The Principles of Metaphysical and Ethical Science: Applied to the Evidences of Religion |
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absolute abstract action admit agency animal antecedent appear appetites applied argument argument from design attributes believe benevolence Bishop Butler body brute called causation character chemical affinity Christianity conceive conception conclusion conduct conscience consciousness consequences considered constitution creation Creator Deity desires distinct Divine doctrine Dugald Stewart duty earth effect efficient cause enjoyment evidence evil existence experience external fact faculty feeling happiness human idea immediate impulse induction inference infinite inquiry instance instinct intellect J. S. Mill justice knowledge material matter means ment metaphysical mind moral government moral universe motion motives natural theology necessary never object obligation observation organs origin outward perfect person phenomena philosophy physical science pleasure polytheism principles proof prove purpose reason relations of ideas religious respect revelation sense Sir James Mackintosh skepticism Spinoza suppose theory things tion truth universe virtue volition whole wisdom words
Popular passages
Page 443 - The weariest and most loathed worldly life, That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death." In these pictures, which certainly represent the faith of the most refined nations of pagan antiquity, I see a
Page 432 - can pretend to judge of those parts of the universe which have not fallen under our examination, is by concluding them to be analogous to what we have observed. ' Of God above or man below, What can we reason but from what we know
Page 468 - affords as to the truth of those doctrines in which we have been instructed from the beginning, " even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word." This evidence, for the whole of the doctrine to which such a test can be applied, is found to be abundant and satisfactory; the light from God's word, and that which
Page 188 - prevailed among ignorant and sinful men. " Canst thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? It is high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? deeper than hell; what canst thou know ?" But he has not left us wholly without light; and the indications of his being and attributes that are accessible, whether in the volume of his "Word or
Page 317 - we are educated into obedience, and become willing subjects of the reign of God upon the earth. " Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round! Parents first season us ; then schoolmasters Deliver us to laws; they
Page 237 - Who bid the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not his own, and worlds not known before ? Who calls the councils, states the certain day ? Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way t
Page 360 - which we tread upon, In corporal sufferance, feels a pang as great As when a giant dies," however calculated to extend the range of our sympathies, certainly contains more poetry than truth. Enjoyment is the
Page 218 - If the viscera of an animal are so organized as only to be fitted for the digestion of recent flesh, it is also requisite that the jaws should be so constructed as to fit them for devouring prey ; the claws must be constructed for seizing and tearing it in pieces;
Page 240 - brushes and the wall he would fill up with boots, books, sticks, dried turf, or any thing portable. He would often, after laying on one of his building materials, sit up over against it, appearing to consider his work, or, as the country people say, to 'judge it'; this pause
Page 268 - to postpone a momentary indulgence for a larger and more permanent good to be obtained hereafter. To borrow the language of a great moralist, " any condition may be denominated happy, in which the amount or aggregate of pleasure exceeds that of pain, and the degree of happiness depends upon the quantity of this excess." Reason, guided by experience,