Philosophical necessity is the only theo ry consistent with moral discipline. An intelligent agent is the proper subject of approbation or censure, of reward or pun ishment, only so far as he is determined in definite circumstances to definite voli tions. If he perform a virtuous action from a pure motive, be is entitled to the ap proval and praise of all observers, and the remuneration which thus flows to him from general esteem, and also from the consciousness of benevolent dispositions, from the view of successful efforts, and the hope of future final reward, operates to confirm the disposition from which the act proceeded, to establish e habit, and fix a character of pure brnefi cence in the agent, and to excite in beings similarly constituted the adoption of the same means for the attainment of the same satisfaction.
With respect likewise to censure and punishment, these are, with equal propri ety, applied to every intelligent being, who, actuated by malignant motives, de fames innocence, or oppresses penury, or commits any act tending to the production of mischief and misery. The application of popular blame or reproach, and the pain arising from a sense of impaired esti mation, from the apprehension of private vengeance or legal conviction, or any of those numberless modes of torture, which haunt and convulse the soul of guilt, are obviously calculated to produce a change of character and conduct, to excite first thoughtfulness. and subsequently refor mation, in the mind of the offender, and to kindle a beacon, by which those within observation will be influenced to shun a road, which inevitably terminates in suf fering and infamy. If any being can be supposed perfectly indifferent and inde pendent with respect to motives, the ap plication of all these moral means is obvi ously and absolutely superseded. The door is effectually closed to discipline. To attempt to operate on such a being by remonstrance or approval, by the erection of a statue, or the infliction of the torture, would be just as absurd as to thank the genial shower, or lash the tempestuous ocean ; to applaud the soil for its fertility, or denounce the earthquake for its rava ges.
The doctrine of necessity, moreover, tends to inspire that moral caution, which is of the utmost importance towards the formation of habitual virtue. Those who rely on some indefinable self-determining power, by which they presume themselves able to act without a motive,where motives are equal, or in opposition to the strong est motive, may expose themselves to cir cumstances and situations, in which they have before yielded .o temptation without inconsistency, though certainly not with out danger. The necessitarian is well aware that the same situations will ever produce the same results ; that, whatever be the firmness of habit. there exist temp
tations, by which the most stable and ac complished. virtue may be endangered and impaired. He will therefore sedu lously avoid all unnecessary exposure, and will be particularly guarded against circumstances in which his good resolu tions have already failed. Fur though it may be impossible for him, in a second instance, to be in a situation precisely similar to that by which he was overpow ered in the first, the recollection and re gret of his defeat making unquestionably some variation, this difference will by no means preclude that strong and striking similarity, which must sound in his ear the trumpet of alarm, and prevent his again approaching the verge of a gulph, into which he has been once miserably precipitated.
It must further be observed, that the doctrine of the necessity of human actions tends strongly to excite and cherish the benevolent affections. It represents hu man agents as merely instrumental to the views and schemes of Deity, under whose hands all intelligent creatures resemble the toys upon the chequered table, di rected to his purpose, and impelled by his energy. A consideration this, admira bly calculated to substitute compassion for resentment, to check the thirst of ven geance, and the severity of punishment. The propriety indeed and indispensable-% ness of exhibiting to the mind motives or applications of a painful character, are ad mitted to be more clearly perceivable upon this system than on any other; and in truth are, only upon this system, perceivable at all. Authority must re buke, law must menace, tribunals must sentence.
The accomplishment of individual re formation, and the prevention of public corruption, must be attempted by the means befit adapted to these objects, and these means, from the constitution of hu man nature, include a certain portion of physical evil ; but this is admitted, on the doctrine of necessity, only as remedial, or preventive of greater evil. Punishment, upon this system, proceeds not from re venge, but from benevolence. The of fender is considered as having been urged to the act of guilt by circumstances con trolling his will with the most rigid and irresistible dominion ; as impelled not more by voluntary determination than by necessitating motive. He is considered as requiring, indeed, inflictions of a descrip tion highly impressive and penal, to ena ble him to break the bands of vicious habits ; but the indispensableness of these inflictions is perceived with extreme regret, and yielded to with extreme re luctance. The persecutor is even more compassionated than his victim, and the tear of pity accompanies the lash of pun ishment.