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on the contrary, are mankind cautioned against the assumption of such a power, as a dishonour to the Supreme Legislator of the universe, and fraught with mischief and ruin to those who practise it! They are commanded to make their minds familiar with it, to meditate in it day and night-in consideration of its divine original, and because it is a full and infallible standard of duty. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in the house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon

the posts of thy house, and on thy gates

* "

Even the duties of benevolence, the limits of which cannot be so precisely defined as those of justice, and of the manner of discharging which we are, therefore, left in some measure to judge, are enforced, and are to be performed, without the aid of the principle of expediency. The Scriptures teach us to govern our determination, in such cases, by other considerations-by a sense of duty, by the fear and love of God, by a supreme regard to his glory, and by the conviction of our accountableness. In all cases, the language which they speak, and the principles which they enjoin, are in direct opposition to Mr. Paley's opinion, "that there is no command in Holy Writ, however plainly ex

* Deut, vi. 5-9,

pressed, however forcibly inculcated, which a man is not permitted, which he is not bound, to violate whenever his blindness, his interest, his frenzy, induce him to imagine that the violation will ultimately be productive of advantage."

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But it is not enough to state, generally, that the principle of expediency is opposed to Scripture; it is there marked with unqualified reprobation. "We be slanderously reported, and some affirm that we say, Let us do evil that good may come; whose damnation," adds the Apostle, " is just*." Mr. Paley's comment on these words of inspiration may well excite astonishment; and convince the reader of the dangerous tendency of a principle, which could lead a man who really venerated Divine Revelation, to write concerning one of its most explicit announcements, in a manner so unguarded. "From the principles delivered in this and the two preceding chapters, a maxim may be explained, which is in every man's mouth, and in most men's without meaning, viz., not to do evil that good may come-that is, let us not violate a general rule for the sake of particular good consequences we may expect-which is for the most part a salutary caution, the advantage seldom compensating for the violation of the rule*.”

any

It is, besides, no slight objection to the principle in question, that its adoption might lead to the rejection of Christianity. For, if utility be the only infallible criterion of the divine will, does it not follow, that in weighing the evidence for Revelation, the unbeliever, should he be led in the outset to conceive that the re+ Vol. i. p. 81.

* Rom. iii. 8.

ception of the Gospel would not promote the general happiness of mankind, would feel it to be his duty to reject it? Though he should be convinced that the testimony in support of divine Revelation is irrefragable, still, on his principles, he would be bound to pronounce it an imposture,—having been satisfied by previous investigation that, on the whole, it is unfavourable to the interests of mankind. It is on this ground, accordingly, it has ostensibly been rejected by the majority of philosophical unbelievers. How could Rousseau, for example, notwithstanding his occasional pretensions to the contrary, love or receive that religion. respecting which he says, that it “ preaches up nothing but slavery and dependence? The spirit of it is too favourable to tyranny for her not always to take the advantage of it. Free Christians are made to be slaves."

Finally, the principle of expediency is directly opposed to the benevolence which the Gospel requires. The most marked characteristic of this, as will afterwards be shewn, is disinterestedness. The love which is pure, which is acceptable to God, seeketh not her own. The Divine Founder of our religion has commanded us to do good, without any selfish reference to the return which our benevolence may bring us. "If ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the Publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the Publi

cans so."

How contrary is this to the doctrine inculcated by the patrons of expediency; who tell us, that we

should so constantly keep in view in our actions the good which they are likely to procure, that we are warranted to break the most express commandments of Heaven, when we think that the advantage is of sufficient magnitude to justify the violation.

CHAPTER X.

THE PRINCIPLE OF EXPEDIENCY NOT COUNTENANCED BY THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF REWARD.

THE most plausible argument in favour of the principle of utility, an argument of which Paley has very fully availed himself, is, its apparent consistency with the doctrine of scripture concerning the reward promised to genuine faith and obedience.

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The following are a few out of many passages in which mankind are commanded to seek salvation, and promised eternal life as the reward of their persevering pursuit. Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil;-but glory, honour, "We and peace to every man that worketh good*." labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive

*Rom. ii. 6-10.

the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad*." “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus t.”

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The same principle is recognised in those appeals to our love of personal happiness which are so abundant in scripture. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him §.”

But in what does the principle here recognised and recommended differ from utility? Does not the former as well as the latter require us to seek by strenuous and persevering exertion a personal advantage, a reward of the greatest magnitude? According to the doctrine of expediency, the strength of an obligation to an action or line of conduct is in proportion to the gain which is to accrue from it. "We can be obliged to nothing," says Paley," but what we ourselves are to gain or lose something by: for nothing else can be a violent motive to us. As we should not be obliged to obey the laws, or the magistrate, unless rewards or punishments, pleasure or pain, somehow or other, depended upon our obedience; so neither should we, Matt. xvi. 26.

* 2 Cor. v. 9, 10.

+ Philip iii. 14. § Luke xii, 4, 5.

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