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CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION,
Objects of human knowledge-matter and mind, 17. Grada-
tion of intellectual beings, 18. Moral relations of intelligent
agents, 20. Connection of morality with happiness-illustrated
by an
example, 21. Inutility of systems of Ethics, detatched
from Revelation-Ancient systems, &c. 22–26.
CHAPTER I.
Page
17
ON THE MORAL RELATIONS OF INtelligent beings to
THEIR CREATOR.
SECT. I. On the primary or most general idea of morality,
Physical order, illustrated, 27. Moral order illustrated, 27. lead-
ing idea of holiness, 30.
SECT. II. On the fundamental PRINCIPLES of morality,
First principle-love to God.
SECT. III. On the OMNIPOTENCE of God,
Power, accompanied with benevolent design, illustrated, 33.
Power of the Creator, in the production of the universe, in the
annual and diurnal motions of the earth-benevolence displayed
in the exertions of Omnipotence, 34-37. Reason why the displays
of Omnipotence
are so little regarded, 37. Power of God calcu.
lated to inspire the mind with confidence in the prospect of the
scenes of eternity, 38. Recognised by the inspired writ-
ground of confidence.
future
ers as a
SECT IV. On the Wisdom and Goodness of God,
Benevolence illustrated in the case of Howard, 42. Benevo-
lence of the Creator displayed in the objects of sight, 42. in the
objects of hearing, of smelling, of feeling, of taste, 43-45. in the
arrangements of day and night, the atmosphere, &c. 46. in the ad-
justment of the organs of sense to the scenes of external nature,
47. Structure of the eyes, 48. of the EAR, 49. of the sense of
feeling, 51. of the organs of taste, 51. of the organs of smelling 52.
Number of agencies requisite for the gratification of this sense, 53.
System of organization in the human body, 54. Pain never the
object of contrivance, 55. Summary of the blessings we enjoy
from the wise arrangements of the Creator, 57. Benevolence dis-
played towards other worlds, 58. Illustrations of this subject from
the sacred writers, 59-63.
SECT. V. On the MERCY and PATIENCE of God,
Mercy and forbearance defined and illustrated, 63. General
character and conduct of human beings, 64, forbearance of the
the Deity towards them, 66. this character peculiar to God, 67. cal-
culated to excite admiration, 69. Agents in the system of nature,
which could be employed as ministers of vengeance-Light, 69.
the atinosphere, 70, stopping the earth's motion, or bending its ax-
is, ibid. Comets, 72. occasional instances of punishments inflict-
ed by the elements of nature-earthquakes--the Deluge--electri-
cal clouds, &c. 72-75. This attribute calculated to inspire affec-
tion, 75.
SECT. VI. Of the RECTITUDE of the Divine Character,
The existence of this attribute proved from reason, 76. from
scripture, 77. Reasons why we are incompetent to form a correct
judgment of the displays of this attribute, 78. How it is display-
ed in the ordinary course of providence, 80. Has a tendency to
inspire us with confidence and joy, 81. Reason why the Author
has illustrated this subject so diffusely, 82. Relations in which the
Deity stands to us, 83.
SECT. VII. Modes in which love to God is displayed,
Complacency in his administration, 85. Admiration of his works,
86. Humility, 87. Resignation, 88. Gratitude, 90-94. Sublimity
of the principle of love, 95. Anecdote of Kircher, 96.
by which love may be invigorated and expanded, 99.
CHAPTER II.
Means
63
76
85
SECOND PRINCIPLE OF MORAL ACTION-LOVE TO ALL
SUBORDINATE INTELLIGENCES.
SECT. I. The NATURAL EQUALITY OF MANKIND, considered as the
basis of love to our neighbour,
Their equality in respect of their origin—the mechanism of their
bodies their mental faculties-their moral depravity--their pleasures,
wants and afflictions--and the termination of their mortal existence,
101-108. Argument for love founded on these circumstances,
109. Advantages of a subordination of rank in the present world,
110.
101
SEct. II. Of the CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONS which subsist
among mankind,
Men in every quarter of the globe, are connected together by
certain ties and relations. This connection exemplified in the
different trades and employments in our own country, 113. in
China, Persia, Siberia, the West Indies, Norway, Sweden, &c.
113. on the surface, and in the bowels of the ocean, 115. in the
subterraneous apartments of the globe, 116. Argument for univer-
sal benevolence founded on these relations, 118-119. Physical ar-
rangements of the globe, which indicate that the Creator intend-
ed to promote an extensive and benevolent intercourse among
mankind,
SECT. III. THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION OF MANKIND, as a foun- dation for benevolence,
Importance of every affection connected with an immortal exis-
tence, 122. Interesting views and relations which the scenes
of eternity present, 123-127. Our duty towards our degraded
brethren who are unqualified for a happy immortality, 127.
SECT. IV. On the effects which would ensue were the principle of
love reversed, and were rational beings to act accordingly,
Effects which malevolence would produce in families, and in
larger societies, 128. in the common intercourse of life, 129. em-
ployments in which malignant beings would delight, 130-132.
present an idea of the scenes of future punishment, 133. Effects
of malevolence in relation to the Divine Being, 134. General tenden-
cy of malignant passions, 135.
SECT. V. Effects which would flow from the full operation of the
principle of Love.
