MORAL PHILOSOPHY. 45 



Experience. 



Experience, Dr. Franklin says, is a dear school, 

 but fools will learn in no other. 



A Lie. 



A lie is a desperate cowardice ; it is to fear man 

 and brave God. 



Truth. 



The precept of speaking the truth will be found, 

 when duly considered, to lead to most important con- 

 sequences, as there is not only a strict connexion be- 

 tween truth of expression and morality of conduct ; 

 but falsehood and exaggeration virtually lessen the 

 mental powers, and necessarily produce misconcep- 

 tion ; thus impairing the judgment, and contaminating 

 the very source of pure morality. 



The Bible. 



The Bible is the sole defence of weak minds 

 against the contagion of example. 



False Religions. 



To rear up or maintain a false religion, in the pre- 

 sent state of knowledge, has become absolutely im- 

 possible. 



Voltaire. 



With strong perceptions of moral excellence and 

 elevation, Voltaire was little and mean in his conduct, 

 a victim to petty passions and caprices, never at rest 

 either in body or mind, never tranquil, never sedate. 

 If he was a philosopher, it was in his opinions, never 

 in his actions. His physiognomy, partaking of the 

 eagle and monkey, was indicative of his disposition : 

 to the fire and rapidity of the bird, uniting the mis- 

 chievous and malignant propensities of the ape. 



