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lost ; and there has been, in addition to that, all that could be gained in 
intellectual character and social refinement, and that has produced, from ge- 
neration to generation, a higher development of the nicer and more exquisite 
proprieties of Christian morality and intercourse than is often found in 
those who have, if I may so say, the truth and the root of the matter. If 
we had more of that completeness of development of all that is included 
in Christian ethics, and if that were brought out fully in sermons, made 
clear and level with the understanding of the people, who wish to know 
what is right, and to do it ; if we were to explain where and why a thing 
is wrong, and then were to preach the golden rule, we should have in 
future a much higher system of morality — of commercial, social, civic, and 
popular morality, them we have at present. Our children often desire to 
do what is right, but they do not know what is wrong until we tell them 
how one thing bears upon another, and their conscience then gets enlight- 
ened, and they act properly. On the same principle we should deal with 
persons who have fewer advantages than many of us in regard to culture ; 
and I am certain that from a complete system of Christian ethics there 
would arise an increase of Christian propriety, refinement, and sensibility, 
such as we have never found hitherto. These are the remarks which I 
■wished chiefly to make, and I hope that when Dr. Irons brings forward the 
paper of which he has given notice, we may see our way to throwing out 
some principles on wdiich we may work at the subject, both en masse and 
in detail, and have as the result a really practical contribution to the science 
of Christian ethics. 
Rev. W. Mitchell. — I so thoroughly agree with Dr. Rigg that I am 
sure he misunderstood my application of the history of Joseph. When I 
spoke of the temptation of J oseph I was referring to what I considered a 
great historical phenomenon, and that is, the power of the teaching of the 
Holy Scriptures in making men moral men. Of course I agree with Dr. 
Rigg that it was not from the Scriptures that Joseph had his knowledge ; he 
had it from association with his forefathers, who were men who knew God in 
a way that very few of us do. Remember he was only great-grandson of 
the man who had walked with God as a friend, and therefore I presume to 
say that J oseph had a knowledge of God’s nature and holiness that few of us 
possess, even with the blessed influences that we have of the Holy Spirit of 
God. I merely say this in explanation, for I should be sorry to have it sup* 
posed that I do not agree with what Dr. Rigg has said. And now let me 
say one word more. If we had a complete system of ethical philosophy 
philosophically drawn out, I am extremely doubtful whether people would 
be mere moral than they are now. I believe the most unwholesome reading 
which any one may have is a guide book on cases of conscience, and I do not 
think such a book would improve my morality. I cannot help thinking that 
the great majority of casuists, writing on cases of conscience, only teach men, 
not the purest morals, but the lowest degree of morality, by showing them 
how near they may go to sin without actually touching it. 
