Theseresearches，however，whentheycametotakeplace，confirmedthoseoriginalanticipationsofnature。Uponwhateverwesupposethatourmoralfacultiesarefounded，whetheruponacertainmodificationofreason，uponanoriginalinstinct，calledamoralsense，oruponsomeotherprincipleofournature，itcannotbedoubted，thattheyweregivenusforthedirectionofourconductinthislife。Theycarryalongwiththemthemostevidentbadgesofthisauthority，whichdenotethattheyweresetupwithinustobethesupremearbitersofallouractions，tosuperintendalloursenses，passions，andappetites，andtojudgehowfareachofthemwaseithertobeindulgedorrestrained。Ourmoralfacultiesarebynomeans，assomehavepretended，uponalevelinthisrespectwiththeotherfacultiesandappetitesofournature，endowedwithnomorerighttorestraintheselast，thantheselastaretorestrainthem。Nootherfacultyorprincipleofactionjudgesofanyother。Lovedoesnotjudgeofresentment，norresentmentoflove。Thosetwopassionsmaybeoppositetooneanother，butcannot，withanypropriety，besaidtoapproveordisapproveofoneanother。Butitisthepeculiarofficeofthosefacultiesnowunderourconsiderationtojudge，tobestowcensureorapplauseuponalltheotherprinciplesofournature。Theymaybeconsideredasasortofsensesofwhichthoseprinciplesaretheobjects。Everysenseissupremeoveritsownobjects。Thereisnoappealfromtheeyewithregardtothebeautyofcolours，norfromtheearwithregardtotheharmonyofsounds，norfromthetastewithregardtotheagreeablenessofflavours。Eachofthosesensesjudgesinthelastresortofitsownobjects。Whatevergratifiesthetasteissweet，whateverpleasestheeyeisbeautiful，whateversoothestheearisharmonious。Theveryessenceofeachofthosequalitiesconsistsinitsbeingfittedtopleasethesensetowhichitisaddressed。
　　Itbelongstoourmoralfaculties，inthesamemannertodeterminewhentheearoughttobesoothed，whentheeyeoughttobeindulged，whenthetasteoughttobegratified，whenandhowfareveryotherprincipleofournatureoughteithertobeindulgedorrestrained。Whatisagreeabletoourmoralfaculties，isfit，andright，andpropertobedone；thecontrarywrong，unfit，andimproper。Thesentimentswhichtheyapproveof，aregracefulandbecoming:thecontrary，ungracefulandunbecoming。
　　Theverywords，right，wrong，fit，improper，graceful，unbecoming，meanonlywhatpleasesordispleasesthosefaculties。
　　Sincethese，therefore，wereplainlyintendedtobethegoverningprinciplesofhumannature，theruleswhichtheyprescribearetoberegardedasthecommandsandlawsoftheDeity，promulgatedbythosevice-gerentswhichhehasthussetupwithinus。Allgeneralrulesarecommonlydenominatedlaws:thusthegeneralruleswhichbodiesobserveinthecommunicationofmotion，arecalledthelawsofmotion。Butthosegeneralruleswhichourmoralfacultiesobserveinapprovingorcondemningwhateversentimentoractionissubjectedtotheirexamination，maymuchmorejustlybedenominatedsuch。Theyhaveamuchgreaterresemblancetowhatareproperlycalledlaws，thosegeneralruleswhichthesovereignlaysdowntodirecttheconductofhissubjects。Likethemtheyarerulestodirectthefreeactionsofmen:theyareprescribedmostsurelybyalawfulsuperior，andareattendedtoowiththesanctionofrewardsandpunishments。Thosevice-gerentsofGodwithinus，neverfailtopunishtheviolationofthem，bythetormentsofinwardshame，andself-condemnation；andonthecontrary，alwaysrewardobediencewithtranquillityofmind，withcontentment，andself-satisfaction。
　　Thereareinnumerableotherconsiderationswhichservetoconfirmthesameconclusion。Thehappinessofmankind，aswellasofallotherrationalcreatures，seemstohavebeentheoriginalpurposeintendedbytheAuthorofnature，whenhebroughtthemintoexistence。Nootherendseemsworthyofthatsupremewisdomanddivinebenignitywhichwenecessarilyascribetohim；andthisopinion，whichweareledtobytheabstractconsiderationofhisinfiniteperfections，isstillmoreconfirmedbytheexaminationoftheworksofnature，whichseemallintendedtopromotehappiness，andtoguardagainstmisery。Butbyactingaccordingtothedictatesofourmoralfaculties，wenecessarilypursuethemosteffectualmeansforpromotingthehappinessofmankind，andmaythereforebesaid，insomesense，toco-operatewiththeDeity，andtoadvanceasfarasinourpowertheplanofProvidence。Byactingotherways，onthecontrary，weseemtoobstruct，insomemeasure，theschemewhichtheAuthorofnaturehasestablishedforthehappinessandperfectionoftheworld，andtodeclareourselves，ifImaysayso，insomemeasuretheenemiesofGod。Hencewearenaturallyencouragedtohopeforhisextraordinaryfavourandrewardintheonecase，andtodreadhisvengeanceandpunishmentintheother。
