fessors.

Let a just view be taken of the moral principles inculcated by the most
esteemed of the sects of ancient philosophy, or of their individuals;
particularly Pythagoras, Socrates, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca,
Antoninus.

I. Philosophers. 1. Their precepts related chiefly to ourselves, and
the government of those passions which, unrestrained, would disturb our
tranquillity of mind.* In this branch of philosophy they were really
great.

* To explain, I will exhibit the heads of Seneca's and Cicero's
philosophical works, the most extensive of any we have received from
the ancients. Of ten heads in Seneca, seven relate to ourselves, viz. de
ira, consolatio, de tranquillitate, de constantia sapientis, de otio
sapientis, de vita beata, de brevitate vitae; two relate to others,
de clementia, de beneficiis; and one relates to the government of
the world, de pruvidentia. Of eleven tracts of Cicero, five respect
ourselves, viz. definibus, Tusculana, academica, paradoxa, de senectute,
one, de officiis, relates partly to ourselves, partly to others; one, de
amicitia, relates to others; and four are on different subjects, to wit,
de natura deorum, de dimnatione, defato, and somnium Scipionis.

2. In developing our duties to others, they were short and defective.
They embraced, indeed, the circles of kindred and friends, and
inculcated patriotism, or the love of our country in the aggregate, as
a primary obligation: towards our neighbors and countrymen they taught
justice, but scarcely viewed them as within the circle of benevolence.
Still less have they inculcated peace, charity, and love to our
fellow-men, or embraced with benevolence the whole family of mankind.

II. Jews. 1. Their system was Deism; that is, the belief in one only
God. But their ideas of him and of his attributes were degrading and
injurious.

2. Their Ethics were not only imperfect, but often irreconcilable with
the sound dictates of reason and morality, as they respect intercourse
with those around us; and repulsive and anti-social, as respecting other
nations. They needed reformation, therefore, in an eminent degree.

III. Jesus. In this state of things among the Jews, Jesus appeared.
His parentage was obscure; his condition poor; his education null; his
natural endowments great; his life correct and innocent: he was
meek, benevolent, patient, firm, disinterested, and of the sublimest
eloquence.

The disadvantages under which his doct