and that its practice was not euforced, till the time of Jesus Christ. This divine personage, it is pretended, was the first who taught mankind their true happiness: that virtue alone constituted the summum bonum of felicity, and that vice was ultimately the true punisher of itself. The Greeks and Romans are stigmatized as barbarous nations, as having been enveloped in the misty clouds of idolatrous worship, and their judgment perverted by the debasing effects of a superstitious and senseless theology. Being so situated, of necessity the mutual relationship between man and man, the reciprocity of affection, of truth, and of justice, and the grand fundamental principles between right and wrong, were altogether foreign to the ideas, and undisplayed in the actions, of those ancient Heathens. Unfortunately for Christian veracity, and most opportunely for the cause of truth in general, historical documents have been transmitted to us by the very people just mentioned, and from others equally calumniated, to negative the assertion of their immorality, and to prove the falsity of Evangelical detractions. The chronological and historical data which are extant upon this important subject are so unquestionably genuine, that few will be found to doubt their veracity, -and still fewer to pay any attention to those who do. The intention of this brief statement is to show that the science of ethics was not unknown to the ancients; that sentiments the most honourable, and morality the most pure, are observable throughout the precepts of the philosophers, and strenuously enforced as well by the lives as by the arguments and assumptions of those teachers. Christian advocates have pretended to believe, and have roundly asserted, that all morality owes its existence to the Gospel, and that whatsoever of goodness and of virtue is to be found elsewhere is entirely attributable to the Scriptural writings of the New Testament. To the shame and discomfiture however of these gratuitous falsehood-mongers, dates clearly and unequivocally prove, that so far from there being the least veracity in their statements, they are most wicked and wilful lies, circulated for the purpose of keeping up. in its full-blown vigour, the most cruel and persecuting system of religion which has ever disgraced its professors and insulted the understanding of mankind. By putting this extinguisher upon all free enquiry, they have hoped to impede the steady and persevering march after truth, in which all nations are now more or less engaged, by throwing in the way the deceptive barriers of mis-statements, calumny, and cant; by calls upon the feelings, rather than the reason; by appeals to the prejudices, not to the sense. Fain would they also blind us as to what has been, willingly would they pluck out knowledge from the mind-but dates, dates are the stubborn witnesses of truth. A chronological and comparative table is here subjoined: Some of the moral doctrines and sentential aphorisms of PyTHAGORAS, the Samian philosopher and moralist, who lived, according to the most orthodox computation, at least between 5 and 600 years before Christ: but, according to many Heathen authors, he was in existence many hundred years before the time assigned. Virtue is divided into two branches, private and public; private virtue respects education, silence, sobriety, fortitude, prudence, and abstinence, The powers of the mind are reason and passion, and when the latter is under the government of the former, virtue is the result. Let young people be conducted into the best course of life, and habit will soon render it the most delightful. Young people should be early inured to subjection, that they may ever afterwards find it easy to submit to the authority of reason. A wise man will prepare himself for every thing which is not in his own power. Do what you judge to be right, whatever others may think of you; if you despise their praise, despise also their censure. Silence is better than idle, useless words. Sobriety is the strength of the soul, for it preserves reason unclouded by passion. It is inconsistent with fortitude to relinquish the station Some of the moral doctrines aud sentential aphorisms of SOCRATES, the Athenian philosopher and moralist, who flourished about 400 years before the Christian era; whose life was a model of extreme goodness and unsullied virtue; greatly respected by many during life, and honoured by all after death. Reckoned the greatest of all Heathen philosophers. Be wise and beneficial, because what wants reason wants respect. To be employed is good and beneficial, to be idle evil and hurtful. They that do good are employed; they that spend their time in vain and senseless recreations, are idle. To do good and to follow virtue is the best course of life. They are the best and most useful men, and most pleasing to the Almighty, who follow any art or calling; they who follow none are useless to the public and despised by God. A just man and a happy man are one. They who divide honesty and profit have done an unjust act; for they are truly wicked who forsake justice for worldly profit. Happiness consists in learning and virtue, not in the frail gifts of fortune. Virtue is the beauty, vice the deformity of the soul. In the life of man, as in an