Evils which would be eradicated, 136-139. Positive blessings
which would be enjoyed in families and larger communities 140. in
the intercourse of nations, 140. in the intellectual improvement,
and general melioration of the condition of mankind 141. in the
exercise of kindness and generosity, 143. in the diminution of phys-
ical evils, 145. Effects of love in relation to God, 146. Studies and
exercises in which benevolent beings would engage, 147. grand
object at which they would aim, 149. Present state of the moral
world, 150. Prospect of melioration in future times, 151.
SECT. VI. Universality of the principle of love,
112.
It pervades the moral code of other worlds, 153. Moral precepts
common to all intelligences, 155. Love qualifies us for associa-
ting with superior beings, 156. connects us with the inhabitants
of distant worlds, 157. One Religion prevails throughout the uni-
verse, 159. Analogy of love to the principle of Attraction, 161.
consequences of the suspension of this principle, 163.
SECT. VII. The preceding views corroborated by Divine Reve-
lation,
Historical facts, religious institutions, precepts, &c. of the Old
119.
121.
127.
136
152
165
Testament, 165. Discourses and example of our Saviour, 168.
Writings of the Apostles, 172. The last Judgment, 175.
SECT. VIII. On the practical operation of love, or, the various modes
in which it should be displayed towards mankind.
Activity of this principle, 177. The benevolent agency of God
our pattern and exemplar, 177. Operation of love in relation to
man, considered as a sensitive being, 180-184. as an intellectual be-
ing, 184. as an immortal being, 186. Love the impelling principle
to every virtue, 188. Cardinal virtues, &c. 189. Diffusive nature
of benevolence, 190. Moral systems, their inutility in reference to
practice, 193. Benevolence in relation to the inferior animals, 195.
Anecdotes of animals-Arabian horses--Baron Trenck's mouse
--spiders, &c. 197. concluding extract. 199.
176
CHAPTER III.
ON THE MORAL LAW, AND THE RATIONAL GROUNDS
ON WHICH ITS PRECEPTS ARE FOUNDED.
SOLEMN circumstances which attended the proclamation of this
law at Sinai, 201.
Tendency of mankind to violate this law, 204. Idolatry of the
Romans, Egyptians, &c. 206. Moral effects produced by idolatry,
208. cruelties of the Mexicans and other idolaters, 209. irrational-
ity of idol worship, 210. Mental idolatry, 211.
SECOND COMMANDMENT,
Its object, 212. Impossibility of representing the Divine Being
by external forms, 213. Debasing tendency of such attempts,
213. consequences to which they lead, 214. The only natural im
age of God, 215. Expansion of the universe, 216. Christian
idolatry, 217. Causes of Pagan idolatry, 219.
THIRD COMMANDMENT,
Explained, 220. Manner in which it is violated, 220.
consequences which would follow its general violation, 222. Ef-
fects of religious veneration, 223.
FOURTH COMMANDMENT,
Importance of the Sabbath to man as a day of rest, 224. and as
a season for religious contemplation, 227. Work of Creation, 227.
of Redemption, 230. Public worship, 231. Consequences which
would follow were the Sabbath abolished, 232.
204
212
220
224
FIFTH COMMANDMENT,
General remarks on the preceding precepts, 233. Relations of
mankind, 234. consequences which would follow were the law
which respects these relations reversed, 235. Effects of universal
obedience to this precept, 237.
SIXTH COMMANDMENT,
Counteraction of
References of this law explained, 239. consequences which would flow from its universal violation, 242.
the principle of hatred, &c. 243.
SEVENTH COMMANDMENT,
Explained, 244. Marriage and Divorces, 245. Dreadful effects
which would flow from universal licentiousness, 246. Dismal ef-
fects of prostitution, 249. This law peculiar to the inhabitants of
our globe, 250.
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT,
General Remarks, 251. Various modes in which this law is vio-
lated, 252. Consequences of its general violation, 252. Benefi-
cial effects which would flow from obedience to its requirement,
254.
NINTH COMMANDMENT,
Importance of truth and veracity, 256. Veracity the foundation
of knowledge and confidence of our future prospects, and of our
views of the character of the Deity, 257. Importance of accurate
statements of physical facts, 259. Importance of veracity in rela-
tion to our improvement in the eternal world, 260. Various ways
in which truth is violated, 262. Evils which have arisen from its
violation, 266. Effects which would follow on its universal viola-
tion, 267. Delightful effects which would flow from a universal
regard to truth, 270.
TENTH COMMANDMENT,
The breach of this law leads to a violation of the other precepts,
273. Avarice--its pernicious effect on individuals, 274. on com-
munities and nations, the slave trade, &c. 274. Ambition-various
ways in which it is displayed, 276. its destructive effects, 276.
Contentment, its reasonableness and beneficial effects, 278.
General conclusions founded on the preceding illustrations,
The moral law not the dictates of an arbitrary Sovereign, 280.
Reasonableness of obedience, 282. connection between the pre-
cepts of the Divine law--its universal violation would lead to the
destruction of mankind--has never yet been universally violated--
is obligatory on all worlds-Divine origin of the Christian Revela-
tion--Absurdity of Antinomianism, 283-290. Faith and repen-
tance, 290. Salvation an act of grace, &c. 292–294.
233
239
244
251
256
272
279