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

Of Right •
. Frf'm the principles delivered in this and ~ two
preceding Chapters, a maxim may be explained, which
is in every man's mouth, and in nlOst men's without
meaning, viz. "n.Qt to do evil that~ood may come :u
that is, let us not violate a g~J rule for the $a~
of al!!-p~!:.tif!1!~-good consequence we may expec~
\Vhich is for the most part a salutary caution, the advantage
seldom compensating for the violation of
the rule.
Strictly speaking, that cannot be " erJ"
from wqich "good comes; " but in this way, and
with a view to the distinction between particular and-.
general consequences, it may.
,V e will conclude this subject of COTlJtqlll1Uts witlt:
the following reflection. A man may imagine, "­
any action of his, with respect to i:he public, m\ls~
be inconsiderAble; so also is the agent~ If his c~ .
produce but a s~all effec~ upon the univ-ersal.mterest,
hi s punishment or destruction bears a small pr~ J
portion to the sum of happiness and misery in ~he
•
creatIon.
_
C'fIAPTER IX.
OF RIGHT.
RIG HT and o~ljg~~n _a!:~Eci2~o~al J that is,
wher~r !hete-~j_].k~t_ in one pet:S9!l, .. thE!r~_~-4'.
corr~sponding obligation_!lt.on_~~11e!].~_
If ORe maa
has a " right" to an estate, others are" obliged"tG
abstain from it. If parents have a~' right" t9 r-ev~
crence from their children, children are' "obliged"
to reverence their parents; and so in aU ot\ler ~
stances.
Now, because moral obUgalioJZ depends, ~··W~ h3ife\fC/ )~
seen, upon the will of God, righI, which is C01.'¥el~ (.m:.
tive to. it,.must depend upon the saIne. ~~ ~~
f~!.:.~gmfies, consistCl~cl with ~_w.iJl1 qii1.