those practical mischiefs, of which the speculations on the nature of justification were, partly the cause, and partly the palliation. We still, however, feel the effects of them in the discussions which abound among Protestants, on the questions arising out of this subject. Unscriptural practices were to be assailed, against men who possessed an admirable art of polemical defence; and by men who had sat at the feet of the Doctors of the Schools. It is nothing strange therefore, that the truth, so maintained, should bear the scars of the conflict through which it had to struggle. It is nothing strange, that the dialectical spirit should have survived among Protestants, even on the very points on which Protestantism took its firmest stand. It is worthy of our remark, that those Protestants who have advanced to extremes in opposing the errors of Rome; both, those who have opposed them on the ground of Superstition, and those who have been unreasonably jealous in the cause of Reason,—have adopted more of the speculative method connected with those errors, than the more moderate reformer. For what is all that accuracy and positiveness, with which some persons state their views of Justification, but the point and precision of theory? What is all that profession of Rational Religion, with which some maintain the natural efficacy of Repentance, but a dogmatism founded on theory? We may learn, from these extremes, that, the more indistinct our language is on this sacred subject,-the less of theoretic principle it S embodies in it,—the more closely do we imbibe the true spirit of Protestantism;-the more faithfully do we walk in the path of that Holy Spirit, whose ways are in the deep," and whose "footsteps are "not known." SUMMARY. No proper Moral Philosophy in the Scholastic System-Confusion of moral and religious truth injurious to both-Instance in Paley's Moral Philosophy-Moral Truth at first taught on the ground of Authority-Platonism influential in blending it with Theology-Influence of Christian literature, the Sermons, and legends of the Saints, Ambrose's Treatise "On the Offices of "Ministers," Gregory's "Morals," Boethius' "Consolation of "Philosophy"-Ethical science corrupted by being studied with a view to the power of the Clergy. Schoolmen systematize ethical precepts drawn from practice of the Church-The Treatise "Of the Imitation of Christ"Plato's theological account of the chief Good combined with practical detail of Aristotle's Ethical Theory-Scholastic moral system a development of the Divine Energy in man's internal nature -Aristotle's notion of Happiness accordant with this viewScholastic gradations of moral excellence to be traced to this fundamental idea-Hence, also, the importance attributed to the life of contemplative devotion-The doctrine of PerfectionDistinction of Counsels and Precepts-Outline of this double morality seen in the Aristotelic notion of an Heroic VirtueCoincidence of Aristotle's theory of Good-Fortune with the superhuman virtue of the Scholastic System-Connexion of ethical doctrine of the Schools with notion of Original Sin-Mortal and Venial Sins-Proper ground of this distinction-Division of Virtue into Theological and Moral, and into Infused and Acquired— Doctrine of Gifts. Origin of questions in Modern Moral Philosophy to be traced to scholastic discussions-Instance in the idea of Moral Obligation-Extreme opinions as to the relative importance both of Theology and Ethics-Proper province of Ethics, inquiry into the principles of Human Nature - Revelation. only gives new objects to those principles-Importance of regarding the Science of Ethics as in itself independent of Religion. |