Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERM. prov'd the peculiar excellency of the III. Chriftian scheme of benevolence, not only as 'tis moft difinterested and generous, but of universal extent and influence; not to be confin'd by any difference of nation, religion, intereft, nor fupprefs'd and extinguish'd by perfonal injuries: I proceed now to answer an objection that has been raised against it, by a late noble, and justly celebrated, writer, from its not particularly inculcating private friendship, and the love of our country. 'Tis thought very ftrange, that thefe, which are rank'd among the most heroic virtues, fhould be purely voluntary in a Chriftian, and no effential parts of his charity *. In order therefore, to fet this matter in a just light, I fhall

I. Settle the notion of private friend-
ship, and the love of our country,
and fhew how far they are truly vir-
tuous and honourable. And then,
II. Offer a few things more directly,
to vindicate the Chriftian benevo-
lence against the force of this ob-
jection.

CHARACTERISTICKS, Vol. I. p. 99.

I. I am

III.

I. I am to fettle the true notion ofSERM. private friendship, and the love of our country, and shew how far they are truly virtuous and honourable. 'Tis undeniable, that both these principles have been grofsly abused. Private friendships have been only little parties in vice and mifchief, and public diforder; and an attachment to the interest of particular focieties has been a vile confpiracy against justice, honour, liberty, and the peace and happinefs of the world. 'Tis neceffary therefore that we settle their proper bounds, that none may be led away, by the mere force of agreeable and bewitching founds, fo as to pervert what, if rightly understood, are really amiable and useful, into monftrous, unnatural and burtful qualities.

Univerfal benevolence, then, is the Supreme law to all rational beings, a law of eternal and immutable obligation, the authority of which ought not to be fuperceded, limited, or, in the leaft, weakned by any selfish or partial affections. For if there be any beauty and amiable

nefs,

III.

SERM. nefs, at all, in doing good, the more extended our views are, it must be so much the more meritorious and honourable; and, confequently to aim at the univerfal good must be the highest degree of virtue. -Nothing forms fo great and

worthy a character. 'Tis indeed the chief part even of God's moral rectitude; and muft, therefore, be the fupreme dignity and perfection of human nature. Again, the happiness of the whole fpecies cannot be too intenfely pursued; whereas all other affections are no longer innocent, than while they are, at least, consistent with this; are only virtuous, so far as they directly promote it; but are base and deteftable, when they interfere with it.

To apply this to the cafe of private friendship. When my love of a friend is inconfiftent with the regards I owe my country; and especially when it opposes the general good of mankind, to whom all my services are more immediately and strictly due; 'tis an unnatural affection, and ought to be rooted out of the mind i because were it univerfally indulg'd, it would

would introduce rhe utmost confufion, SERM. and an entire fubverfion of all order and III. government. No man can fupport his friend by interrupting the course of juftice, or violating the rules of honour, who is not an utter stranger to virtue; but, on the contrary, muft it be a noble action, agreeable to reason, humanity, and every benevolent and fociar principle, to desert him for the public good. And this being the great rule by which we are to determine, in all cafes, concerning the expediency and fitness of private friendfhips; it follows farther, that they have nothing truly generous in them, but as they tend to cultivate and improve univerfal benevolence; and are a natural means to make the whole fpecies happy.

For if they are not chofen for this reafon because they are beft upon the whole, if they are only not contrary to the public happiness, but have no direct influence to promote it, our views must be mean and selfish; and friendship will become a mere matter of private convenience, or else of humour and fancy,

in

SERM, in either of which cafes it must be unIII. certain and variable, as circumftances, opinions, and interefts alter; or finally, it will be only the love of ourselves, i ė. of the resemblance of our own way of thinking, difpofitions, and manners, in others; and, confequently, nothing like that fublime and heroic virtue for which it has been recommended, and which, indeed, it is in itself, fo long as 'tis the medium of univerfal benevolence.

[ocr errors]

Again, all friendship, in order to its being truly rational and praife-worthy, must be founded in virtue. For this is the only ground of that efteem and fteddy confidence, which are infeparable from a worthy and generous friendship. 'Tis in this way alone that it can be at all useful, or, in any measure, promote the end of every leffer alliance, viz. the welfare of the great community of mankind. 'Tis this that diftinguishes true friendship from the vile cabals of robbers and traitors, men of dark and mischievous defigns, who may have all the other characters of it, fuch as a fimilitude of

¢

tempers, paffions, interefts, fecrefy, con"fidence,

« PreviousContinue »