Justice. The itch of punishing is ingenious in them to set an ill gloss upon every thing. Pleasure with them is vice, and Error a crime. A man must divest himself of humanity to escape their rigour. Misled by a false notion of Virtue, they think they chastise Criminals, while they delight in tormenting the Miserable.
If Justice appoints a great Punishment, (which is sometimes necessary) it is proportion'd to some great Crime; but is never harsh or rigorous. Severity and Rigour are no part of it, but spring from the humours of those persons that think they practise it. As these sorts of punishments flow from Justice without Rigour, so likewise does Pardon in some cases, rather than from Clemency. To pardon faults of error, is but Justice to the failings of our nature: the indulgence we shew to Women that have intrigues, is likewise rather a Justice to their weakness, than a pardon of their sin.
Of Religion.
I Might descend to several other particulars relating to Justice; but it is now high time to proceed to Religion, which ought to be our principal care. None but madmen can depend upon a Life that must certainly have an end, and which may end every hour.
Mere curiosity will make us inquisitive to know what shall become of us after Death. We are too dear to our selves to consent to our intire loss: Self-love secretly opposes the notion of Annihilation. We are desirous to exist always, and the Mind, which is concern'd in its own preservation, improves this desire, by affording some light into a thing of it self so obscure. On the other hand, the Body find-
