Section VI
It is not necessary to inform the sagacious reader, now I enter
on my concluding reflections, that the discussion of this subject
merely consists in opening a few simple principles, and clearing
away the rubbish which obscured them. But, as all readers are not
sagacious, I must be allowed to add some explanatory remarks to
bring the subject home to reason -- to that sluggish reason,
which supinely takes opinions on trust, and obstinately supports
them to spare itself the labour of thinking.
Moralists have unanimously agreed, that unless virtue be nursed
by liberty, it will never attain due strength -- and what they
say of man I extend to mankind, insisting that in all cases
morals must be fixed on immutable principles; and, that the being
cannot be termed rational or virtuous, who obeys any authority,
but that of reason.