　　Therearebesidesmanyotherreasons，andmanyothernaturalprinciples，whichalltendtoconfirmandinculcatethesamesalutarydoctrine。Ifweconsiderthegeneralrulesbywhichexternalprosperityandadversityarecommonlydistributedinthislife，weshallfind，thatnotwithstandingthedisorderinwhichallthingsappeartobeinthisworld，yetevenhereeveryvirtuenaturallymeetswithitsproperreward，withtherecompensewhichismostfittoencourageandpromoteit；andthistoososurely，thatitrequiresaveryextraordinaryconcurrenceofcircumstancesentirelytodisappointit。Whatistherewardmostproperforencouragingindustry，prudence，andcircumspection？Successineverysortofbusiness。Andisitpossiblethatinthewholeoflifethesevirtuesshouldfailofattainingit？Wealthandexternalhonoursaretheirproperrecompense，andtherecompensewhichtheycanseldomfailofacquiring。Whatrewardismostproperforpromotingthepracticeoftruth，justice，andhumanity？Theconfidence，theesteem，andloveofthosewelivewith。Humanitydoesnotdesiretobegreat，buttobebeloved。Itisnotinbeingrichthattruthandjusticewouldrejoice，butinbeingtrustedandbelieved，recompenseswhichthosevirtuesmustalmostalwaysacquire。Bysomeveryextraordinaryandunluckycircumstance，agoodmanmaycometobesuspectedofacrimeofwhichhewasaltogetherincapable，anduponthataccountbemostunjustlyexposedfortheremainingpartofhislifetothehorrorandaversionofmankind。Byanaccidentofthiskindhemaybesaidtolosehisall，notwithstandinghisintegrityandjustice；inthesamemannerasacautiousman，notwithstandinghisutmostcircumspection，mayberuinedbyanearthquakeoraninundation。Accidentsofthefirstkind，however，areperhapsstillmorerare，andstillmorecontrarytothecommoncourseofthingsthanthoseofthesecond；anditstillremainstrue，thatthepracticeoftruth，justice，andhumanityisacertainandalmostinfalliblemethodofacquiringwhatthosevirtueschieflyaimat，theconfidenceandloveofthosewelivewith。Apersonmaybeveryeasilymisrepresentedwithregardtoaparticularaction；butitisscarcepossiblethatheshouldbesowithregardtothegeneraltenorofhisconduct。Aninnocentmanmaybebelievedtohavedonewrong:
　　this，however，willrarelyhappen。Onthecontrary，theestablishedopinionoftheinnocenceofhismanners，willoftenleadustoabsolvehimwherehehasreallybeeninthefault，notwithstandingverystrongpresumptions。Aknave，inthesamemanner，mayescapecensure，orevenmeetwithapplause，foraparticularknavery，inwhichhisconductisnotunderstood。Butnomanwaseverhabituallysuch，withoutbeingalmostuniversallyknowntobeso，andwithoutbeingevenfrequentlysuspectedofguilt，whenhewasinrealityperfectlyinnocent。Andsofarasviceandvirtuecanbeeitherpunishedorrewardedbythesentimentsandopinionsofmankind，theyboth，accordingtothecommoncourseofthings，meetevenherewithsomethingmorethanexactandimpartialjustice。
　　Butthoughthegeneralrulesbywhichprosperityandadversityarecommonlydistributed，whenconsideredinthiscoolandphilosophicallight，appeartobeperfectlysuitedtothesituationofmankindinthislife，yettheyarebynomeanssuitedtosomeofournaturalsentiments。Ournaturalloveandadmirationforsomevirtuesissuch，thatweshouldwishtobestowonthemallsortsofhonoursandrewards，eventhosewhichwemustacknowledgetobetheproperrecompensesofotherqualities，withwhichthosevirtuesarenotalwaysaccompanied。
　　Ourdetestation，onthecontrary，forsomevicesissuch，thatweshoulddesiretoheapuponthemeverysortofdisgraceanddisaster，thosenotexceptedwhicharethenaturalconsequencesofverydifferentqualities。Magnanimity，generosity，andjustice，commandsohighadegreeofadmiration，thatwedesiretoseethemcrownedwithwealth，andpower，andhonoursofeverykind，thenaturalconsequencesofprudence，industry，andapplication；qualitieswithwhichthosevirtuesarenotinseparablyconnected。Fraud，falsehood，brutality，andviolence，ontheotherhand，exciteineveryhumanbreastsuchscornandabhorrence，thatourindignationrousestoseethempossessthoseadvantageswhichtheymayinsomesensebesaidtohavemerited，bythediligenceandindustrywithwhichtheyaresometimesattended。Theindustriousknavecultivatesthesoil；theindolentgoodmanleavesituncultivated。Whooughttoreaptheharvest？
