FROM all this I may furely conclude, I. That it is in vain for any Law to impofe a Duty on us, which our Knowledge inwardly contradicts, and reprefents as an Evil. We might indeed sometimes conform to it against the Grain, to falve Appearances: But what would not Men do to difpenfe with Conformity, as often as it could be done without Danger of lofing any thing that is dear to them? Now, if the Damage which they prefume attends the Obfervance of the Law, exceeds what they might sustain by transgreffing, it is certain that they will never obferve it: And it is impoffible always to fet the Penalty of tranfgreffing higher than the Pain they think they endure in obeying. The more rigorous the Comminations, the lefs Reason there is to inflict them on Tranfgreffors.

II. SUPPOSING Our Knowledge did not bear Witness against the Law, if it does not testify in favour of it, this is fufficient to prevent its being fulfilled; for, in this Cafe, we should no longer act willingly, but indolently, which is next to not acting at all. Nor would it help

us out in the Argument, to fuppofe Men are Beasts: As bestial as they might be, they would nevertheless be continually reasoning, and the worse they reasoned, fo much the worfe for the Laws and the Legislator. Can it be denied, that the moft ignorant Nations are the most remifs Observers of the Laws, and the most inclined to shake off the Yoke, and totally change or abolish them? And how should they do otherwife, if they know neither the Justice nor the Utility of the Law, nor the Right it has to their Obedience? On the contrary, the firmest and most vigorous Adherents to their Laws, are fuch as have most Knowledge, and are beft perfuaded of the Goodness of the Law, and of the Benefits acquired by obferving it. Sometimes this Perfuafion is carried even to Obftinacy and Enthusiasm, of which the Sybarites, in ancient Hiftory, afford a remarkable Inftance.

III. It is not fufficient, that we are fenfible of the Neceffity of the Law, that we approve of it, love it, and fincerely defire it: The Obftacles must alfo be removed, and proper Means provided for its Accomplishment; otherwife the Whole will avail nothing, in

spight

fpight of the Promises and Menaces tagg'd to it. Some will fay, that the Law is weak: Not at all; the Weakness is in Men, and they must be strengthened, if you would have them fulfil the Law. In effect, Men are the Subject and the Matter, which must be prepared, that the Law may work upon them with a Probability of Succefs.

IV. THIS neceffary Preparation confifts in rightly educating the Youth of both Sexes, and particularly in perfuading them, that the Obfervance and the Breach of the Law will infallibly be attended with Rewards and Punishments from a Hand fuperior to Men, from whom they can never conceal themselves, nor escape, and who chiefly waits for them in another State, to make them happy or miserable for ever: That this Hand does nevertheless reach them when he pleases, even in this Life, where he orders their Lot and Station, in Proportion as they conform to the Laws given by him at the Origin of the World, the Traces of which are visible enough in Nature: That during this mortal Life he has a great Regard for his Creatures, defiring nothing but their Felicity, which is to be

had by amending their Ways, making Satiffaction for the Injuries done to one another, and Reparation for bad Example mutually given to the great Damage of Society: But that after Death, the Portion of the Obedient is delectable in the higheft Degree, as that of the Tranfgreffors is extremely horrible and miferable.

UNLESS this Method be taken, nothing will ever be done effectually, as I think I have proved above: The moft that can be obtained, is only a cafual and deceitful Effect, which will never anfwer the End of the Legislature. Even the little Good that may be got, will only be owing to the Nation's being more or lefs perfuaded of the Truth of their Religion; for as to those who stab and trample upon it, it is a great Mistake to hope for any good Effect from them. These Men look upon all human Laws as a mighty Nothing, for which we have M. de Montef quiou's Word, as I have already taken Notice. In fome Corner of Europe we may foon fee the very Traces of Religion quite erazed, and then a total Diffolution, a difmal Chaos and horrid Confufion will inevitably tread close upon the Heels of it.

CHA P.

CHA P. X.

N clofing this Article, I cannot help making a few Reflections on the Propofition, That the Strength of human Laws is derived from their being feared; which tallies very well with Mr. Hobbes's Principle. I prefume M. de Montefquiou has not clearly expreffed his Meaning in that Place, as happens but too frequently with all Writers, especially as in feveral other Parts of his Works, I think I have met with Propofitions incompatible with the above. But whatever his Meaning may be, I think that Propofition indefenfible, even when he adds, Human Laws derive an Advantage from their Novelty, which indicates a particular and actual Attention in the Legislator to cause them to be obferved. Here again it is very hard to put any just and rational Construction on thefe Words, as it is not easy to guess whether he speaks of new Laws, or new Objects of those fame Laws; nor does it appear how the Legiflator derives any Advantage from it, towards caufing them to be better obferved. If the Object is quite new, we cannot from thence infer any particular