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

Pronziscs. 97
rice of the demand upon him, he may conscientiously
plead this limitation; because he applies tbe rule of
law to the purpose for which it was intended. But when
he refuses to pay a debt, of the reality of whlt;:h he
is conscious, he cannot, as before, plead thE' intention
of the statute, and the supreme authority of
law, unless he could shew, that the law intended to in.
terpose its supreme authority, to acquit men of debts,
of the existence and justice of which they were themselves
sensible.. Again, to preserve youth fro·m the
practices and impositions, to which their inexperience
expo~es them, the law compels the payment of
110 debts inclirred within a certain age, nor the performance
of any engagements, ex-cept for such necessaries
as are su.ited to . their condition and fortunes. .
If a young person therefore perceive that he has been
- .practiced or imposed upon, he may honestly avail
himself of the privilege of his non-age to defeat the
circumvention. But, if he shelter himself under this I ;
privilege, to avoid a fair obligation, or.an equitable
t
H
contract, he extends the privilege to a·case, in which
it is not allowed by intention of law, .and in wliich r
consequently, it does not, in natural justice, exif.~.
As property is the principal subject of justice,. or
"of the determinate relative duties,'" we have put
down what we had to say upon it in the first place:
\ve no\\' proceed to state these duties in the ·.best order
we can.
PROMISES.
I. !JROM whence the oblil')tion to peifornLProm­
Zlc .. r arIses.
II. In what sense Promises are to h.-, interpreted.
III. In what rases Promius (ire not bindi.1g.