Theseresearches，however，whentheycametotakeplace，confirmedthoseoriginalanticipationsofnature。Uponwhateverwesupposethatourmoralfacultiesarefounded，whetheruponacertainmodificationofreason，uponanoriginalinstinct，calledamoralsense，oruponsomeotherprincipleofournature，itcannotbedoubted，thattheyweregivenusforthedirectionofourconductinthislife。Theycarryalongwiththemthemostevidentbadgesofthisauthority，whichdenotethattheyweresetupwithinustobethesupremearbitersofallouractions，tosuperintendalloursenses，passions，andappetites，andtojudgehowfareachofthemwaseithertobeindulgedorrestrained。Ourmoralfacultiesarebynomeans，assomehavepretended，uponalevelinthisrespectwiththeotherfacultiesandappetitesofournature，endowedwithnomorerighttorestraintheselast，thantheselastaretorestrainthem。Nootherfacultyorprincipleofactionjudgesofanyother。Lovedoesnotjudgeofresentment，norresentmentoflove。Thosetwopassionsmaybeoppositetooneanother，butcannot，withanypropriety，besaidtoapproveordisapproveofoneanother。Butitisthepeculiarofficeofthosefacultiesnowunderourconsiderationtojudge，tobestowcensureorapplauseuponalltheotherprinciplesofournature。Theymaybeconsideredasasortofsensesofwhichthoseprinciplesaretheobjects。Everysenseissupremeoveritsownobjects。Thereisnoappealfromtheeyewithregardtothebeautyofcolours，norfromtheearwithregardtotheharmonyofsounds，norfromthetastewithregardtotheagreeablenessofflavours。Eachofthosesensesjudgesinthelastresortofitsownobjects。Whatevergratifiesthetasteissweet，whateverpleasestheeyeisbeautiful，whateversoothestheearisharmonious。Theveryessenceofeachofthosequalitiesconsistsinitsbeingfittedtopleasethesensetowhichitisaddressed。
Itbelongstoourmoralfaculties，inthesamemannertodeterminewhentheearoughttobesoothed，whentheeyeoughttobeindulged，whenthetasteoughttobegratified，whenandhowfareveryotherprincipleofournatureoughteithertobeindulgedorrestrained。Whatisagreeabletoourmoralfaculties，isfit，andright，andpropertobedone；thecontrarywrong，unfit，andimproper。Thesentimentswhichtheyapproveof，aregracefulandbecoming:thecontrary，ungracefulandunbecoming。
Theverywords，right，wrong，fit，improper，graceful，unbecoming，meanonlywhatpleasesordispleasesthosefaculties。
Sincethese，therefore，wereplainlyintendedtobethegoverningprinciplesofhumannature，theruleswhichtheyprescribearetoberegardedasthecommandsandlawsoftheDeity，promulgatedbythosevice-gerentswhichhehasthussetupwithinus。Allgeneralrulesarecommonlydenominatedlaws:thusthegeneralruleswhichbodiesobserveinthecommunicationofmotion，arecalledthelawsofmotion。Butthosegeneralruleswhichourmoralfacultiesobserveinapprovingorcondemningwhateversentimentoractionissubjectedtotheirexamination，maymuchmorejustlybedenominatedsuch。Theyhaveamuchgreaterresemblancetowhatareproperlycalledlaws，thosegeneralruleswhichthesovereignlaysdowntodirecttheconductofhissubjects。Likethemtheyarerulestodirectthefreeactionsofmen:theyareprescribedmostsurelybyalawfulsuperior，andareattendedtoowiththesanctionofrewardsandpunishments。Thosevice-gerentsofGodwithinus，neverfailtopunishtheviolationofthem，bythetormentsofinwardshame，andself-condemnation；andonthecontrary，alwaysrewardobediencewithtranquillityofmind，withcontentment，andself-satisfaction。
Thereareinnumerableotherconsiderationswhichservetoconfirmthesameconclusion。Thehappinessofmankind，aswellasofallotherrationalcreatures，seemstohavebeentheoriginalpurposeintendedbytheAuthorofnature，whenhebroughtthemintoexistence。Nootherendseemsworthyofthatsupremewisdomanddivinebenignitywhichwenecessarilyascribetohim；andthisopinion，whichweareledtobytheabstractconsiderationofhisinfiniteperfections，isstillmoreconfirmedbytheexaminationoftheworksofnature，whichseemallintendedtopromotehappiness，andtoguardagainstmisery。Butbyactingaccordingtothedictatesofourmoralfaculties，wenecessarilypursuethemosteffectualmeansforpromotingthehappinessofmankind，andmaythereforebesaid，insomesense，toco-operatewiththeDeity，andtoadvanceasfarasinourpowertheplanofProvidence。Byactingotherways，onthecontrary，weseemtoobstruct，insomemeasure，theschemewhichtheAuthorofnaturehasestablishedforthehappinessandperfectionoftheworld，andtodeclareourselves，ifImaysayso，insomemeasuretheenemiesofGod。Hencewearenaturallyencouragedtohopeforhisextraordinaryfavourandrewardintheonecase，andtodreadhisvengeanceandpunishmentintheother。