79 
Many of his statements are too broad. It also seems to me 
that some of his omissions have rendered his treatment of 
portions of his subject imperfect in breadth of philosophical 
thought ; and from some of his conclusions I entirely dissent. 
I will select, as an example to which these remarks are 
applicable, the mode in which he has treated the question of 
patriotism and Christianity. Let it be understood, however, 
that I wish to speak of Mr. Lecky ; s important work with deep 
respect. It is the product of a mind which is deeply convinced 
that truth exists, and which evidently seeks to discover it. 
72. Mr. Lecky seems to be of opinion that this virtue has 
received no recognition in Christian ethics. . At the same 
time, he takes a most favourable view of it as it is taught by 
heathen moralists, and of the place assigned to it in their 
systems. We must not forget, however, that while he pro- 
nounces this censure, he expresses the warmest sympathy 
with that portion of Christian teaching which sets on a firm 
basis the principle of the universal brotherhood of mankind. 
I have selected this special virtue for consideration because, 
according to the general view of Mr. Mill, and to some of 
his positive assertions, I apprehend that he maintains that 
Christianity, taken as a whole, is unfavourable to the existence 
of the political virtues ; and not only so, but that it is only 
through the elaboration of a type of virtue different in character 
from that on which Christianity has set the seal of her highest 
approbation, that the moral improvement of mankind can be 
effected, and that this is imperatively called for by the wants 
of modern society. 
73. In the first place, I deny that in Mr. Lecky s sense ot 
the term, the New Testament contains a system of ethics, or 
that it was intended to do so. He uses the words, not in the 
sense of an elaboration of the great principles of obligation 
applicable to all circumstances, but very nearly in that of a 
code of morals, or, at any rate, of a complete system of 
ethical doctrine. If my view of the moral teaching of 
Christianity is correct, there is no necessity that the. virtue 
of patriotism should have obtained any distinct recognition in 
it ; "and under the special circumstances of the times it was 
highly desirable that, if noticed at all, the reference to it 
should have been a very general one. I admit that little or 
nothing is said in the New Testament directly bearing on it, 
though a reference to it is not so entirely wanting as Mr. 
Lecky seems to suppose. Still, there is no attempt to apply 
the great principles of obligation to this specific virtue, or 
to enforce it by exhortation. On the contrary, the efforts to 
restrain and keep in due subordination the principles on which 
