RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY. 39 



" (being the results of the operation of circumstances upon the 

 " mental constitution of each individual according to fixed 

 " laws) are to be regarded, like the phenomena of the Physical 

 " Universe, as the expressions of the will of the Creator," and 

 (§ I08) "that all the actions of the human mind are as 

 "much the expressions of the Divine will as are the opera- 

 "tions of man's bodily frame, or the movements of the 

 "heavenly bodies." Where all mental operations are but 

 the working out of the Divine plan, the belief in our own 

 freedom is, of course, a part of that plan. " Hence we are 

 "to ourselves perfectly free. We do as we wish, notwith- 

 " standing that our volitions are all the necessary results of 

 " our constitution and circumstances, and are prearranged 

 " by Deity." 



We must in consequence (argued Dr. Carpenter) recognize 

 in the phenomena of mind the same determinateness as in 

 those of physics and vitality. The difficulty which affects us 

 in regard to the prediction of them is precisely that which 

 affects the meteorologist, viz. a very imperfect acquaintance 

 with the conditions under which the phenomena occur. If 

 these conditions are fully known, the result may be accurately 

 predicted. 



This absolute abandonment of all individual causation, 

 which was thus merged in the only true self in the whole 

 universe — namely, God — required an immediate revision of 

 the meaning of the common terms of the moral conscious- 

 ness. The current ideas of responsibility, merit, guilt, all 

 disappeared. With them passed away, likewise, the ordi- 

 nary view of rewards and punishments, and all justification 

 for the doctrine of eternal torments. 



It cannot be regarded as consistent with either the justice 

 or the benevolence of the Deity (concluded Dr. Carpenter) that 

 he sliould, by the infliction of additional suffering, as a retribti- 

 tio7i for acts which are really his own, increase the burden 



