As the structure of the world shows _intelligence_, so the mode of distributing pleasure and pain, shows government. That is, God’s _natural_ government, such as a king exercises over his subjects. But this does not, at first sight, determine what is the _moral character_ of such government. I. _What is a moral or righteous government?_ =1.= Not mere rewarding and punishing. =2.= But doing this according to character. =3.= The perfection of moral government is doing this _exactly_. _Objec._ God is simply and absolutely benevolent. _Ans._ Benevolence, infinite in degree, would dispose him to produce the greatest possible happiness, regardless of behaviour. This would rob God of other attributes; and should not be asserted unless it can be proved. And whether it can be proved is not the point now in hand. The question is not whether there may not be, in the universe, beings to whom he manifests absolute benevolence, which might not be incompatible with justice; but whether he treats _us_ so. =4.= It must be owned to be vastly difficult, in such a disordered world, to estimate with exactness the overplus of happiness on the side of virtue: and there may be exceptions to the rule. But it is far from being doubtful that _on the whole_, virtue is happier than vice, in this world. II. _The beginnings of a righteous administration, are seen in nature._ =1.= It has been proved (ch. ii.) that God _governs_: and it is reasonable to suppose that he would govern _righteously_. 1.) Any other rule of government would be harder to account for. 2.) The Bible doctrine that hereafter the good shall be happy, and the wicked miserable, is no more than an expectation that a method of government, now begun, shall be carried on. =2.= The opposite consequences of prudence and rashness, show a right constitution of nature; and our ability to foresee and control these consequences, shows that we are under moral law. =3.= God has so constructed society that vice, to a great degree, is actually punished by it. 1.) Without this, society could not exist. 2.) This is God’s government, through society; and is as _natural_, as society. 3.) Since the course of things is God’s appointment, men are unavoidably accountable for their behaviour. _Objec._ Society often punishes good actions, and rewards wickedness. _Ans._ 1. This is not _necessary_, and consequently not natural. 2. Good actions are never punished by society as _good_, but because considered bad. =4.= By the course of nature, virtue is rewarded, and vice punished, _as such_, which proves a moral government; as will be seen if we rightly distinguish between actions and their qualities.