SELECTION.

II. Those reproved who substitute the letter for the spirit, or ceremonial observances for

that faith which produces purity in heart and life. Those who have received the

Spirit are no longer slaves or servants of God, but sons; and in this freedom and

holy relationship should stand

III. Those who do not walk according to the leadings of the Spirit may be known by the

carnality or moral impurities of their lives. Not formal piety, or professions,

or religious ceremonies are acceptable to God, but pure hearts, as manifest in

thoughts and lives that are pure

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS.

I. Through the agency of Jesus all partition walls between man and man are to be

broken down, and the whole human family brought to be partakers of the same

Spirit: thus all shall become fellow-citizens not only, but also common members of

the household of God

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228

230

II. Every true follower of Christ aspires to be perfect in wisdom and virtue; in order to

do this, all rivalary, hatred, anger, and moral impurities must be striven against

and overcome

III. Precepts of morality and religion, to be observed by all who profess to follow Christ

LETTER TO THE PHILLIPIANS.

232

I. Tribulations endured for truth's sake always result both in the advancement of truth,

and in the ennoblement of those who, in spite of tribulations, advocate or de-

fend it

II. Salvation from transgression and its dire results, can only be secured by great and

continued personal efforts. The righteousness of God, which was exhibited

in Christ, is the righteousness which all must laboriously seek

LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS.

I. Every true philanthropist seeks, even as did Christ Jesus, by love, sympathy, and con-

secrated labors to reconcile or to unite all mankind to God

II. Of the Divine fulness that was in Christ, we also should partake; and thus, like him,

be raised up above the world, from the power of transgression and death into en-

during spiritual life.

I.

The plainness and truthfulness of teaching which all faithful and wise instructors will

be constrained to use.

II. Death is but a falling off of the body, and a rising up of the soul; for this transforma-

tion all should be in constant readiness

LETTERS TO TIMOTHY.

I. God's true service is the service of love; only the rebellious and impure need the

compulsions of law

II. Some instructions as to what should be the character and what the teachings of a

minister of Christ

243

245

III. The simple teachings of Jesus concerning godliness, contentment, purity, and love, are

fundamental truths, and should be assented to by all

IV. Not to ease are Christ's followers called, but to struggle, service, and entire self-con-

secration

A SELECTION FROM THE LETTER TO TITUS.

1. Sound doctrine consists in teaching the practical virtues; such as sobriety, temper-

ance, humility, self-sacrifice, love, and holiness

LETTER TO THE HEBREWS.

SELECTION.

I. Jesus as son of God and brother of all men, having lived and died to teach and prom-

ulgate this relationship, has thereby rendered himself worthy of the highest grati-

tude and praise from all mankind

II.

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254

The glad tidings of a blessed immortality to those who love and practise holiness hav-
ing been more clearly revealed by Jesus than by any other teacher, he therefore is
worthy to be called the high-priest of God to men

III. Christianity an advance upon Judaism, inasmuch as direct faith or confidence in the

mercy of God has been substituted for ceremonial observances; and the law of

righteousness is revealed to each individual mind and heart, instead of through

oracles, priests, or written codes

IV. Under the new covenant which Jesus proclaimed, a higher standard of moral purity and

of humane consecrations is required of all; and, as an encouragement thereto,

confident faith in the attainment of eternal blessedness is presented

V. Every faithful advocate of righteousness must meet with oppositions, persecutions, and

various discouragements; but these are the disciplines of life, and, if patiently

endured, will develop nobleness and joy in the end

VI. Various precepts of fraternity and love

THE LETTER OF JAMES.

255

257

259

262

263

1. Though temptations to evil proceed from the lusts of the body, and not from God, yet

if resisted and overcome they will result in greater tranquillity and in a higher per-

II. Respect of persons on account of their material possessions rebuked; also the boasting

of faith when the life is not devout

III.

How the tongue is an index of the heart: so that pure speech indicates inward purity;

while uncharitable, deceitful, and impure words indicate that there is a fountain of

bitterness within

IV. The foolish think only of the profits and pleasures of this life; but the wise live with

reference to immortality, and labor chiefly for enduring acquisitions

THE LETTERS OF PETER.

I. The new faith and hope of the gospel having been received, those who have received

it should thereby be brought into a new life of purity and of consecration to God.

II. Various precepts with regard to that pure and peaceable conduct of life which is proper

for those who consider themselves the children of God

III. Continuation of moral and devout precepts

THE LETTERS OF JOHN.

