'3rt of the guilt drops off.
In the case of suicide, for instance, if a man can so
manage matters, as to take away his own life, with •
. out being known or suspected to have done so, he
is not chargeable with any mischief from the exampIe;
nor does his punishment seem necessary, in
order to save the authority of any general rule.
In the first place, those who reason in this manner
do not observe that they are setting up a general
rule, of aU others the least to be endured; namely!1
that secrecy, whenever secrecy is practicable, wil,
justify any action.
Were such a rule admitted, for instance, in the
case above produced, is there not 1 4 E'aSOn to fear that
people would be disa.1Jpearing perpetl.,ally ?