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provisory extent, answer our purpose. For Butler's view of the office of the various principles of action in man, and of the mode in which his moral constitution determines his duties, is very consistently and closely, though not completely, exhibited in his Sermons. The First Three Sermons, upon Human Nature, the Fifth and Sixth, upon Compassion, the Eighth and Ninth, upon Resentment, the Eleventh and Twelfth, upon the Love of our Neighbour, and the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, upon the Love of God, give a view of a large portion of this constitution, and of the resulting duties. To complete this view into a system, so far as the conduct of an individual is concerned, the principal requisites would be a similar exposition of those propensities of our nature which regard Property and Contracts, of those affections which are the origin of Families, and of those principles which are the basis of Civil Government.

But a system of Ethics should, I conceive, do more than merely provide us with maxims. for the regulation of our own conduct and feelings. It should also do, what Paley's

work professes to do: it should point out the rational grounds of the good institutions which prevail in organized societies, with regard to the objects of men's desires and affections; and thus invest those institutions with the sanction of morality as well as law. Butler does not attempt any such application of his principles, and therefore his writings are very defective as an ethical system.

Still I conceive, that if the Sermons which I have mentioned were published in a convenient form, arranged so that the different parts could be easily referred to, and provided with a few illustrations of Butler's representation of the principle of human action collected from ancient and modern authors*, they might be of great use in the absence of a more complete system. In this belief, it is my intention shortly to publish such an edition of these Sermons.

In the second of the following Sermons, a paragraph is inserted which was omitted in the delivery.

For example, Stewart's "Classification and Analysis of our Active and Moral Powers," contained in the First Chapter of Part 1. of his "Outlines of Moral Philosophy."

THE FOUNDATIONS OF MORALS.

SERMON I.

ROMANS I. 20.

For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

THE constant object of the Christian preacher should be to lead men to love and glorify their heavenly Master, and to live suitably to their Christian profession. "Hallowed be thy name ;... Thy will be done on earth," might be his standing texts, and his perpetual theme. But this unity in his end, may include a vast variety in the means which he employs. It may often be best that he should take his place by the side of the living waters, and call aloud, "Ho, every one that thirsteth!" But it may sometimes be no less pro

per for him, to stand by the fountain-heads of truth; to watch over the well from which distant streams are derived; to repair its crumbling wall; to complete its broken rim; above all, to remove carefully all pollution and impurity, all poisonous or unwholesome taint, which mistake or negligence may have shed into it. Instead of practically appealing to the great rules of duty, and the affections and motives which may urge men to obedience and love, it may at times be profitable to examine how these rules of duty are to be discovered and known by man; on what grounds they rest; how they are consistent with themselves, and with human nature. For man,born to think as well as to feel-impelled to speculate no less than to act-whose business it is to render, not a blind but a "reasonable service"cannot restrain himself from demanding such consistency; cannot refrain from thus enquiring after the ground of that which is enjoined him. It is the irresistible impulse of his nature, which receives a warrant in the injunction * to "scrutinize all things, and hold fast that which is right."

-a creature

Nor are such employments of man's understanding without influence on his life and conduct:

* 1 Thess. v. 21.

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