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

98
I. From whence the ubJigationto perjormPromiscs arises.
They who argue from innate moral principl€s,
suppose a sense of the obligation of promises to be
one of them; but without assuming this, or any
thing else, without proof, the obligation to perfonn
promises may be deduced from the necessity of such
a conduct, to the well-being, or the existence, indeed,
of human society.
Men act from expectation; expectation is, in most
cases, determined by the assurances and engagements
which we receive from others. IT no dependence
could be placed upon these assurances, it would be
impossible to know what judgment to form of many
future events, or how to re~ulate our conduct with
respect to them. Confidence, therefore, in promises,
is essential to the intercourse of human life; because,
without it, the greatest part of our conduct wO:lld
proceed upon chance. But there cuuJd be no confidence
in promises, if men were not obliged to per.
form them; the obligation therefore to perform
promises is essential, to the same end, and in the
same degree.
Some may imagine, that, if this obligation were
suspended, a general cauticn and mutual distrust
would ensue, which might do as wen; but this is
imagined, without considering, how every hour of
our lives we trust to, and depend upon others; and
how impossible it is, to stir a step, or, what is worse,
to sit still a moment, without such trust and dependence.
I am now writing at m:"" ease, not doubling
(or rather never distrusting, and therefore never
thinking about it) but that the butcher will send in
the joint of meat, which I ordered; that his servant
will bring it; that my cook will dress it; that nly
footman win c:erve it up; 7dld that I shall find it upon
the table at one o'clock. Yet have I nothing for
aU this, but the p~·omise of the butcher, and the implied
promise of his servant and mine. And the
same holds of the mo&t important, as well as the most
familiar occurenc(:s of social life. In the one the