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    ( 605 )

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    REMARKS ON SOME PARTS OF HARTLEY ' S RULE OF LIFE .

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    ( Continued from p . 298 . ) The strong line of separation which is somewhat injudiciously drawn by many ethical writers between moral philosophy and revelation , is justly disregarded by Dr . Hartley , who introduces , without scruple , in support of his reasonings , considerations derived from the light of revealed truth . On

    these subjects his views are upon the whole just and enlightened ; and yet there are some peculiar modes of interpretation to which he seems to have an inordinate attachment , and which appear to me to proceed altogether upon erroneous conceptions of the true sense of Scripture . In this class I should be disposed to rank his frequent allusions to the paradisaical state , and his representations of this world as a fallen , ruined world . He is also very apt to ascribe immediately and literally to Christians in every age ,

    what was only intended to apply to the early disciples ; and from this circumstance , among others , he has given hia sanction to some conclusions which , if not altogether erroneous , require at least to be very considerably modified . A remarkable example of this may be found in the account he has given of the duty of obedience to the civil magistrate ; which , in the positive , unlimited way in which he has stated it , seems to approach very nearly to the old * exploded doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance .

    The . early Christians , were , hterally a little flock , separated from the rest of mankind , not only by th § smajlness of their numbers , but by the peculiarity of their circumstances . The affairs of the world being avowedly conducted on principles utterly at variance with those of the gospel , it was , of course , impossible fox them consistently to take a part in them . Still , however , St . PauJa though his expressions on this subject have been occasionally misunderstood , was always ready to assert his rights , and thought it by no to

    jnean . s inconsistent wi ^ his character as a Christian and an apostle avail himself of hi § political privileges as a Roman citizen . But in the present state of things , when the mass of the people are nominally Christians , and when the , ruling powers are not avowedly hostile to the cause of Christ , it seerns to be our duty to take advantage of every favourable opportunity for increasing the influence , of religious principles over the conduct of public affairs as well as in the general state of society . And the prevalence of free institutions , which enable a man to exert himself with energy and effect

    in . promoting these otyecte , is surely to be numbered among the talents which we are expected fcQ apply and improve . Christians are the salt of the earth ^ the light of the world ; but the lig ht is not to be placed under a bushel , nor . is the flfclt to be kept sq distinet as to be prevented from exercising its purifying and corrective influence . From Hartley ' s language , however , on some occasions , it would almost seem as if he thought that eye ^ y Christian , instead of using the world as not abusing it , was bound to ahjure it altogether , and to take no part or interest whatever in its

    concerns , Se . lf-U \ tereafc is reduced by Hartley to two heads , whioh have a reference to , his peculiar classification of the principles of action ; namely , gross gelf-TJEXterest > or that which is connected with the pursuit of the pleasures of ^ epefttion , imagination , and ambition ; and refined , pr that which arisen fro «» the indulgence of sympathy , theopathy , and the moral sense , pursued with an evpliQit view to the promotion qf our own happiness . Both these , when , ma . de ow primary purauit , fre endeavours to snew are inconsistent with our greatest improvement and happiness ; the latter as much or even

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1828, page 595, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2564/page/11/