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ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS.

Page

Christianity is the only religion which has ever contemplated extendingitself and its blessings through the earth by peaceable means, .... 44This characteristic of Christianity is more extraordinary than we are accus-

45

tomed to suppose,

Confirmation of this, by reference to the sentiments, designs, and actions ofthe ancient founders of cities, lawgivers, philosophers, &.c., . . .... 44

Other chief characteristics of the morals of Christianity,

50

Our Saviour’s character a part of the morality of the Gospel,.55

Tests by which to try the moral sublimity of his character. 1. The designof his coming. 2. The nature of the means which he employed to ac-complish his sublime and beneficent design. 3. The personal qualitiesdisplayed by him. 4. The effects actually produced by Christianity thus

far, and those which we may anticipate, ■.57

An objection to the science of Moral Philosophy anticipated,.6.0

PART I.

OUR RELATION TO GOD, AND THE MORAL DUTIES THENCE

ARISING.

CHAPTER I. Elucidation of this highest of our Relations, andof the Moral Influence of a Belief in a Supreme Being.

Our conception of the Deity unites in itself the richest moral elements,all that is fair, great, and good, whatever bears the impress of beauty,grandeur, sublimity, order, harmony, dignity, and happiness, .... 66

Hence, the character of the Deity is to us a fixed and ultimate standard ofmoral excellence, by the contemplation of which, the tendencies of manto wickedness are counteracted, and human nature rises above its naturalcondition,.66

This argument respecting the special moral influence arising from a beliefin God, and his superintending providence, confirmed,.67

1. By an appeal to the recorded sentiments and convictions of all nations

which have left any writings,.67

2. By citing the sentiments of the American revolutionary Congress, . . 69

Belief in God, then, and his superintending providence, is alike the founda-tion of morals and religion,.70

Case of the heathen who knew God, but glorified him not as God, ... 70

To preserve that strong conviction and deep sense of God, which is the rootand branch of practical morals, we must perform the duties which springfrom the relation in which we stand to him,.71

CHAPTER II. The general Duty of Reverencing God.

Analysis of the reverence which we owe to God,.71

Tendency and effect of levity, ridicule, sneering, and scoffing at religion, 72

CHAPTER III. The Duty of Worshipping God.

There is a distinction between reverencing and worshipping God, . . . 73

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