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    Untitled Article

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    Untitled Article

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    REVIEW.

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    Untitled Article

    T Art . I .- —Systematic Morality ; or a Treatise on the Tiieory and Practice of Human Duty , on the Grounds of Natural Religion , By W . Jevons Hunter . 1827 * . 2 Vols . 8 vo . The author of this Very ingenious and valuable work hag justly remarked in his preface , that notwithstanding the multitude of ethical treatises with ivhich out language abounds , an important station still remains in a great degree unoccupied . The interesting and curious questions which occur in the theory of morals have been largely debated ; on the proper definition

    and criterion of virtue , on the grounds of moral obligation , on the nature and origin of the moral sense , very different and apparently opposite opinions have been maintained by the most eminent philosophers . Or > ., the , ; Qtjfjer hand , many writers have distinguished themselves in the more practical discussions of casuistry and natural law , but in a . comparatively dry an < J \ in 6 i-¦^^^ ^ B ^ i ^ f f ^ ^ p ~^» ^ v ^ ¦¦ - ^ m" ^™ - ^ mt ¦ " ~^» - ~ i ¦ " ™ ^» w ^^ i ™ ¦ ™ ¦ — - ~ — - ¦ " ^ ^» w —^ - * — — ¦ » * j — — — — K — , ¦ - ^^ » i w fi *\ -l

    teresting manner , without addressing themselves to the affections , of aweflihg upon those motives which are peculiarly calculated to mend the heart -and inspire the love of virtue . The persuasive part of moral science , if we may so denominate it , has been cultivated chiefly by the preacher an < J the essayist ; and though much that is highly valuable may be derived from their productions , yet it is necessarily presented in a detached and desultory

    form . , It is the object of th 6 work before us to supply in some measure this deficiency in our systematic treatises , and in many respects it is well adapted to its purpose . Though , for many reasons , we cannot but deeply ^ e grei that the author has thought it necessary to confine his views to natural retigipn , vet the truly rational inquirer , who has been accustomed to look to Sqrip-T ¦ - * : ¦ % < A- r » i ' ¦ ¦' * . "¦ n 4 * A t A » . . /» ¦» ¦ . •¦ ¦ . # » ¦ vi '¦>•¦'¦* . for his rule of life and for his most motives to it

    ture both powerful follow * , will not be displeased to find to what an extent the light of unassisted nature coincides with that of revealed truth * In some instances he may perhaps be induced to think that her pictures , when fairly examined , are defective not so much in distinctness as in brilliancy ; nor will he value at a lower rate the cfiscoveries of the gospel , when he perceives , that while they make little change in the outline , they clothe it with more glowing and attractive colours ; that reason , as far as her powers can reach , presents to our view the same

    objects as her heaven-born sister , who has merely extended the design , and thrown over the whole a celestial radiance . The attentive reader , however , of " Systematic Morality , " will immediately perceive that the author is greatl y indebted , not only for the vividness , but the distinctness and accuracy x > t J ^ is delineations to the light of revelation . He will not fail to be forcibly struck with the difference between that exercise of reaso n which is enapk > y €$ ift exploring our way through intricacies where we have no other

    i chid to guide us , and that which merely satisfies us that what others have told te is true , ~~ -that what has alread y been accomplished by other means 'haft Wetr done well . If we are desirous to ascertain the relJahtffe to * be ^ ttac ^ d ^ ott natural religioti , we must examine what she has been iible' to etfeftt ' wli < &i left entirely to her own resources , as they are exhibited * hi the '^ ntttjgs ' of those , who had no means of checking t ) ier decisions l ? y' ^' ajff jj ^ al ^ 0 I | S £ ? her authoi ; ity « " . __ . . ' ' , ' .. ' [ r \ lt , ' -. , ' . ' '' , '¦ "' ' , ' , ' ,, ' . After fionde very judicious iutroductory remarits ou the iuaportaa ^ c and

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    Review.

    REVIEW .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1827, page 890, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1803/page/34/