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

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The General Rights of Mankind.
sibly, er iivelihood depends, and who thereby griev­
merit and emulation in others,
ously diS'~ourages
commits, I am persuaded, a much greater crime~
than if he filched a book out of a library, or picked
a pocket of a handkerchief; though, in the one case,
he violates only an imperfect right, in the other, a
perfect one.
As positive precepts are often indeterminate in their
extent, and as the indeterminateness of an obligation
is that "which makes it imperfect; it comes to pass,
", that positive pr~cept~commonly produce an imper •
. f~cLQbl~ . --.-.-----~ . . .
1 N~tive p~ecepts or 1!rohibitions, being.g~e~ally
. L._'.prec!s~ol!Stltu~ __ accora~n*a~~!t.:~tobhgatlgn.
A.nQllc::r The -fifth commandment IS pOSItIVe, ana tne duty
'oVEtS
't
which results from it is imperfect.
The sixth commandment is negative, and imposes
a perfect obligation.
Religion and virtue find their principal exercise
I amongst the imperfect obligations; the laws of civil
I \ society taking pretty good care of the rest.
CHAPTER XI.
rrHE GENERAL RIGHTS OF l'IIANKIND.
;' By the General Rights of lVlankind, I mean
, / the rights, which belong to the species collectively;
/ the original stock, as I may say, which they have since
\... distributed among themselves.
. These are,
th!.ea~~t· to th~i~~~r._ye~_t~.~.l~_J>!"~~£~ ~f
-"The insensible parts of the creation are incapable
of injury; and it is nugatory to inquire into the
light, where the use can be attended with no injury.