image, every part ought to be beautiful. They live without perturba Worship piously the gods. Reverence and honour thy parents, to whom are due many obligations. For the sake of justice, suffer any privations, and think no sacrifice too great. What you learn endeavour to understand; what you hear endeavour to know. In all thy knowledge, above all things endeavour to know thyself. When thou art a guest acknowledge it by kindness and Courtesy. Respect hospitality, and esteem them that exercise it towards thee. Relieve thy friends when in trouble. Govern thy anger, and let not rage get the better of thy reason. In thy worldly affairs exercise prudence, so shalt thou be esteemed by the wise, and by the neighbours. Do not accustom the tongue to swearing or profane dis course. Love friendship; a true Some of the moral and virtuous precepts taught by JESUS CHRIST to the Jews, and which, though in many instances are good and amiable, yet do not merit the appellation of divine, so presumptuously asserted by Christiaus, more than those of the other teachers of morality. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca" shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever saith "thou fool" shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away, When thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Judge not that ye be not judged; for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged. First cast out the beam from thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote from thy brother's eye. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. PYTHAGORAS. appointed by the SUPREME LORD, before we obtain his permission. No man ought to be esteemed free who has not the perfect command of himself. That which is good and becoming is rather to be pursued than that which is pleasant. The desire of superfluity is foolish because it knows no limits. All animal pleasures should rather be postponed than enjoyed before their time, and should only be enjoyed according to nature and sobriety. Wisdom and virtue are our best guard and defence; every other guard is weak and unsta ble. SOCRATES. tion who are conscious of having committed no evil. Envy is the saw of the soul. The performance of justice. and of all the other virtues is wisdom. A pious man is he who knows and does what is lawful towards the Gods: a just man is he who knows and practises what is just and honourable towards men. The greatest of all vices is ingratitude: the greatest of obligations is that towards parents. A disobedient child will never receive the blessing of God. A statue stands firm on its base: a virtuous man on his good resolutions. Abstain from sordid and unjust pleasures. Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions: but esteem those who correct thy faults. Good men must let the world see that their manners are more firm than to bear assaults. To the utmost of your ability relieve the necessities of your friend. They who violate friendship are wicked; though they may escape the punishment due to them by the world, yet they shall not escape the vengeance of God. The law is not made for the good, but only for evil-doers: good men's law is in their own clear conscience.. Thanksgiving is due to God, praise to good men. They who are undeservedly accused ought to be defended. SEVEN WISE MEN. friend is a jewel of precious value. In thy studies, and in thy moral conduct, apply thyself with diligence. Pursue glory with avidity, but with justice. Emulate wisdom wheresoever it is met the wise seeketh all occasions of improvement. Of all things which are good speak truly and well. Disparage none who practice virtue, and who endeavour to lead a life of truth and justice. Let virtue be thy constant praise, both in the thought and in the performance. Admire it; love it; reverence it. In all things let the strictest justice actuate thee; be just to all men, and justice will be done to thee. When thy friends are afflicted be kind to them: in their misfortune and misery console and comfort them. If thy enemies do evil towards thee revenge speedily the in juries which they have inflicted. Practise generosity, and let thy heart and purse be ever open to the poor and needy Rigorously abstain from all evil courses; loathe and detest them and ever exclaim against them. What is thine own keep scrupulously justice to thyself is demanded as well as to others. Let good words and honourable discourse be ever upon thy lips. Hear all things; none are so * CHRIST. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Honour thy father and thy mother; he that curseth father or mother let him die the death. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. Honour thy father and thy mother, and love thy neighbour as thyself. Render unto Cæsar the thing which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's. I was hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in. Naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison' and ye came unto me. Give and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down and shaken together; for with the same measure that you mete with all it shall be measured to you again. For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. He that is without sin let him cast the first stone. |