I. If we are brethren of Christ and children of God, the lite, light, and righteousness of
Christ and of God will also be in us

II. Love the evidence of discipleship to Christ, and of sonship to God

II. A vision of the blessedness of those who, by lives of purity and self-sacrifice, have

become worthy to receive the final approbation of God

III. A vision of the heavenly city and of those who shall be counted worthy to dwell in it

278

280

II. Pure hearts, humane deeds, and spiritual life in God combine to prepare man for a

happy death, and for blessed re-unions and joys beyond

.

Iii. Industry, heroism, charity, gentleness, and moral purity enjoined

283

287

288

289

SELECTION.

IV. Diligence, justice, and pity commended

V. The wisdom which consists in love, helpfulness toward others, and kindness to all

forms of life commended

VI. Bigotry condemned, toleration enjoined; the revelations, providence, and pity of God

shown to be universal

VII. Death not to be feared; the wicked even on earth are in punishment, and the virtuous

here and everywhere are blessed

EGYPTIAN SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

I. God, the source of all, is to be revered as a Father, loved for his goodness, and praised

for his wisdom and power

II. The spirit survives the body; and whenever it is sufficiently purified, will enter the

abodes of heavenly glory and rest

I.

II.

HINDU SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

The one Supreme Mind, Supreme Ruler, Divine Parent, living and true God.

Man is a manifestation of God, and should adore, obey, and love him as the Great Soul

from whom, by whom, and in whom he exists

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294

III.

True religion consists not in ceremonial acts or in selfish aspirations, but in moral

purity, and in the proper performance of moral duties

IV. God dwells in all, but especially in those who are merciful, unselfish, just, truthful, and

humane

Sensuality, covetousness, and cruelty condemned

Different systems of faith are not recognized by God, but humility and sincerity, when

they produce personal holiness and the practical virtues, are, under all forms, alike

acceptable to Him

BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

I. God is the eternal, perfect, true, and merciful One; whose love and service consist in
goodness, loving-kindness, and universal charity on the part of men

II. Domestic love, reverence for parents, love for all men, forgiveness, and self-control

commended and enjoined

300

III. Sensuality and wrong are their own punishments; piety and virtue their own rewards. 301

IV. Indolence and self-conceit condemned, and compassionate interest in all mankind

extolled as the source of all virtues

V. The soul immortal; man never dies, but lives on, and ever carries his acquisitions of
wisdom and goodness with him wherever he goes, or in whatever form he exists

CHINESE SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

I. God the parent of men, compassionate, wise, and pure; integrity of heart, justice,

charity, and kindness toward all men are the offerings acceptable to him

The virtues both of ourselves and of others are what we should commend and cultivate;

but faults and wrongs should be covered, and at the same time gradually rooted out 306

III. Goodness, duty, and peace belong together; friendship, filial piety, and kindness

toward all living things, together with humility and self-control, constitute the

sum of all virtue

IV. Virtue and wisdom cultivated in the individual will purify and establish the family,

society, and the state.

GRECIAN SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS

The one God, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, wise, benevolent, holy, -the Father

of Men

309

II.

God is infinitely wise and perfect in goodness; His perfections should be patterned

after by all

310

SELECTION.

III. God seen in all His works; Nature reveals Him, and His revelations are also made

continually to the humble and purified souls of men

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311

IV.

Death is only a phase of life; the soul is immortal, and for the purified there are pure

joys and companionships beyond

312

V. All truly wise men are divinely inspired; prayer is only the submissive, ardent, and

humble turning of the soul toward God; purity, truthfulness, and justice endear

men to God

313

VI. Precepts of charity, forgiveness, honesty, benevolence, temperance, and genuineness in

every professed virtue

314

VII. This present world is only a reflection of the ethereal and eternal world above; present

glories are not worthy to be compared with those which shall be revealed

316

THE WRITINGS OF PLATO.

I. Fragments gathered from the writings of Plato, showing what were the ideas of Socrates

concerning the nature of the soul, its connection with the body, its proper disci-

pline, and its true emancipation

317

II.

Fragments gathered from the writings of Plato, in which are stated the reasons and the

faith of Socrates with reference to the soul's immortality

III. Fragments gathered from the writings of Plato, in which are presented the beliefs of

Socrates, that the Deity inspires all true teachers of men to reveal that Wisdom

that consists in sincerity, justice, love, and holiness; and in revealing it requires

and enables them to suffer ridicule, reproach, and persecution

320

323

IV. Fragments gathered from the writings of Plato, in which are taught the principle held

by Socrates, that while to act unjustly is a great evil, the greatest and chief of all

evils is seeking or desiring to escape from merited punishment

V. Fragmentary selections from Socrates' defence before the Athenian tribunal, in which

he explains in what true wisdom consists; and repels the charge that his teachings

against the established religion had been the means of corrupting the youth.

