APPENDIX TO SEAAIONS XX, XXf, AND XXI1. 375 I readily grant in these cases, that the enquirer has no right to demand and claim an answer to such questions ; therefore the seller or the artificer may refuse to inform him. But it is surprising, to think that anyman should persuade himself, that such a question being once asked, gives him a right to tell a `lie ! That any person should ever believe, that the mere' enquiryof a thing improper to be told, absolves the answerer from all the obligations of truth, which his duty to God and man have laid upon him ! Surely such a rule of conduct as this, had need have better arguments to establish it. But these who maintain this principle, must rather recur to the character of the person who makes the en- quiry; and here indeed they give a little better colour to their cause. `, I come therefore now to give particular answers to the instances alledged ; 1. Concerning children. 2. Concern- ing knaves and cheats. Instance I. Will you say, that children have no right to truth, because they are not capable of civil society? But I reply, they are capable of knowing what truth and falsehood are, and of being influenced by the one or the other; they are capable of being deceived, and. ofknowing when they are deceived; they are capable of judging when they are treated with truth and sincerity, and acting according to- the things you tell them: or else to what purpose do you speak falsehood to them in- stead of truth, and try to impose a lie upon them? They are capableof resenting your conduct, when they find out the falsehood; and of refusing to believe you another time : For the very reason why they believe your falsehood at first, is, because they suppose you speak truth_to them, andwould not deceive them: And it is only upon this veryprinciple that you yourselves can attempt to impose upon them. Again, they' are capable of learning from you, and imitatingyour, conduct and theywill be so much more ready to practise lying, and to deceive you with it, when they have found you practising lies, in order to deceive them. Suppose a mother has now and then persuaded a child to take a wholesome bitter medicine, by saying, it is not bitter, or has allured it to bed or to school by some of the arts of falsehood, and this child should imi- 13 .4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=