EXPLANATION of the Author's views in writing LETTER III. Same subject continued-Idea of accountableness-How first acquired-Accountableness to God-The importance of this principle illustrated-Necessary to all-Peculiarly necessary to the Great.... ..26 LETTER IV. A belief in the presence of God, a practical principle, necessarily connected with the idea of accountableness-The comfort arising from this belief in the presence of the Deity-Confidence which it inspires in God, as watching over our temporal and eternal welfare.....43 LETTER V. Same subject continued-Advantages resulting from the early cultivation of feelings and habits of devotion-Prayer Considered as a mean of fixing a sense of the Divine Presence in the mind-The reason why it sometimes fails in producing this effect-Advantages of studying the works of God in the volume of creationNatural history recommended... ............、、-55 LETTER LETTER VI. Examination of the principles of truth and Justice-Tendency of the passions to mislead from truth-Belief in the presence of God the best security against being thus misled-Principles of honour, when founded merely on a regard to the opinion of the world, how little to be depended on-A sense of the Divine Presence essential to the formation of a strict principle of justice. ....73 LETTER VII. Consideration of the objections commonly urged against the practice of sincerity-Sincerity not incompatible with politeness-Of dissimulation in its various modifications-All dissimulation repugnant to moral rectitude of the obligation to justice and candour in forming an estimate of the merits of others-Of the turpitude of detraction and calumny-Of the perverse misrepresentations arising from misconception and inaccuracy-Of the spùrious candour subversive of moral principleAdvantages attending the practice of charity and forbearance Of the common propensity to receive impressions to the prejudice of others -Various sources of this propensity in different characters-Shewn to be inimical to moral improvement Of the supposed disadvantages resulting from the opposite propensity-A tendency to receive favourable impressions of others, productive of the benevolent affections, and conducive to happiness--Of the obligation to make a proper use of influence-Of different degrees of influence-Of the personal influence common to individuals in every situation in life Of the influence derived from birth, fortune, rank, talents, virtue Of the relative duties attached to the acquisition of influence -Its important operation in society-Of the obligation to resist motives of a selfish nature-Personal satire--Why objectionable-The practice of self-denial essential to a strict observance of the principles of justice.....91 弗 Importance of forming a correct standard of ... moral rectitude-Necessity of regulating the conduct by fixed principles-Immoral and unjust actions produced in feeble characters by the want of fixed principles- Illustration by a familiar narrative... 121 LETTER |