1821 Oct. 14

Jug Util

3

Plan of Procedure

3

Useful a system of Religion can not be, except in virtue of a directive rule, or a sanction, or both: a directive rule for the direction of conduct, or a sanction to furnish inducement for the observance of a directive rule. To be incapable of furnishing either the one or the other will be shewn to be the effectual property of Natural Religion considered apart from Revealed.

On this occasion it is that the question of verity will be seen not to be capable of compleat separation from the question of usefulness: since from non-apparency of verity even actual verity supposed would come non-usefulness. For effecting the separation, which the question of usefulness is on the carpet, the non-apparency of Verity may be provisionally assumed: thereupon under a separate subject of the non-apparency may be treated of, viz. by indication given of the causes.

On the occasion of the non-usefulness of Natural Religion the natural debility of the superhuman Sanction will be brought to view and contrasted with the natural efficiency of the six human sanctions: all of which operate already in a preponderate degree, in favour of human happiness, and as morality and sound judgment improve will do so with more compleat accordance. On this occasion it may perhaps be found neither /[...?]/ practicable, nor advantageous, in bringing to view the debility of the superhuman sanction, to omitt the number of the instances in which its utter impotence will be brought to view in the cases where Natural Religion has the support of supposed Revealed, and supposed Revealed the support of Establishments. For it is in the present state of things in this country that its impotence thence its non-usefulness will be to be brought to view, and in this country at the present time it can not be seen except in a state of connection with supposed Revealed Religion, and the Establishments kept on foot for the support of it.