ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS.

PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES AND DISCUSSIONS.

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Moral Philosophy is founded on the moral constitution of man, .... 1

Moral Philosophy partly theoretical and partly practical,.2

There has been great diversity of sentiment on the theoretical part, ... 2

Illustration of this observation by examples taken from philosophers, ancient

and modern,.2

There has been a remarkable coincidence of sentiment among mankind on

the practical department of morals,.6

This position sustained by argument, and by numerous authorities, ... 6

This general concurrence of sentiment among mankind lays a firm founda-tion, on which to build a system of practical morals,.10

Two objects are specially contemplated in practical morals. 3. 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,.11

Analysis of the sense of duty, and its beneficial influence,.11

Conscience is an element of our mental constitution,.14

Its office is to judge and prescribe in morals, and to pronounce a definite

sentence on our conduct,.14

Its decisions are to each individual his supreme moral guide,.14

The last three positions confirmed by argument, by a brief historical review,

and by numerous authorities, ancient and modern,.14

To insure safe decisions, however, the conscience must be guided and en-lightened, and the mind must be kept free from passion and prejudice, . 28The conscience is to be guided and enlightened from several sources, . . 29

1. By the law of the land; but this is an imperfect guide,.29

2. By looking to the consequences of our conduct; but this, too, is an im-perfect and a subordinate guide,.33

3. By the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and these supply the

defects of the two preceding guides,.37

To confirm this last position, the Scriptures are reviewed, under the divisions

of the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations,.37

The patriarchal dispensation is chiefly distinguished for facts and institutions

having a moral bearing and influence,.38

Review of the moral character of the Mosaic dispensation,.39

Review of the moral character of the Ten Commandments,.39

Review of the morality of the Psalms, the Proverbs, and the Apocrypha, . 41Review of the morality of the Christian dispensation. The morality of theGospel is superior to that of the patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations, . 43Its design was, so far as morals are cbncerned, to furnish motives to moralconduct, rather than rules; sanctions , rather than precepts, .44