ABSTRACT
Foundation of virtue. - Human actions regulated: 1. By the nature of things. - 2. By positive institution. - Tendency of the latter: 1. To excite virtue. - Its equivocal character in this respect. - 2. To inform the judgment. - Its inaptitude for that purpose. - Province of conscience considered. Tendency of an interference with that province. Recapitulation. - Arguments in favour of positive institution: 1. The necessity of repelling private injustice. - Objections: the uncertainty of evidence. - The diversity of motives. - The unsuitableness of the means of correction - Either to impress new sentiments - Or to strengthen old ones. - Punishment for the sake of example considered. - Urgency of the case. - 2. Rebellion. - 3. War. - Objections. - Reply
