89 
course in strengthening with all her power the compassionate 
and kindlier feelings in man. 
93. If the authors of Christianity had intended to embody 
in it a complete system of ethical doctrine, I readily admit 
that many of those duties which political economy teaches, 
ought to have been more completely worked out, and to have 
been assigned a distinctive place and value in its teaching. 
But if we consider what this would have involved, the 
scientific aspect it must have assumed, and that it would have 
compelled Christianity to enter into the arena of discussions 
involving a political character, it will be at once apparent that 
it must have altered its entire form and character. It cannot 
be too carefully observed that Christianity, though highly 
philosophical, is not a philosophic system, and that her pur- 
pose is to create moral forces, not ethical systems. 
94. It seems to me that many of the remarks which may 
be found in the writings of Mr. Mill, which imply that there 
is a deficiency in the moral teaching of Christianity to meet 
the requirements of the present condition of society, are 
founded on a supposed opposition which exists between them 
and the principles of social science. If the previous reasoning 
is sound, Mr. Milks views are founded on the misconception 
that the design of Christianity is to elaborate a carefully 
adjusted system of ethical doctrine, instead of a body of moral 
principles and moral forces, nicely adapted to meet the actual 
wants of human nature. To effect the former is the proper 
function of philosophy. Another cause of the position taken 
by this class of thinkers in relation to the moral teaching of 
Christianity is, that they are of opinion that outward forces 
and circumstances act more powerfully on the improvement 
or deterioration of mankind than inward principles. The 
discussion of this would open on us a very wide subject, 
which it is impossible to enter on in the present paper. It is 
an unquestionable fact that in principle Christianity and this 
class of thinkers stand opposed as to the correct modes of 
operating on human nature. Christianity commences with 
that which is within, and operates from another externally ; not 
that she scorns the aid of the other method of procedure. 
The others would take the reverse course. Which of the two 
is the more philosophical, I think that past history determines 
with no very dubious voice. The truth is, the moral principles 
of Christian teaching render him who receives them ready for 
every good work. 
95. It would swell this paper into an undue length if I 
were to attempt to determine what is the precise teaching of 
