by confequence he is previously obliged not to do. It is no ingratitude to refuse to do, what we cannot reconcile to any apprehenfions of our duty; but it is ingratitude and hypocrify together, to pretend this reason, when it is not the real one: and the frequency of fuch pretences has brought this apology for non-compliance with the will of a benefactor into unmerited difgrace.

It has long been accounted a violation of delicacy and generofity to upbraid men with the favours they have received; but it argues a total deftitution of both thefe qualities, as well as of moral probity, to take advantage of that afcendency, which the conferring of benefits juftly creates, to draw or drive thofe whom we have obliged into mean or dishonest compliances.

CHAP.

С НА Р. XII.

SLAN DE R.

PEAKING is acting, both in philofophical

SPEAK, and as to all moral purpofes; for, if

the mifchief and motive of our conduct be the fame, the means which we ufe make no differ

ence.

And this is in effect what our Saviour declares, Matt. xii. 37. "By thy words thou shalt be jufti«fied, and by thy words thou shalt be con

t

demned:" by thy words, as well, that is, as by thy actions; the one fhall be taken into the account, as well as the other; for they both poffefs the fame property of voluntarily producing good for

evil.

Slander may be diftinguished into two kinds, malicious flander, and inconfiderate flander.

Malicious flander, is the relating of either truth or falsehood, for the purpofe of creating mifery.

I acknowledge that the truth or falfehood of what is related varies the degree of guilt confiderably; and that flander in the ordinary acceptation of the term, fignifies the circulation of mifchievous falfehoods: but truth may be made inftrumental tó the fuccefs of malicious defigns as well as falfehood; and if the end be bad, the means cannot be innocent.

I think the idea of flander ought to be confined to the production of gratuitous mifchief. When we have an end or intereft of our own to ferve, if we attempt to compafs it by falfehood, it is fraud; if by a publication of the truth, it is not without fome additional circumftance of breach of promife, betraying

traying of confidence, or the like, to be deemed criminal.

Sometimes the pain is intended for the perfon to whom we are speaking; at other times an enmity is to be gratified by the prejudice or difquiet of a third perfon. To infufe fufpicions, to kindle or continue difputes, to avert the favour and efteem of benefactors from their dependants, to render fome one whom we diflike contemptible or obnoxious in the public opinion, are all offices of flander; of which the guilt must be measured by the intenfity and extent of the misery produced.

The difguifes under which flander is conveyed, whether in a whisper, with injunctions of fecrecy, by way of caution, or with affected reluctance, are all fo many aggravations of the offence, as they indicate more deliberation and defign.

Inconfiderate flander is a different offence, although the fame mifchief actually follow, and although the mischief might have been The not being confcious of that defign, have hitherto attributed to the flanderer, 'difference.

foreseen. which we makes the

The guilt here confifts in the want of that regard to the confequences of our conduct, which a juft affection for human happinefs and concern for our duty would not have failed to have produced in us. And it is no answer to this crimination to fay, that we entertained no evil defign. A fervant may be a very bad fervant, and yet feldom or never defign to act in oppofition to his master's intereft or will; and his master may juftly punish such servant for a thought leffness and neglect nearly as prejudicial as deliberate difobedience. I accufe you not, he may fay, of an exprefs intention to hurt me; but had not the fear of my difpleasure, the care of my inereft, and indeed all the qualities which conftitute he merit of a good fervant, been wanting in you, They would not only have excluded every direct

t

purpose

purpose of giving me uneafinefs, but have been fo far prefent to your thoughts, as to have checked that unguarded licentioufnefs, by which I have fuffered fo much, and infpired you in its place with an habitual folicitude about the effects and tendency of what you did or faid. This very much refembles the cafe of all fins of inconfideration; and, amongst the foremost of these, that of inconfiderate flander.

Information communicated for the real purpose of warning or cautioning is not flander.

Indifcriminate praise is the oppofite of flander, but it is the oppofite extreme; and, however it may affect to be thought excefs of candour, is commonly the effufion of a frivolous understanding, or proceeds from a fettled contempt of all moral diftinctions.

MORAL

THE conftitution of the fexes is the foundation

of marriage.

Collateral to the fubject of marriage, are fornication, feduction, adultery, inceft, polygamy, divorce. Confequential to marriage, is the relation and reciprocal duty of parent and child.

We will treat of thefe fubjects in the following order: firft, of the public ufe of marriage institutions; fecondly, of the fubjects collateral to marriage, in the order in which we have here propofed them; thirdly, of marriage itfelf; and laftly, of the relation and reciprocal duties of parents and children.

СНАР.