45 
philosophical. On the province of theology proper I do not 
intend to trespass. I intend not to proceed a step beyond 
the bounds of a strictly rational inquiry. If theology embraces 
subjects beyond the legitimate limits of reason, I shall not 
attempt to enter on them. I purpose to consider the subject 
by the licrht of reason and philosophy alone. I am careful to 
state this, that no one may mistake the standpoint which I 
occupy in this paper. 
3. The popular idea of moral philosophy is, that its function 
is to determine a complete code of human duties, and that one 
portion of it involves us in the endless mazes of the pmlo- 
sophy of casuistry. Most persons, if asked what was the end 
and aim of this science, would show, by the vagueness of their 
answers, that a greater ignorance prevails of its objects than 
of almost any other subject of human knowledge. -Perhaps 
the general impression would be, that its proper function is to 
reply to the question, what is duty, and to enable us to apply 
this general knowledge to particular cases as they arise. -Re- 
flection, however, ought speedily to convince us, that even if this 
were its proper function, it is impossible to give an adequate 
solution of this question without descending to far profounder 
subjects of inquiry. It is impossible to separate the analysis of 
morality in man from the investigation of those forces which 
act on his moral and spiritual nature. If these are to be suc- 
cessfully analyzed, an inquiry into the relation m which they 
stand to reason is inevitable. As all moral actions are affected 
by the circumstances under which they are performed, the 
attempt to embrace them under a system of rules is one to 
which no definite limits can be assigned, and must end m dis- 
appointment. Nothing is more destructive of vitality of action 
than the attempt to regulate all possible acts by a definite 
code of laws. The reason of this is, that the form of morality 
in man to which his nature ultimately points is, not the crea- 
tion of a moral machine capable of grinding out certain results 
with the precision of the working of a mill, but the produc- 
tion of a self-acting voluntary power, which is capable of 
being a law unto itself. . „ , . 
4. It would give a more correct idea of the aims of this 
science if it were described as that whose proper function is 
to analyze the entire active powers of the mind, to ascer- 
tain their proper function, the forces by which they are quick- 
ened into energy, and the causes of their misdirection and 
corruption. . ... 
5. Such a science ought to be no more confounded with 
metaphysics than any other. There is no science in existence 
which does not run up into metaphysical questions ; but each 
