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Captain Fishbourne— I may observe with reference to that objection to 
Dr. Thornton’s remarks, that the paper distinctly mentioned as one of the 
defects in the theory, acknowledged by Mr. Mill himself, that it requires to 
draw from Christianity ; and, if he does that, he must admit the propriety 
of any opponent appealing to that system he draws from. With respect to 
those attacks made on Christianity, they have one general characteristic,— -the 
persons who attack it evince the most profound ignorance as to what Chris- 
tianity is ; and when they are shown to be wrong, they give a different 
interpretation to their expressions, in order to get out of the difficulty, and 
say that “ We do not understand them.” Now we can fairly retort, and can 
make it obvious to any one, that they are essentially wrong, and do not really 
understand Christianity. To take one illustration that is patent to all, in 
which this system that Mr. Mill proposes, of making happiness a test, is utterly 
wrono- and false. Happiness, he says, is a test of what is right. Why, the 
whole moral government of God is impeached by this. The whole of the 
physical difficulties, the physical suffering in the world, is all remedial, 
and although all painful, is intended to be good in its issue. If we go into 
a hospital, I could show him there the result of Christian principle as a fact 
—deal with it as he will.— I would take him in there, and we should see 
persons under the power of Christian principle, raising them altogether above 
the sense of pain to a certain extent ; so much so that they would not be with- 
out pain, because of the superabundant enjoyment which they get from the 
realization of that Divine power and presence which accompanies the pain, and 
lifts them above themselves and surrounding circumstances. (Hear, hear.) 
You will find Christians at the present moment at the East End of London, 
and I could show there persons without a single outward condition that con- 
stitutes, in his estimate, happiness, yet enjoying all the feelings of happiness , 
and they would despise anything he could offer as a substitute for the con- 
dition in which they are living, though bereft of everything— of ah the con- 
ditions which he would say are indispensable for happiness. He breaks down 
in these cases in every phase. I think we must congratulate Mr. Reddle 
upon the not only dispassionate, but I would say far more than dispassionate 
tone, towards Mr. Mill ; for Mr. Reddie really gives him credit where he does 
not deserve it. Here is a passage, for instance, in which he has given him 
credit for Christian principle ; but I do not think Mr. Mill understands it 
himself,— “ The feeling of unity to be taught as a religion.” But how is the 
feeling to exist unless the unity has taken place ? How can there be the 
feeling of unity if there is not unity ? Then there is a power in Christianity 
which produces unity, which no mere human system can do. It is a Divine 
power ; a Christian united to Christ is united to God, united to all 
Christians ; but there is no human system that can prodace that. Now, ail 
that is overlooked ; there is nothing to contrast with it, and yet Mr. Mid s 
ignorance of this induces him to set forward his system or theory, because he 
is utterly ignorant of what Christianity is, — because he won’t see what 
evidences there are to be seen by any man in any country like tnis where 
Christianity is preached. 
