in preference to every other. No measure of fuch extenfive concern appears to me fo practicable, nor any fingle alteration fo beneficial, as the conversion of tithes into corn rents. This commutation, I am convinced, might be fo adjufted, as to fecure to the tithe-holder a complete and perpetual equivalent for his intereft, and to leave to industry its full operation and entire reward.

CHAP.

?

Dd4

СНАР. XIL

OF WAR, AND OF MILITARY ESTABLISH

MENTS.

B

ECAUSE the Chriftian Scriptures defcribe wars, as what they are, as crimes or judge ments, fome have been led to believe that it is unlawful for a Chriftian to bear arms. But it fhould be remembered, that it may be neceffary for individuals to unite their force, and for this end to refign themselves to the direction of a common will; and yet it may be true that that will is often actuated by criminal motives, and often determined to deftructive purposes. Hence, although the origin of wars be afcribed in Scripture to the operation of lawlefs and malignant paffions; and though war itfelf be enumerated among the foreft calamities with which a land can be vifited, the profeffion of a foldier is nowhere forbidden or condemned. When the fol

* James, iv. 1.

diers demanded of John the Baptift what they fhould do, he faid unto them, "Do violence to

no man, neither accufe any falfely, and be 66 content with your wages." In which anfwer we do not find that, in order to prepare themfelves for the reception of the kingdom of God, it was required of foldiers to relinquish their profeffion, but only that they should beware of the vices of which that profeffion was accufed. The precept which follows, "Be content with your wages," fuppofed them to continue in their fituation. It was of a Roman centurion that Chrift pronounced that memorable eulogy, "I have not found fo great faith, no not in If

66

rael t." The firft Gentile convert ‡ who was received into the Chriftian church, and to whom the gospel was imparted by the immediate and efpecial direction of Heaven, held the fame ftation and in the hiftory of this transaction we discover not the fmalleft intimation, that Cornelius, upon becoming a Chriftian, quitted the fervice of the Roman legion; that his profeffion was objected to, or his continuance in it confidered as in any wife inconfiftent with his new character.

* Luke, iii. 14.

+ Luke, vii. 9.

‡ A&s, x. 1..

6

In

may

fome

In applying the principles of morality to the affairs of nations, the difficulty which meets us arifes from hence, "that the particular confe་་ quence fometimes appears to exceed the "va"lue of the general rule." In this circumstance is founded the only diftinction that exists between the cafe of independent ftates, and of independent individuals. In the tranfactions of private perfons, no advantage that refults from the breach of a general law of justice, can compenfate to the public for the violation of the law in the concerns of empire, this times be doubted. Thus, that the faith of promifes ought to be maintained, as far as is lawful, and as far as was intended by the parties, whatever inconveniency either of them may fuffer by his fidelity, in the intercourfe of private life, is feldom difputed; because it is evident to almost every man who reflects upon the subject, that the common happiness gains more by the prefervation of the rule, than it could do by the removal of the inconveniency. But when the adherence to a public treaty would enflave a whole people, would block up feas, rivers, or harbours, depopulate cities, condemn fertile regions to eternal defolation, cut off a country from its fources of provifion, or deprive it of

thofe

thofe commercial advantages to which its climate, produce, or fituation naturally entitle it; the magnitude of the particular evil induces us to call in question the obligation of the general rule. Moral philofophy furnishes no precife folution to thefe doubts. She cannot pronounce that any rule of morality is fo rigid as to bend to no exceptions; nor, on the other hand, can the comprise these exceptions within any previous description. She confeffes that the obligation of every law depends upon its ultimate utility; that this utility having a finite and determinate value, fituations may be feigned, and confequently may poffibly arife, in which the general tendency is outweighed by the enormity of the particular mifchief: but fhe recals, at the fame time, to the confideration of the enquirer, the almost ineftimable importance, as of other general rules of relative justice, so especially of national and perfonal fidelity; the unfeen, if not unbounded, extent of the mischief which muft follow from the want of it; the danger of leaving it to the fufferer to decide upon the comparison of particular and general confequences; and the ftill greater danger of fuch decifions being drawn into future precedents. If treaties, for inftance, be no longer binding than whilft