Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ... nor would the Law of God be, as I have observed, the adequate rule of the Conscience, if any thing else should oblige in any other way than by its influence), yet they differ in themselves not only in species, by reason of the diversity of the matter, but in degree likewise, as to the power of obliging. Some of these are. constantly binding, and either receive their obligation from the power of another (such are Human Laws, the commands of Parents, Masters, and the like); or their obligation arises from the free choice of the will, as vows, oaths, contracts, promises, &c. Others oblige only by accident, and cursorily as it were, as the exigence of time, place, and other circumstances require. Of this nature is the law, or reason, of avoiding scandal or offence. 3. The method I propose requires that I should begin with the first class of these things, namely, with Human Laws. And what I have to say on the extent of their obligatory power may properly be reduced to these two questions, --First, Whether Human Laws oblige the Conscience? Secondly, How far they are obligatory! The determination of most of the particular cases will fall chiefly under the last inquiry, and, God willing, shall be explained in the course of these Prelections. At present I shall dwell only upon the first, namely, Whether Human Laws oblige the Conscience? The subject of this question will give us little trouble. The Lex of the Latins (whether it was called so from legendo, i. e. from choosing in an active sense, as Cicero supposed, because a lawgiver should make choice of what he judges most useful for the community; or, as others will have it, from legendo in a passive acceptation, because laws, as soon as they were made, were engraved in tables of brass, or...
