The story of the rise of consequentialism — a view in ethics that assesses actions solely by the outcomes they cause — is often traced to the secular utilitarianism of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The story of consequentialism, however, is longer and more theological than this common story suggests. This paper demonstrates the emergence of consequentialist forms of thought in the work of the seventeenth century philosopher Richard Cumberland. It positions Cumberland within the Christian natural law tradition and argues that his innovations in that tradition, which are subtle but quite profound, shift the nature of teleological thinking in ethics. Attending to Cumberland's thought not only helps to correct our historical understanding but also to open new ways of thinking about ethical teleology today.