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

ProT/lises.
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whatever she asked, even to the half of his kingdom."
The promise was not unlawful, in the terms in which
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H ~"""rl v,"", d.,li\.·prpcl _"A • ______ it· , ~nd ...... ttYhen •• l-A. l beca"'e UA so -. by the
daughter's choice, by her demanding "JoHN the
Baptist'~·head," Herod was discharged from the obiigation
of it, for the reason now laid down, as well
as for that gh'en in the last paragraph.
This rule, " that promises are void, where the per-(
formance is unlawfIJI," extends also to imperfect ob~
ligations: for the reason of the rule holds of all obi
ligaticns. Thus, if you promise a man a place, of
your \~ote,
and he afterwards re!lder himself unfi~ to
receive either, you . are absolved from the obligation
of your promise ; or, if a better candidate appear,
and it be a case in which you are bound by oath, or
otherwise, to govern yourself by the qualification,
-the promise must be broken through.
And here I would recommend, to young persons
especially, a caution, from the neglect of which, many
involve them~e!vcs in embarrassment and disgrace;
and that is, " never to give a prumise which may in ..
terfere in the event with their duty;" for if it do
5(', Il."~rfere, thf'!r duty must be discharged, though
at the expense of their promise, and no~ unusuClJly of
1 -
tllelr goo d name. ,,-
The specific performance of promises is reckoned ~l
a perfect obligation. And many casuists have iaid
do\vn, in opposition to what has been here asserted,
that, where a perD~ct and an imperfect obligation
dash, the perfect ohligation is to be preferred. For
which opinion, however, tl1ere seems to be no reason,
but \vhat arise~ frorn tte terms "perfect" and "imperfec~,"
the impropriety of which has been remark.
ed above. The truth is, of two contradictory obli.
gations, that ought to prevail which is prior in point
of tinle.
It)~_Jh~_ perjorma},!cc being unlawful, and not any
unfawfulness in the subje'ct or motive of the promise;
\V hich dt;stroys its validity; therefore a bribe, after I
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