| Page | |
| Introduction | [ix] |
| Chap. I. The Grand Questions of Life | [9] |
| Chap. II. The Principles of Reason, or Intuitive Truths | [14] |
| Chap. III. Sources of Human Knowledge | [29] |
| Chap. IV. Of the Knowledge gained by Human Experience inregard to the Nature of Mind and of the System of which itis a Part | [32] |
| Chap. V. Knowledge gained by Reason and Experience aloneas to a Future State | [42] |
| Chap. VI. Knowledge gained by Reason and Experience aloneconcerning the Existence, Character, and Designs of theCreator | [47] |
| Chap. VII. Diversities in Systems of Mental Philosophy | [52] |
| Chap. VIII. Classification and Description of the Mental Powers | [59] |
| Chap. IX. Sensation and Perception | [64] |
| Chap. X. Conception and Memory | [79] |
| Chap. XI. Attention and Abstraction | [83] |
| Chap. XII. Association | [93] |
| Chap. XIII. Imagination | [102] |
| Chap. XIV. Judgment | [106] |
| Chap. XV. The Susceptibilities | [109] |
| Chap. XVI. The Susceptibilities. Emotions of Taste | [120] |
| Chap. XVII. The Moral Susceptibilities | [139] |
| Chap. XVIII. The Will | [149] |
| Chap. XIX. Faith or Belief | [165] |
| Chap. XX. Constitutional Varieties of the Human Mind | [175] |
| Chap. XXI. Habit | [178] |
| Chap. XXII. Mind as Proof of its Creator's Designs | [190] |
| Chap. XXIII. Social and Material Proofs of the Creator's Designs | [207] |
| Chap. XXIV. Right Mode of securing the Object for whichMind was created | [212] |
| Chap. XXV. Wrong Action of Mind and its Causes | [220] |
| Chap. XXVI. Wrong Action of Mind and its Results in thisLife | [224] |
| Chap. XXVII. Wrong Action of Mind and its Results in a FutureState | [233] |
| Chap. XXVIII. Character of the Creator | [245] |
| Chap. XXIX. On Perfect and Imperfect Minds | [250] |
| Chap. XXX. On the probable Existence and Character of DisembodiedSpirits | [258] |
| Chap. XXXI. Probabilities in regard to a Revelation from theCreator | [261] |
| Chap. XXXII. Interpretation of Language | [265] |
| Addenda to Vol. I. | [281] |
| Notes | [337] |
INTRODUCTION.
This work is the result of thirty years of devotion to the training of the human mind for the great end for which it was created. Early in that period it was felt that at the very foundation of such efforts were opposing theological theories, that seemed at war with both the common sense and the moral sense of mankind.
In the progress of such duties, a work was prepared on Mental and Moral Science, as a text-book for the institution under the care of the writer, which was printed, but never published. After submitting this work to the criticism of a number of the leading minds of various schools and sects, it was found to contain so much that might result in theological controversy, that it was deemed modest and wise to wait until age, experience, and farther examination had lent their maturing influence.
After a delay of over a quarter of a century, the conviction above stated not only remains, but has been strengthened by the discussions and developments that have intervened in that period.
While the great practical truths both of natural and revealed religion have seemed constantly to be gaining a more controlling influence over the intellect and feelings of mankind, the theological dogmas referred to have been more and more evaded or rejected, even by those who receive and respect the Bible as containing authentic and authoritative revelations from God.
At the same time, there is apparent a manifest and strong tendency, especially among the young and most highly-educated of both sexes, to infidelity; not to that species of a former age which involved a hatred and contempt for the Bible, nor to the entire rejection of it as a very respectable and useful collection of most interesting writings, but to a rejection of it as a sure and authoritative guide in faith and morals.
Though there may be other assignable causes for this, it is certain that not the least powerful is the repellency of dogmas claimed to be contained in the Bible, which are revolting both to the intellect and to the moral nature of man.