19. Scarce possible that God should engrave principles in words of uncertain meaning.
Nor is the fourth
proposition (viz.,"Men must repent of their sins") much more instructive, till what those actions are that are meant
by sins be set down. For the word peccata, or sins, being put, as it usually is, to signify in general ill actions that
will draw punishment upon the doers, what great principle of morality can that be to tell us we should be sorry,
and cease to do that which will bring mischief upon us; without knowing what those particular actions are that
will do so? Indeed this is a very true proposition, and fit to be incated on and received by those who are supposed
to have been taught what actions in all kinds are sins: but neither this nor the former can be imagined to be innate
principles; nor to be of any use if they were innate, unless the particular measures and bounds of all virtues and
vices were engraven in men's minds, and were innate principles also, which I think is very much to be doubted.
And, therefore, I imagine, it will scarcely seem possible that God should engrave principles in men's minds, in
words of uncertain signification, such as virtues and sins, which amongst different men stand for different things:
nay, it cannot be supposed to be in words at all, which, being in most of these principles very general, names,
cannot be understood but by knowing the particulars comprehended under them. And in the practical instances,
the measures must be taken from the knowledge of the actions themselves, and the rules of them,--abstracted
from words, and antecedent to the knowledge of names; which rules a man must know, what language soever he
chance to learn, whether English or Japan, or if he should learn no language at all, or never should understand the
use of words, as happens in the case of dumb and deaf men. When it shall be made out that men ignorant of
words, or untaught by the laws and customs of their country, know that it is part of the worship of God, not to kill
another man; not to know more women than one; not to procure abortion; not to expose their children; not to take
from another what is his, though we want it ourselves, but on the contrary, relieve and supply his wants; and
whenever we have done the contrary we ought to repent, be sorry, and resolve to do so no more;--when I say, all
men shall be proved actually to know and allow all these and a thousand other such rules, all of which come under
these two general words made use of above, viz., virtutes et peccata, virtues and sins, there will be more reason
for admitting these and the like, for common notions and practical principles. Yet, after all, universal consent
(were there any in moral principles) to truths, the knowledge whereof may be attained otherwise, would scarce
prove them to be innate; which is all I contend for.
