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so proving their alleged contradictions to be really such, or 
else disproving the conclusions by a reductio ad absurdum ? 
What, as Christians, we must wish to know, is, Why we are 
to give up Christianity as the best rule of morals, and to have 
recourse to Utilitarianism ? But in the meantime, waiving 
this point, and content with having stated it, let us follow 
Mr. Mill briefly in his advocacy of Utilitarianism upon its 
merits. 
It claims to be “ the Greatest Happiness Principle.” But 
then does not the Christian system, proclaiming “ Peace on 
earth and goodwill to men ” — or as some translate the phrase, 
“ Peace to men of good will ” — put forward a prior claim to 
having enunciated “ the greatest happiness principle ” ? 
Utilitarianism claims that its “ ultimate end, with reference 
to and for the sake of which all other things are desirable 
(whether we are considering our own good or that of other 
people), is an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, 
and as rich as possible in enjoyments, both in point of quantity 
and quality .” And what, pray, is the teaching of the whole 
Bible, Old Testament and New, and what the main thesis of 
Bishop Butler’s Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion , 
but this ? In the Old Testament we have blessing and 
cursing, or happiness and the contrary, put before men as the 
great “ end ” of true morality or obedience to God’s will. The 
paths of the just or wise or virtuous are described as paths of 
pleasantness and peace ; and again, as “ the ultimate end,” it 
is declared that “ at God’s right hand there are pleasures for 
evermore.” And we have the simple principle, “Love God 
first, and thy neighbour as thyself,” coupled in the New 
Testament with the equally simple yet comprehensive rule of 
action, “ Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, 
do ye even so unto them, for this is the law and the prophets.” 
But the law and the prophets and the gospel, from the first 
to the last book of revelation, are also full of “ the Greatest 
Happiness principle,” culminating in the description of the 
joys of heaven in the Apocalypse, where there shall be no 
more death, where sorrow and sighing shall flee away, and 
where all tears shall be wiped from all eyes. And the means 
to this end are love to God and man, as principles, and the 
practice of universal benevolence, including justice, mercy, 
kindness, and whatsoever things are lovely or of good report. 
Now, why is this to be rejected ? We find nothing superior 
or at all equal to it in the Greatest Happiness Principle of 
Utilitarianism. It we also find to be defective as regards its 
foundation, since it “ cannot prove pleasure to be good and 
in fact its author almost admits that some pleasures are not 
