reason and of common sense. The progress of juster views has discovered to mankind, at least to a considerable portion of the human species, the magnitude of this error; yet, it may safely be affirmed, that even in Protestant countries it still continues to affect the opinions and the conduct of many individuals.

This is not the place for entering into any detailed discussion as to the grounds, or the extent of moral obligation: but I cannot help remarking, even here, that our views on this subject will be much more accurate and enlarged by a close examination of the active powers of our nature;-that our impressions of the unalterable distinctions between virtue and vice will be strengthened, and have a greater influence on the habits of thought and conduct;-and that we shall be much more prepared to examine with candour the doctrines of revealed religion, when we are thoroughly taught to do homage, in every instance, to the high authority of God. When it is observed, for example, that in every part of the world, human beings entertain the same moral feelings and the same moral tendencies; that, though some of them may be modified by peculiarity of circumstances, they are in every place essentially the same:-we are surely entitled to infer that principles thus united to the nature of man, in all ages, and in all nations, are to be regarded as an expression to us of the will of the Deity. When we observe that in every situation the child loves his parent and the parent his child, we justly conclude that filial and parental affection forms a law of human nature; and that independent of the fifth precept of the decalogue, children are laid under moral obligations to love and honour

their parents. When we find a susceptibility for religious worship inherent in man, and contradistinguishing his nature from the inferior animals, we feel an irresistible conviction that he has been formed for contemplating the perfections and obeying the will of the Creator; and we observe in the first commandment of the law only the explicit statement of a truth, which, while the constitution of human beings remains unchanged, must continue for ever unalterably the same. Thus, we might proceed in our investigation of all the moral tendencies essentially connected with our nature, and discover that the elementary principles of moral obligation are indelibly impressed on the heart; and that the duty of yielding a full obedience to their requirements is so far from being the creation of arbitrary appointment, or of political arrangements, that it can only cease to be with the extinction of our being. That the advantages resulting from such discoveries are of the first importance to the interests of mankind, is sufficiently obvious. I shall only observe, that revelation itself assumes the fact, that from the moral feelings of our nature, though often perverted by ignorance and corruption, we may infer many of our obligations; that its doctrines and its precepts are proposed to us on the supposition that the duty of yielding a ready compliance with the will of our Maker is founded on the inherent principles of our constitution; and that the same integrity of mind requisite for a candid examination of the one, is conducive to the full reception of the other.

There is yet another advantage resulting from the study of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, which

I must mention; the striking proofs which it affords of the beneficence and wisdom of the Creator. On this point I am the more disposed to lay stress, because I feel persuaded that in no department of nature are there clearer or more impressive indications given of the boundless goodness and intelligence of Him that formed us; and though the phenomena of the material world be more frequently appealed to on this subject, it is only because external objects are familiar to the thoughts of every one, and require less abstraction of mind to discover in them a continued illustration of the divine perfections. After tracing the goodness of the Deity in the various kingdoms of nature, in the air, the earth, the sky,-more especially in the mighty and harmonious movements of the planetary worlds, the metaphysician returns to survey regions which are, indeed, concealed from vulgar view, but whose phenomena afford the most affecting proofs of that tender mercy that pervades and gladdens the universe. He can perceive in the constitution of the human mind-in the balance> which is established between its intellectual and moral powers, in the admirable adaptation of its various tendencies to the circumstances with which it is sur¬ rounded, and in the growth of affections corresponding to youth, to manhood, and to old age, the wisdom and the goodness of a Being who is not only himself infinitely perfect, but who, in communicating life to his intelligent offspring, has given them, with this blessing, the essential elements of happiness.

Were it my object to enter into details on this subject, it were easy to multiply illustrations. I might

refer to the benign and salutary influence of that pa rental, filial, and relative affection which forms the tender tie of all our endearing connexions, and which is productive to man individually, and to society in general, of most valuable blessings. I might hold up to your view the operations of this principle or affection of mind, as exhibited in the lovely scenes of domestic life; as influencing all the duties of that sacred retirement from the busy occupations of the world, where the holy tranquillity of earth approaches nearest to the rest of heaven, and where alone the greatest felicity which has survived the loss of paradise is to be enjoyed. Who has ever witnessed the serene happiness of the family, the tender affection by which its members are united to one another,-the pleasure that is felt in meeting, and the pain in separating, the fondness and the tender solicitude of the parents, and the love and the gratitude of the children;-who has ever mingled in such scenes, and yet relinquished them without emotions of painful regret, or refrained from admiring the wisdom and beneficence of Him who has rendered the most permanent affections of our nature subservient to the gracious purposes of his Providence, and which, by their influence on all our moral habits, are evidently designed to prepare us for a higher and a nobler state of being? If, then, these affections are so necessary to our happiness and to our very existence-so necessary that, without them, the human race must soon perish,-must it not be obvious that a Being of boundless intelligence, who has acted with a reference to futurity, has conferred them upon us? This is the more evident,

from the fact that some of these feelings do not exist. till we are placed in those circumstances which require their operation. Thus, for example, we see the gay and effeminate female becoming the tender and anxious mother, cheerfully relinquishing those pursuits with which she formerly associated much of her happiness, and sacrificing her time and her repose to the comfort of her infant, with no other reward than the exquisite pleasure she enjoys in cherishing her offspring. For my part, I can never contemplate this lovely display of tenderness and affection, without marking in it the hand of that Heavenly Parent who has called us into being, and who has made provision for the happiness of the unnumbered millions who are dependant on his bounty.

The study of a science which furnishes us with such proofs of the goodness of God, and which opens up to us such interesting views of the power that renders the thoughts of the heart subservient to its gracious designs, cannot be in vain. I know not any other branch of human knowledge more calculated, when thoroughly examined, to impress upon the mind a pleasing conviction of the established order of Providence, or, to teach it the important lesson, that happiness may be secured independent of the wealth or the honour of fortune.

In any enumeration of the advantages of Moral Philosophy, the enlarged conceptions which it leads us to form of the destiny of man should not be forgotten. This has a most favourable influence on elevation of sentiment and conduct; it accustoms the mind to dwell chiefly on the contemplation of objects