nize God in every thing even in the events which thwart us to sit alone and keep silent under the severest trials-willing to endure all without society or sympathy, or even notice-to suffer undeserved injury without retaliation, and censure without justification—to bear all, serve all, love all."* Such men live in the exercise of the most sublime of all emotions-faith in Christ; of such men the world is not worthy."

* Letter from Rev. David Abeel.

PART IV.

CHAPTER 1.

MORAL SENSE AND CONSCIENCE.

The intellect has a perception of the beautiful as well as of the true; the first belongs to the imagination, the second to reason. Here is the foundation of Taste. But reason also exhibits truth out of the reach of sense. Wherever there is existence it proclaims Cause; and further that in the production of minds such as ours, there must be an Intelligence infinitely surpassing all that we find elevated and glorious in humanity. That to this First Great Cause is due, not only all the efforts that can be made by the human mind, but also all the love of which the soul is capable, reason would teach. Reason goes no further than the declaration of necessary truth, it is the province of feeling to embrace and act upon it. There is in the mind an inherent love of beauty and other pleasing qualities in objects; there is also an inherent love of truth, justice and benevolence. To the perception and love of the beautiful is addressed

whatever belongs to the works of taste-poetry, eloquence, painting and the other fine arts; to the approbation of virtue is addressed whatever belongs to duty or moral science. The mind turns with a sort of repugnance from the false, unjust and cruel person, while the contrary character is esteemed and beloved.

T

In all ages and among all nations, this has been the general sentiment of mankind, except where men have become brutalized by the animal propensities, or cruel through the prejudices of false judgment and custom. It is related of Xenocrates, the philosopher, that being called to give testimony in a court of Athens, he advanced to the altar to confirm it by the customary oath. The judges blushed, and with one accord opposed the action, thus rendering homage to the probity of so respectable a witness. Themistocles proposed to the Athenians to communicate to some chosen person, a design, but with profound secrecy, that would be to the advantage of the nation. Aristides, the most equitable of the citizens was deputed to hear it. The design was to burn the fleet of the Lacedemonians, their rival neighbours, then at peace with them. "Nothing," said Aristides, to the Athenians, after hearing the proposition, "could be more advantageous to us, but nothing can be more unjust." Without any other information,

the people unanimously rejected the proposal. This is the moral sense of man, founded in his reason, and belongs in a greater or less degree to every rational creature. Man as a social and moral being, must be provided with a sense, whereby he may discover the duties to be performed in these relations. We cannot at present carry out these illustrations, and even hope it to be unnecessary, notwithstanding the reasonings that may pre-occupy any of your minds, founded upon the case imagined by Dr. Paley, of the wild boy, who would not be able to decide whether the murder of a father was a right. or a wrong action. You will see also, that this same wild boy, were he taken to the exhibition of West's Christ Rejected, would be unable to judge whether it were well or ill done. Besides, where nations or even individuals "change the truth of God into a lie, and worship and serve the creature more than the Creator," they are given up to "vile affections," and become "haters of God, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." Hence, the reason found in Revelation, why whole nations seem destitute of moral sense; this reason is probably nearer the truth in the case of individuals remarkable for crime, than a deficiency in the organ of Conscientiousness.