Page:A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Human Liberty (3rd ed., 1735).djvu/89

 them. Wherefore the Objectors ought to think punishments may be threatned and inflicted on men usefully, tho’ they are necessary agents.

3. Thirdly, it is objected, if men are necessary agents, it is of no use to represent reasons to them, or to entreat them, or to admonish them, or to blame them, or to praise them.

To which I answer, that all these, according to me, are necessary causes to determine certain mens wills to do what we desire of them; and are therefore useful, as acting on such necessary agents to whom they are necessary causes of action; but would be of no use, if men had free-will, or their wills were not mov’d by them. So that they who make this objection must run into the absurdities of saying, that that cause is useful, which is no cause of action and serves not to change the will; and that that cause is useless which necessitates the effect.

Let me add something further in respect of praise. Men have at all times been prais’d for actions judged by all the world to be necessary. It has been