　　whostarve，andwholiveinplenty？Thenaturalcourseofthingsdecidesitinfavouroftheknave:thenaturalsentimentsofmankindinfavourofthemanofvirtue。Manjudges，thatthegoodqualitiesoftheonearegreatlyover-recompensedbythoseadvantageswhichtheytendtoprocurehim，andthattheomissionsoftheotherarebyfartooseverelypunishedbythedistresswhichtheynaturallybringuponhim；andhumanlaws，theconsequencesofhumansentiments，forfeitthelifeandtheestateoftheindustriousandcautioustraitor，andreward，byextraordinaryrecompenses，thefidelityandpublicspiritoftheimprovidentandcarelessgoodcitizen。ThusmanisbyNaturedirectedtocorrect，insomemeasure，thatdistributionofthingswhichsheherselfwouldotherwisehavemade。Theruleswhichforthispurposeshepromptshimtofollow，aredifferentfromthosewhichsheherselfobserves。Shebestowsuponeveryvirtue，anduponeveryvice，thatpreciserewardorpunishmentwhichisbestfittedtoencouragetheone，ortorestraintheother。Sheisdirectedbythissoleconsideration，andpayslittleregardtothedifferentdegreesofmeritanddemerit，whichtheymayseemtopossessinthesentimentsandpassionsofman。Man，onthecontrary，paysregardtothisonly，andwouldendeavourtorenderthestateofeveryvirtuepreciselyproportionedtothatdegreeofloveandesteem，andofeveryvicetothatdegreeofcontemptandabhorrence，whichhehimselfconceivesforit。Theruleswhichshefollowsarefitforher，thosewhichhefollowsforhim:butbotharecalculatedtopromotethesamegreatend，theorderoftheworld，andtheperfectionandhappinessofhumannature。
　　Butthoughmanisthusemployedtoalterthatdistributionofthingswhichnaturaleventswouldmake，iflefttothemselves；
　　though，likethegodsofthepoets，heisperpetuallyinterposing，byextraordinarymeans，infavourofvirtue，andinoppositiontovice，and，likethem，endeavourstoturnawaythearrowthatisaimedattheheadoftherighteous，buttoacceleratetheswordofdestructionthatisliftedupagainstthewicked；yetheisbynomeansabletorenderthefortuneofeitherquitesuitabletohisownsentimentsandwishes。Thenaturalcourseofthingscannotbeentirelycontrolledbytheimpotentendeavoursofman:thecurrentistoorapidandtoostrongforhimtostopit；andthoughtheruleswhichdirectitappeartohavebeenestablishedforthewisestandbestpurposes，theysometimesproduceeffectswhichshockallhisnaturalsentiments。Thatagreatcombinationofmenshouldprevailoverasmallone；thatthosewhoengageinanenterprisewithforethoughtandallnecessarypreparation，shouldprevailoversuchasopposethemwithoutany；andthateveryendshouldbeacquiredbythosemeansonlywhichNaturehasestablishedforacquiringit，seemstobearulenotonlynecessaryandunavoidableinitself，butevenusefulandproperforrousingtheindustryandattentionofmankind。Yet，when，inconsequenceofthisrule，violenceandartificeprevailoversincerityandjustice，whatindignationdoesitnotexciteinthebreastofeveryhumanspectator？Whatsorrowandcompassionforthesufferingsoftheinnocent，andwhatfuriousresentmentagainstthesuccessoftheoppressor？Weareequallygrievedandenragedatthewrongthatisdone，butoftenfinditaltogetheroutofourpowertoredressit。Whenwethusdespairoffindinganyforceuponearthwhichcancheckthetriumphofinjustice，wenaturallyappealtoheaven，andhope，thatthegreatAuthorofournaturewillhimselfexecutehereafter，whatalltheprincipleswhichhehasgivenusforthedirectionofourconduct，promptustoattemptevenhere；thathewillcompletetheplanwhichhehimselfhasthustaughtustobegin；andwill，inalifetocome，rendertoeveryoneaccordingtotheworkswhichhehasperformedinthisworld。Andthusweareledtothebeliefofafuturestate，notonlybytheweaknesses，bythehopesandfearsofhumannature，butbythenoblestandbestprincipleswhichbelongtoit，bytheloveofvirtue，andbytheabhorrenceofviceandinjustice。