CONFERENCE I. 411 pray please to inform us now, Whether human reason be sufficient, in a plain and easymanner, to lead the bulk of mankind to find out and discharge their duties toward themselves in the practice of temperance and sobriety, with a restraint if their appetites and passions within proper bounds: Loc. Yes, I think that may be done, Pithander, in such a manner as this. Appetites and passions may be all reckoned among the powerful natural propensities with which man is en- dued, in order to preserve his own person and family, to con- tinue his species, to secure himself from evil Or injury, and to promote his own ease and happiness. This I might prose by giving instances in a multitude of particulars if it were needful. It fellows then, that the gratification or indulgence of these pas- sions and appetites is restrained within the bounds of reason, when they neither Barry us so far as to do any injury to our neighbours, nor abuse any of our own faculties or powers of body or mind, but keep them in their proper exercise. Thus for ex- ample, a man may be lareful/q angry for an injury or affront received from his neighbour, supposing the passion to arise no higher than the demerit of the affront or injury ; but if he let it swell and burn to such a degree as to break in upon the peace and property of his neighbour, beyond the operation of his own damages, and the necessary self-defence against future injuries, he then indulges it to a criminal excess: Or if he suffers the flame to arise so high within him as to discompose his own na- ture, and to unfit him for his duty toward God, his neighbour, or himself. In the same manner his natural appetites maybe indulged so far as to support his nature, or to maintainhis species, or to give himself pleasure or ease,,in such a manner as does not make an inroad upon the peace or property of the societies in which he dwells, nor unfit his own flesh or spirit for any of the duties of life. But it is evident that gluttony and drunkenness abuse a man's own natural powers; adultery invades the property and peace of his neighbour ; and fornication has an evident ten- dency to break the peace and welfare of societies, to introduce children into the world under great and necessary hardships and inconveniences, whomust either die for want of care, or grow ttp to shame and sorrow, without due and proper provision for their comfort and happiness. PITn. I acknowledge, Sir, your reasoning upon this sub- ject has, for the most part, a great deal of truth and justice in it, except in those instances wherein you seem to allow every private person to judge and determine in his own case, about the degree of injury or affront whichhe has received, and the degree and manner of retaliation or recompence which he demands ; whichjudgment and determination rather belong to the agree- ment ofa whole society, or the sense of a magistrate, upon whom that power is devolved.
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