16. The denominations of actions often mislead us.
But because very frequently the positive idea of the action,
and its moral relation, are comprehended together under one name, and the game word made use of to express
both the mode or action, and its moral rectitude or obliquity: therefore the relation itself is less taken notice of;
and there is often no distinction made between the positive idea of the action, and the reference it has to a rule. By
which confusion of these two distinct considerations under one term, those who yield too easily to the impressions
of sounds, and are forward to take names for things, are often misled in their judgment of actions. Thus, the taking
from another what is his, without his knowledge or allowance, is properly called stealing: but that name, being
commonly understood to signify also the moral pravity of the action, and to denote its contrariety to the law, men
are apt to condemn whatever they hear called stealing, as an ill action, disagreeing with the rule of right. And yet
the private taking away his sword from a madman, to prevent his doing mischief, though it be properly
denominated stealing, as the name of such a mixed mode; yet when compared to the law of God, and considered
in its relation to that supreme rule, it is no sin or transgression, though the name stealing ordinarily carries such an
intimation with it.
