There morals as distinctly as possible from any other subject. has been some difficulty in doing this, because the department of practical morals is intimately connected with the theory of morals, with law, and with Christian theology. I have been the more particular in observing this rule, because I have seen an admixture of theology and moral philosophy, which I consider injudicious, in several late treatises of moral philosophy. 2. Again, it has been an essential part of my plan, to write a treatise of Christian morals, to collect, expand, and illustrate the moral principles and precepts of the Bible. To this end, I have endeavoured to keep close to the letter and spirit of the Old and New Testaments, considering myself, when treating of the morals, no less than if I had been discussing the doctrines of Christianity, bound not to "add unto "take away from this highest source of wisdom and most authoritative standard of practice as well as of faith. or 3. My plan has embraced the elements of practical morals only, and my aim has therefore been to avoid all abstruse, refined, and especially all speculative discussions of the subject. These are not without their measure of importance; but they are beyond the limits which, at the outset, I prescribed to myself. In drawing this distinction between the elements and the more abstruse parts of the subject, accurate judgment and nice discrimination are requisite, and I may not always have been successful. But the attempt has been honestly made and steadily pursued. 4. I have endeavoured to write an elementary treatise of practical Christian morals, which shall give no just cause of offence to any denomination of Christians, or to any religious, literary, or political party in the country. The different denominations of Christians will find their peculiarities very seldom, if ever, referred to, and if referred to at all, always, I trust, respectfully. It is perhaps too much to expect complete success in this particu *Revelation xxii. 18, 19. b lar, but I have sincerely wished to avoid giving just cause of offence to any individual, or to any body of men whatever. 5. I have endeavoured to treat practical morals in a manner suited to the wants of the present day. This remark has respect both to the selection of topics for discussion and illustration, and to the application of principles to the tendencies, events, and general circumstances of the passing times. The principles of practical morals are the imperishable principles of truth, and are not in themselves subject to change; but the proper mode, in which they are to be illustrated and applied, varies, in a greater or less degree, according to the form of government, the structure and condition of society, the employments, and the state of education, general intelligence, &c., in a country. It is the duty of each succeeding writer on any science, to reproduce and incorporate into his work, whatever is most valuable in the works of preceding writers on the same science; otherwise knowledge cannot be expected to advance, and might possibly retrograde. But in addition to this, it has been my aim to combine in my work whatever of fresh and novel interest is entitled to attention. To this end, I have availed myself of all the materials which diligence, vigilant search, and enterprise could bring within my reach. I have, during many years, purchased all the books and pamphlets published upon Moral Philosophy or any of its topics, which, I have had reason to believe, were worth purchasing. The science of practical morals is not stationary, much less is it incapable of advancement. Like other sciences, it depends in a certain degree on experience, and successive writers ought to aim to collect, and register in their works, the well matured results of experience. This volume seems to me to contain a considerable number of new results of this kind. 6. In treating the various subjects which make up this volume, I have not thought my duty fulfilled by presenting my own unassisted reflections and conclusions; though to have satisfied myself with such a course would have been a task comparative ly free from difficulty. The truth is, practical Christian morals form a branch of science, depending quite as much on authority as any other science whatever. The writer of an elementary treatise on any branch of the law presents his conclusions sustained, limited, modified, and otherwise qualified, by the best authorities with which his learning and research have furnished him. To this end, he consults statutes, the decisions of the most authoritative tribunals, the comments and illustrations of men learned in the science, and uses them all in aid of his own acquirements made by reading, observation, and reflection. In like manner, the science of morals does not consist of the opinions, sentiments, and conclusions of one or of a few men. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, the law of the land, the illustrations, amplifications, and deductions of the great masters of reason and argument, who have adorned the annals of mankind, both in ancient and modern times, are to be constantly consulted by the moral philosopher, and their labors are to be used in aid of his own. 7. As this Treatise is designed for the use of our higher institutions of learning, as well as for private reading, it has been my aim to select, from the very wide circle of subjects embraced within this science, those which are fitted to be most useful to the young men who resort to those institutions for education, and to treat them in a manner suited to their situation and wants. In discussing and illustrating the various subjects selected, it has been my aim to convey as much pertinent and valuable matter as possible, in a clear, direct, and condensed style. The most suitable order and arrangement, too, in which to dispose my materials have engaged my attention. I have brought to the composition of the work, a spirit of patient labor and a desire to be useful. I have endeavoured, moreover, to infuse into every part, a healthful moral tone, suited to cherish the candor, modesty, sincerity, ingenuousness, and docility of temper, which are the greatest ornament of youth, and the highest promise of future success and usefulness in life. I have permitted no occa sion to pass by unimproved, which I might fairly use, to inculcate an elevated sense of justice, of integrity, of honor, of dignity, and of independence of feeling, sentiment, and action. All these are elements of an enlightened sense of duty, the strengthening and maturing of which, is, of all things, the most essential in the formation of character. Next to religion, the moral interests of a nation are its highest interests, and practical morals have an intrinsic claim to be universally studied and understood. Studies pertaining to moral duty, that is, to personal conduct, may well claim precedence of every other. It is not important, that every man should be acquainted with Algebra and Geometry, though these sciences are not without their use to any one; but it is important, that every man, whatever may be his vocation, should be acquainted with practical morals. Still, the importance of Moral Philosophy is not so generally acknowledged as it ought to be, and it has been very much neglected, in almost, if not quite all our institutions of education. Moral Philosophy has important relations to, and connexions with law; and, on these parts of the subject, I have sometimes stood in need of the aid and advice of gentlemen learned in the law. My acknowledgments are due to Mitchell King, C. G. Memminger, and George W. Eggleston, Esquires, of Charleston, for considerable assistance rendered in this way. While residing at Cambridge to superintend the printing, similar assistance has been given me, with much kindness and courtesy, by Simon Greenleaf, Esq., Royall Professor of Law in Harvard University, and by Mr. Justice Story, of the Supreme Court of the United States. Invited "to consult them as often as it suited me," several of my chapters have derived the greatest advantage from the consultations which were thus encouraged. President Quincy, also, with his accustomed liberality, and without waiting to be applied to, opened to me all the facilities of the University. Cambridge, 4 September, 1837. ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS. Moral Philosophy is founded on the moral constitution of man, Moral Philosophy partly theoretical and partly practical, There has been great diversity of sentiment on the theoretical part, Illustration of this observation by examples taken from philosophers, ancient There has been a remarkable coincidence of sentiment among mankind on the practical department of morals, This position sustained by argument, and by numerous authorities, This general concurrence of sentiment among mankind lays a firm founda- tion, on which to build a system of practical morals, . Two objects are specially contemplated in practical morals. 1. The forma- tion and cultivation of a permanent, strong, and delicate sense of duty. 2. A knowledge of the principles and rules which determine our duty in the various situations and relations of life, Analysis of the sense of duty, and its beneficial influence, Conscience is an element of our mental constitution, Its office is to judge and prescribe in morals, and to pronounce a definite To insure safe decisions, however, the conscience must be guided and en- 2. By looking to the consequences of our conduct; but this, too, is an im- 3. By the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and these supply the To confirm this last position, the Scriptures are reviewed, under the divisions The patriarchal dispensation is chiefly distinguished for facts and institutions Review of the moral character of the Mosaic dispensation, Its design was, so far as morals are concerned, to furnish motives to moral conduct, rather than rules; sanctions, rather than precepts, " |