I. "Political Power is rightly exercised only when it is possessed by consent of the community ". Governors officers of the Public-Transfer of their rights by a whole people-The people hold the "Political Power is rightly exercised only when it subserves the welfare of the community"-In- terference with other nations-Present expedi- ents for present occasions-Proper business of III. "Political Power is rightly exercised only when it subserves the welfare of the community by means which the Moral Law permits"-The Moral Law alike binding on nations and indivi- duals-Deviation from rectitude impolitic-" The "POLITICAL POWER IS RIGHTLY POSSESSED ONLY Oath of Allegiance-Oath in Evidence-Perjury- Military oath-Oath against Bribery at Elections-- Oath against simony-University oaths-Subscrip- "POLITICAL POWER IS RIGHTLY EXERCISED ONLY WHEN IT SUBSERVES THE WELFARE OF THE COMMU- Duties of a Ruler-The two objects of moral legis. lation-Education of the People-Bible Society- Lotteries-Public-houses-Abrogation of bad laws -Primogeniture-Accumulation of property. CHAP. X. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, Substitution of justice for law-Court of Chancery -Of fixed laws-Their inadequacy-They increase litigation-Delays - Expenses - Informalities- Precedents-Verdicts- Legal proof-Courts of arbitration An extended system of arbitration -Arbitration in criminal trials-Constitution of Want of enquiry Indifference to human misery: National irritability: Interest: Secret motives of Destruction of human life: Taxation : Moral depra- vity Familiarity with plunder: Implicit submis- sion to superiors: Resignation of moral agency: Influence of habit-Of appealing to antiquity-The Christian Scriptures-Subjects of Christ's benedic- tion-Matt. xxvii. 52.-The Apostles and Evange- lists The Centurion-Cornelius-Silence not a proof of approbation-Luke xxii. 36.-John the Baptist-Negative evidence-Prophecies of the Old Testament The requisitions of Christianity of present obligation - Primitive Christians-Ex. ample and testimony of early Christians-Christian soldiers-Wars of the Jews-Duties of individuals and nations-Offensive and defensive war-Wars always aggressive-Paley-War wholly forbidden. OF THE PROBABLE AND PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF AD- HERING TO THE MORAL LAW IN RESPECT TO WAR, 191 Quakers in America and Ireland-Colonization of Or the two causes of our deviations from Rectitude-want of Knowledge and want of Virtue-the latter is undoubtedly the more operative. Want of Knowledge is, however, sometimes a cause; nor can this be any subject of wonder when it is recollected in what manner many of our notions of right and wrong are acquired. From infancy, every one is placed in a sort of moral school, in which those with whom he associates, or of whom he hears, are the teachers. That the learner in such a school will often be taught amiss, is plain. So that we want information respecting our duties. To supply this information is an object of Moral Philosophy, and is attempted in the present work. When it is considered by what excellences the existing treatises on Moral Philosophy are recommended, there can remain but one reasonable motive for adding yet another-the belief that these treatises have not exhibited the Principles and enforced the Obligations of Morality in all their perfection and purity. Perhaps the frank expression of this belief is not inconsistent with that deference which it becomes every man to feel when he addresses the public; because, not to have entertained such a belief, were to have possessed no reason for writing. The desire of supplying the deficiency, if deficiency there be; of exhibiting a true and authoritative Standard of Rectitude, and of estimating the moral character of human actions by an appeal to that Standard, is the motive which has induced the composition of these Essays. In the FIRST ESSAY the writer has attempted to investigate the Principles of Morality. In which term is here included, first, the Ultimate Standard of Right and Wrong; and, secondly, those Subordinate Rules to which we are authorized to apply for the direction of our conduct in life. In these investigations he has been solicitous to avoid any approach to curious or metaphysical enquiry. He has endeavoured to act upon the advice given by Tindal, the Reformer, to his friend John Frith: "Pronounce not or define of hid secrets, or things that neither help nor hinder whether it be so or no; but stick you stiffly and stubbornly in earnest and necessary things." In the SECOND ESSAY these Principles of Morality are applied in the determination of various questions of personal and relative duty. In making this application, it has been far from the writer's desire to deliver a system of Morality. Of the unnumbered par b |