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39

By the reduction condensation of the virtues to into two – that is
into prudence & effective benevolence, let it not be supposed that any
real, – substantial, – or useful virtue is removed from the moral field.
Wretched would be the task of that moralist who should seek to
destroy a virtue – & deplorable would be his success. If however, after
the most scrutinizing & severe examination it is discovered that
whatever exists of virtue is really a part of one of these two
great branches – the discovery is equivalent to those great advances
that have been made in Chemical science by the reduction of the
infinite variety of compounds to a few simple elementary substances.
And the time perhaps will hardly be deemed uselessly employed
that is engaged in reviewing those moral qualities which from
time immemorial – at all events from the time of Aristotle, have
put in their claims to be placed on the list of virtues. It is in some respects
to repeat what has been urged before yet until the false, imperfect & ambiguous virtues are moved aside, room will
not be so easily found for the true and legitimate virtues. And the repetition may be excused on the score of its necessity for
clearing away incumbrances & preparing the field for the introduction of true a genuine & practical morality.

1 Piety – by which is understood reverence for the Divine Being –
exhibiting itself in obedience to his will. Reverence can only
have its source in a high estimate of the his attributes – especially
of the attributes of wisdom – power – & goodness. Now to what
purpose can these attributes be directed so that they may harmonize
but to the production of happiness. What other object can infinite
goodness propose to itself – what can infinite wisdom be so efficiently
engaged in as the discovery of the fittest means – & how should
infinite power being allied to wisdom & to goodness give evidence
of its existence but in the accomplishment of this great end.
In what situation then does man stand to the Divinity? In
what way can he best serve, – in what way can he best give
evidence of that piety which consists in obedience Surely by furthering the great objects proposed by the divine being – surely
by work laboring in the same Field – the field of benevolence.
And on whom can his benevolence be exerted? Only on himself and
others. To himself & others then all his powers of usefulness
are confined. Beyond these he has no sphere of action. What
is piety therefore disassociated from prudence & benevolence –
a mere empty sound.

Identifier: | JB/015/364/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	364	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f39
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5580
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