VI. Fragmentary selections from Socrates' defence before the Athenian tribunal, in which

loyalty to convictions of truth and duty are advocated; and death shown to be de-

sirable, rather than an unfaithful or useless life

THE WRITINGS OF PLUTARCH.

326

328

332

I. Fragmentary selections from Plutarch's discourse on Moral Virtue, in which he shows

that the soul and body are at the beginning antagonistic, the one to the other; and

that virtue consists in the gradual but complete mastery of the body by the soul. 335

II. Fragmentary selections from Plutarch's discourse on Progress in Virtue, in which he

condemns the doctrines of those who claim that there is such a thing as instantane-

ous or supernatural changes from vice to virtue; and shows that virtue is always a

growth, never an immediate transition

III. Fragmentary selections from Plutarch's discourse on Anger; its nature, evil results,

and proper control

IV. Fragmentary selections from Plutarch's discourse on Superstition and Atheism, showing

that both are great evils, but Superstition being the cause of Atheism, besides be-

ing more slavish and degrading, is therefore the greater evil

V. Fragmentary selections from the discourse of Plutarch on "The Slowness of Divine

Retributions," and from other kindred discourses of his, in which he shows that God

is an example to men of justice tempered with mercy; also that wickedness is its

own greatest punishment, and that retributions, as well as rewards, extend to the

life after death

VI Fragmentary selections from Plutarch's Letter of Consolation to Apollonius, and from

other kindred writings of his, showing that to the pious and virtuous Death is

always a blessing, inasmuch as it is a transition to holier companionships and

joys.

339

343

346

350

355

SELECTION.

ROMAN SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

I. The one God universal; who is wise ruler, merciful friend, inspirer of all wisdom

and virtue in men

II. Precepts of inward purity, and of simplicity, kindness, justice, and self-

III. Humanity a brotherhood with love as its bond; all, therefore, should help all, and
each be pure that all may become pure

IV.

The soul can not be mortal; this world not a permanent abode; Heaven a Divine

Assembly of the enlightened and purified

DISCOURSES OF EPICTETUS.

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360

361

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363

Man is God's offspring; the human soul is derived from Deity, but is incarnate in ani-

mal form, for purposes of education and discipline

I.

The existence of God, and the moral suggestions to be drawn therefrom

II. Various arguments for the superintending Providence of God, and moral inferences

therefrom.

How we ought to do our best with the endowments which have been given us, and

with the opportunities and even difficulties with which we are surrounded

V. Every man is endowed by nature with both an intellectual sense for the apprehen-

sion of truth, and with a moral sense for the discernment of right and wrong;

but both of these senses may be deadened by neglect or misuse

VI. God's power, wisdom, goodness, and omnipresence recognized; what he gives should

be gratefully received, and what he withholds should not be desired

VII. To be happy is to submit uncomplainingly to God's will in all things, to become

united to him as to a safe guide, and to follow wheresoever he may lead .

VIII. Our highest good consists in loyalty to our highest convictions, and in faithfully doing

whatever we believe to be our duty, whoever or whatever may oppose

IX. Daily duties toward ourselves and toward those about us, in order to the proper and,

so far as possible, perfect conduct of life.

XI. Freedom is the greatest good, and consists in leading a virtuous life, preserving a

contented mind, and being attached to God as friend and guide

XII. We should be loyal to our convictions of Truth, notwithstanding the ridicule or op-

position of others; but we should forgive those who oppose us, withdraw our-

selves from impure or vulgar companionships, and be content with the help and

approval of God

XIII. We should always subordinate pleasure to virtue; ourselves to others; our personal
preferences to the public good; and all to the will and wisdom of God.

XIV. Tranquillity of mind the highest of attainments; and entire submission to the will of

God, with no pre-determinations, repinings, or complaints, is the only way by

which this attainment may be reached

XV. Death to those who are virtuous and who rely on God is joyous freedom; to die

happy is to die with a clear conscience, and in the performance of whatever

duties God has appointed us to do

ARABIAN SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS.

I. God-the Almighty, the Eternal, the Wise, the Merciful One; the Protector of the

Universe, the Helper of Mankind

II. The one God of whom all holy and wise men are prophets. The good among men are

all brethren and fellow-believers.

III. Precepts concerning the practical virtues, such as justice, truth, patience, temper-

ance, kindness, reverence for parents, charity, all of which are necessary to fit

one for a peaceful death and a happy life beyond