and children, to be assembled together in one place, and to be surrounded with armed soldiers. Every one was in the greatest fear, conscious how much they had injured him, and expecting every moment to be put to death. It is not surprising, therefore, that they were overwhelmed with joy and admiration when they heard him, with a magnanimity honourable to human nature, thus address them: "I wish to convince you, oh Athenians, how ungenerously you have treated me; for it was not to an enemy that your assistance was refused, but to a prince who loved you, who still loves you, and who wishes to revenge self only by granting your pardon, and being still your friend. Return to your homes; while you have been here, my soldiers have been filling your houses with provisions."

him

It may with propriety be added here, that the duty of a sincere and unlimited forgiveness, even under the most trying circumstances, is clearly recognised and enjoined in the Christian system. And one of the earliest professors of that system gave a practical exhibition of the obligation attending it. When the martyr Stephen was stoned to death by a cruel and infuriated multitude, as he cast his dying eyes upward to the heavens and the visible throne of the Almighty, his prayer was not, in the language of an old Roman, "Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, and dash them to pieces;" but, in a far more generous and sublime temper of soul, he cried, with a last and loud voice, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

THE SENSIBILITIES.

PART SECOND.

THE MORAL SENSIBILITIES, OR CONSCIENCE.

MORAL OR CONSCIENTIOUS SENTIMENTS.

CLASS SECOND.

FEELINGS OF MORAL OBLIGATION.

CHAPTER I.

EXISTENCE OF OBLIGATORY OR OBLIGATIVE FEELINGS.

§ 250. Feelings of moral obligation distinct from feelings of moral approval and disapproval.

It was remarked in a former chapter that the MorIT al Sensibilities or Conscience would be found, on an examination of its elements, to resolve itself into two classes of feelings, viz., Moral Emotions, and Obligatory feelings, or feelings of Moral Obligation. Having remarked, so far as seemed to be necessary, upon Moral Emotions, viz., the feelings of moral approval and disapproval, which are all the states of mind which properly come under that head, and also upon some of those collateral subjects which seemed to be particularly connected with them, we are now prepared to proceed to the consideration of the second class, viz., Obligatory feelings, or, if a single term be preferred, Obligations.

It is proper to remark here, that this class of mental states, considered as a separate and distinct class, has received but little notice in philosophical systems; having generally been confounded, under the familiar designations of conscience and the moral sense, with the moral emotions which have already been considered. On this account, therefore, and also for the reason that they have an important connexion with the actual operations and with the philosophy of the Will, it will be necessary to examine them with some degree of care.

§ 251. Proof of the existence of obligatory feelings from consciousness. Our first inquiry relates to the actual and distinct existence of the states of mind which now come under consideration. The existence of feelings of this description is evinced, in the first place, by our own conSCIOUSNESS. We might safely appeal to the internal