RELIGION AND MORALS.
Religion and Morals, though not identical, are so closely related that they are grouped together. The books in Column 1 by no means exhaust these subjects, for they run like threads of gold through the whole warp and woof of poetry. Philosophy, fiction, and fable, biography, history, and essays, oratory and humor, seem rather satellites that attend upon moral feelings than independent orbs, and even science is not dumb upon these all-absorbing topics. If we are to be as broad-minded in our religious views as we seek to be in other matters, we must become somewhat acquainted with the worship of races other than our own. This may be done through Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, Confucius, Buddha, the Vedas, Koran, Talmud, Edda, Sagas, Beowulf, Nibelungenlied, Shah Nameh, etc. (which are all in some sense "Bibles," or books that have grown out of the hearts of the people), and through general works, such as Clarke's "Ten Great Religions."
[1] Especially Job, and Psalms 19, 103, 104, 107, in the Old Testament; and in the New the four Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistles. (m. R. D. C. G.)
[2] Next to the Bible, probably no book is so much read by the English peoples as Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," a simple, vivid, helpful story of Christian life and its obstacles. No writer has so well portrayed the central truths of Christianity as this great, untrained, imaginative genius, pouring his life upon the deathless pages of his poetic allegory during the twelve long years in the latter part of the 17th century, when he was imprisoned, under the Restoration, merely because of his religious principles. (e. R. D.)
[3] Taylor's "Holy Living and Dying" is a wise, frank talk about the care of our time, purity of intention, practice of the presence of God, temperance, justice, modesty, humility, envy, contentedness, etc. Some portions of the first hundred and fifty pages are of the utmost practical value. Even Ruskin admits that Taylor and Bunyan are rightly placed among the world's best. (Eng., 17th cent.—m. R. D.)
[4] "Imitation of Christ" is a sister book to the last, written in the 15th century by Thomas à Kempis, a German monk, of pure and beautiful life and thought. It is a world-famous book, having been translated into every civilized language, and having passed through more than five hundred editions in the present century. (m. R. D.)
[5] Spencer's "Data of Ethics" is one of the most important books in literature, having to the science of ethics much the same relation as Newton's "Principia" to astronomy, or Darwin's "Origin of Species" to biology. Note especially the parts concerning altruistic selfishness, the morality of health, and the development of moral feeling in general. (Eng., 19th cent.—d. R. D. G.) Spencer's "First Principles" is also necessary to an understanding of the scientific religious thinking of the day. In connection with Spencer's works, "The Idea of God" and the "Destiny of Man," by Fiske, may be read with profit. The author of these books is in large part a follower and expounder of Spencer.
[6] The "Meditations" of M. Aurelius is a book that is full of deep, pure beauty and philosophy; one of the sweetest influences that can be brought into the life, and one of Canon Farrar's twelve favorites out of all literature. (Rome, 2d cent.—m. R. D.)
[7] Plutarch's "Morals" supplied much of the cream used by Taylor in the churning that produced the "Holy Living and Dying." Emerson says that we owe more to Plutarch than to all the other ancients. Many great authors have been indebted to him,—Rabelais, Montaigne, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, Shakspeare, Bacon, and Dryden, among the number. Plutarch's "Morals" is a treasure-house of wisdom and beauty. There is a very fine edition with an introduction by Emerson. (Rome, 1st cent.—m. R. D.)
[8] Seneca's "Morals" is a fit companion of the preceding six books, full of deep thought upon topics of every-day import, set out in clear and forceful language. The Camelot Library contains a very good selection from his ethical treatises and his delightful letters, which are really moral essays. (Rome, 1st cent.—m. R. D.)
[9] Epictetus was another grand moralist, the teacher of Marcus Aurelius. Next to Bunyan and Kempis, the books of these great stoics, filled as they are with the serenity of minds that had made themselves independent of circumstance and passion, have the greatest popularity accorded to any ethical works. Epictetus was a Roman slave in the 1st century a. d. (m. R. D.)
[10] The little book on "Tolerance" by Phillips Brooks ought to be read by every one. See Table III. side No. [23]. The sermons of Dr. Brooks and of Robertson are among the most helpful and inspiring reading we know. Drummond's "Natural Law in the Spiritual World" is a book of ingenious and often poetic analogies between the physical and spiritual worlds. If read as poetry, no fault can be found with it; but the reader must be careful to test thoroughly the laws laid down, and make sure that there is some weightier proof than mere analogy, before hanging important conclusions on the statements of this author. A later book by Drummond entitled "The Greatest Thing in the World" is also worthy of attention. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[11] "Areopagitica." A noble plea for liberty of speech and press. (Eng., early 17th cent.)
[12] Keble's beautiful "Christian Year."
[13] Cicero's "Offices" is a very valuable ethical work. It directs a young Roman how he may attain distinction and the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Its underlying principles are of eternal value, and its arrangement is admirable. Dr. Peabody's translation is the best. (Rome, 1st cent. b. c.)
[14] "Pensées." Pascal's "Thoughts" are known the world over for their depth and beauty. (France, 17th cent.)
[15] "The Perfect Life" and other works. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[16] Ethics. (Greece, 4th cent. b. c.)
[17] "Confessions" and "The City of God." (Rome, 4th cent.)
[18] Analogy of Religion. (Eng., 18th cent.)
[19] Ethics and theologico-political speculation. (Dutch, 17th cent.)