- Contents
- Preface
- Lecture 1
- Lecture 2
- Lecture 3
- Lecture 4
- Lecture 5
- Lecture 6
- Lecture 7
- Lecture 8
- Lecture 9
- Lecture 10
- Lecture 11
- Lecture 12
- Lecture 13
- Lecture 14
- Lecture 15
- Lecture 16
- Lecture 17
- Lecture 18
- Lecture 19
- Lecutre 20
- Lecture 21
- Lecture 22
- Lecture 23
- Lecture24
- Lecture 25
- Lecture 26
- Lecture 27
- Lecture 28
- Lecture 29
- Lecture 30
- Lecture 31
- Lecture 32
- Lecture 33
- Lecture 34
- Lecture 35
- Lecture 36
- Lecture 37
- Lecture 38
- Lecture 39
- Lecture 40
- Lecture 41
- Lecture 42
Lecture 22 Lecture XXII.
Moral Government.–No. 1.
First. Define Moral Government.
Second. Show what is implied in it.
First. Define Moral Government.
1. Moral Government, when opposed to physical, is the government of mind in opposition to the government of matter.
2. It is a government of motive or moral suasion, in opposition to a government of force.
3. Moral Government is the influence of moral considerations over the minds of moral agents.
4. Moral Government, in its most extensive sense, includes the whole influence of God’s character as revealed in his works, providence, and word, over the universe of moral beings. It includes whatever influence God exerts to control the minds of moral agents, in conformity with the eternal principles of righteousness.
Second. Show what is implied in Moral Government.
1. Moral Government cannot be an end, but a means; and therefore implies and end, to which it sustains the relation of a means.
2. All rightful Moral Government implies that the end to which it sustains the relation of a means is good.
3. Rightful Moral Government implies the mutual dependence of both the ruler and the subject upon this means for the promotion of the desired end.
4. Moral Government, therefore, implies a necessity for its existence.
5. It implies that both the ruler and the ruled are moral agents.
6. It implies the existence of moral law.
7. It implies that both the ruler and the ruled are under a moral obligation, to obey the law, so far as it is applicable to the circumstances of each.
8. It implies the existence of a ruler who has a right to enforce moral obligation.
9. It implies that the ruler is under moral obligation to do this.