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Whether a Man's oblig'd to perform all his Promises, or not; tho' at the Expence of his Life or Reputa∣tion. Some Examples upon it.
ARe we bound to perform all those Promises and Bargains, which (in the Praetor's Language) have neither Force nor Fraud in them? Here's a Man, for Example, that has gotten the Dropsie, and another prescribes him an infallible Cure for't,
upon Condition that he'll never make use of it a∣gain. The Man recovers by its help at present, but falls again, some time after, into the same Di∣stemper. Suppose now that he, to whom he made such Promise, will by no means allow him to use the Cure again; what would be his Duty in such a Case! Why, since he, who denies him the Re∣quest, is Inhuman, and 'tis a 1.1 a thing that will do him no manner of Prejudice, 'tis the best way to take care of his Life and Safety. A Good and Wise Man is desir'd by one, who appoints him his Heir, and leaves him by Will a considerable Estate, that before he enters upon the Possession of it, he should Dance at Noon-day in the open Streets; and this he accordingly Promises to do, because otherwise the Testator would not make him his Heir: would you have him perform now what he promis'd, or not? I could wish that he never had promis'd it at all, which I think would much better have suited with his Character: But since he has done it, if he think it dishonourable to Dance so in publick, the best way will be not to stand to such a Promise, pro∣vided he takes none of the Money that was left him. Unless the Money may be turn'd to some very great Benefit and Advantage of the Publick; so that 'twould be no Disgrace for a Man b 1.2 even to Dance, when it brings so much Good to his Country along with it.
No one's oblig'd to perform any Promise, when 'twill but bring a Loss and Inconvenience on himself, and do no Ser∣vice to the Person 'twas made to. For why should that be demanded of me, which can do no body any Good, but me a great Diskindness? Or what reason is there a thing should be done, which brings a great deal of Harm, and no manner of Good with it?
For an Action offending against outward Decency and Modesty, such as Dancing is, ought to give place to an Action of Justice; such as is the doing a real Kindness to the Publick.