282 Natural Theology. 



of the character of Him who gave that moial con- 

 stitution ? 



It is not only true that we have this faculty which 

 impels us to the right for its own sake, without any 

 reference to the acts or the judgment of others, but 

 we are in addition to this affected by the opinion of 

 others. We know that they have the same moral 

 constitution that we have, by which they decide moral 

 questions, and we know that the estimation in which 

 we are held by men depends upon their opinion of 

 our moral character. We desire to stand well with 

 them. There is great support in their approval of 

 any course of action, especially if conscience justi- 

 fies the course. And there is a sense of shame and 

 baseness, when we receive the tensure of others 

 and are conscious that their condemnation is just. 

 Thus it is that public opinion has such great power ; 

 a power that few men can long withstand unless 

 sustained by an approving conscience. The fact 

 that this opinion may be misled by prejudice, and in 

 some cases be absolutely wrong, does not alter the 

 argument. Men demand what they think is right 

 as a general thing, and if they demand what they 

 know to be wrong, they may hate and even destroy 

 the one who will not yield, but they never can 

 despise him ; and when the frenzy of passion has 

 passed away, they honor him. We thus find the 

 moral constitution such, that our common relation- 

 ship to others impels us to right action. 



We are also linked to a portion of the race by 

 peculiar ties. There is the relation of parent and 



