. . .f such great wickedness can possibly be prevented, consistently with the eternal rule of right. 9. Still there would, from analogy, be some hope of room for pardon. IV. There is no probability that any thing we could do alone, would entirely prevent the effects of our irregularities. 1. We do not know all the reasons for punishment, nor why it should be fit to remit punishment. 2. Nor do we know all the consequences of vice, and so should not know how to prevent them. 3. Vice impairs men’s abilities for helping themselves. 4. Misconduct makes assistance necessary, which otherwise would not have been. Why should not the same things be so, as to our future interests? 5. In temporal things, behaving well in time to come, does not repair old errors, why should it as to future things? 6. Were it so in all cases it would be contrary to all our notions of government. 7. It could not be determined in what degree, or in what cases, it would be s. . . Read More