Another collection of philosophical conferences of the French virtuosi upon questions of all sorts for the improving of natural knowledg made in the assembly of the Beaux Esprits at Paris by the most ingenious persons of that nation / render'd into English by G. Havers, Gent. & J. Davies ..., Gent.

CONFERENCE CLIX. Whether it be easier to procure obedience by Gentleness then by Terrour. (Book 159)

THe most plausible vertues are not always the noblest: as they depend upon external things which encrease or di∣minish their value, so oftentimes they yield to those obscure and private vertues, whose beauty being only internal, without borrowing any recommendation from abroad, they are there∣fore the more to be esteem'd. Gentleness or Mansuetude is of this nature, though it make not so great a noise as Fortitude, which is irresistible by the terror it impresses upon the opposers of its designs, yet oft-times it accomplishes its enterprises with the more facility in that it makes not use of any extraneous help, but only of what this vertue it self affords; which insinuating sweetly into their minds whom it would lead by the considerati∣on of their own good, more easily procures obedience then fear doth; which indeed may constrain them to do what they would not voluntarily assent to, but is a violent motion, and so harder to be impress'd then that which is voluntary. For when once the reason is perswaded of the justice of the things en∣joyned, there is no more obstacle in the Will, which then re∣signs it self to be lead by that light of the Understanding; much less in the inferior Powers, which move only by the orders of those upon which they totally depend.

The Second said, Did men leave themselves to the guidance of Reason more then of their Passions, it would be easier to procure obedience by Gentleness then by Terror, which then would be useless; seeing 'tis not necessary to oblige such men by denunciation of penalties to their duty, who addict them∣selves to it voluntarily upon the knowledg they have of right Reason. But since very few follow this Rule, in comparison of those that have none but that of their disorderly Appetites, therefore severity is more expedient then mildness for reducing them at any rate whatever to their duty. For their obedience though constrain'd is nevertheless exemplary, and draws others to do the like, and so maintains that mutual correspondence which gives subsistence not only to States but also to all other civil Societies, and which consists chiefly in a certain depen∣dance between the parties destinated to obey and to command. So that as the latter ought to study to maintain the Authority and Superiority which they have, whether by Nature (as Fathers

over their Children) or by Love (as Kings and Magistrates over their Subjects, and Masters over their Domesticks) so when those under them fail of what they are oblig'd to render to them, there is no surer nor easier way to bring them to it then Terror, which proposing a sensible penalty to them in case of miscarriage is incomparably more powerful to make them obey, then sweetness; which indeed hath some charms to win more rational spirits, but being accompany'ed with softness and indul∣gence, becomes at length odious and contemptible by the dis∣order and confusion which follow impunity of crimes. More∣over, 'tis certain that as States are maintain'd by the exact ob∣servance of Laws, so their destruction ordinarily happens only by the relaxation which Superiors suffer of the punishments due to such as transgress them.

The Third said, That the Poets who feign men formerly dis∣pers'd in divers parts of the Earth without Religion, Laws or Discipline, to have been gather'd together by the melodious consort of musical Instruments, with which Orpheus, (as they relate) attracted even Beasts and Rocks, seem to conclude ra∣ther for Gentleness then Terror, this latter causing those that use it to be hated as much as the former doth to be lov'd. But setting aside fabulous authorities, the most sedulous inquirers into the causes of the foundation of States attribute the same to the charms of their Eloquence of these men, who being found fittest to insinuate to them the advantages of living in society, reduc'd them thereunto by imposing Laws upon them, the di∣spensing wherewith they reserv'd themselves as well as the con∣duct of those that voluntarily submitted to their Government; which having taken its rise from Gentleness cannot better be preserv'd then by the same, if the Philosophers Maxime be true, That things are preserv'd by the same principles which serv'd to their establishment. And so 'tis easier to procure obedience by Gentleness then by Terror.