Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-12-12
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
Mental Philosophy--Its Importance 60 tn.
Minister.

Mental Philosophy--Its Importance 60 the
Minister.
Mental philosophy. in the largest sense
of the term,-the sense In which we shall
employ it's that branch of science
which pertains to the mind, its faculties,
Its operations, and Its laws The subjects
it involves, we are ware, have too gener-
ally been considered as beyond the reach
CT ordinary minds; or as belonging more
appropriately to those who have nothing
to do but to amuse their leisure with Wis
ionary distractions. and to be meddled
with, least of all, by those who have so
/ great a work upon their hands as that of
preaching the gospel 10 dying sinners
But this is a radical and dangerous mis-
AXE We knnw of no subjects more
adapted TO come home TO the business and
bosons OF men; none which more init.
ma,ev concern their happiness in their
domestic, social, and civil relations; espe-
cialv do we know OF none, aside from
the gospel itself, mole deserving the al
tention of the Christian minlsisr We
should be sorry 10 dignity with the tile Of
: mental philosophy. that affected pTe:ensiOn
10 profound attainment which displays
itself by sounding technicalitics and an
ostentatious terminalogy,-which6 fills the
ordinary conversation with knolv and
dry disqulsilions, anu cuts of from all
: sympathy with the world around US; but
{ let us reflect that we all have minds
: whose nature it is 10 think; and they
e tciH think, whether we attend to their
. thoughts or not 1t is their nature TO
! form habits; and their habits will be
Y formed, whether we know il or not
( They are adapted 10 acquire ideas; and
d ideas will be acquired, whether we do or
: do not know how to stand sentinel, and
e admit the true only, while we debar the
: false They must have their principles
J. of action; and these principles. whether
II good or bad, must control our wills, and
s guide our conduct. Every mind, there
=, fore. must have a good or a bad moral
e character. A bad character is easily
formed but good one must be the re-
e suit of an enlightened judgment and
y rigid discipline. Now, If is the object of
mental philosophy, TO put man In possess
ye ion of himself, to give him full command
v of all his faculties and his present knowl-
~ edge, and facilitates his progress towards
ut the highest possible attainment. Il will
d, teach bin, in the first place, to ascertain
sr what are the faculties which were origin
III ally bestowed upon him in common with
&c his race, and the ideas which he has in
10 present possession. These are the talents
n. he is to improve,-his stock in trade, with
el, which he is TO commence the business OF
lg life. 1t will then assist them TO ascertain
n, what are the sources from which all other
l knowledge is 10 be derived, to settle upon
Vn tenable ground the Legitimacy and Ger
TO tainty of such knowledge, and 10 give a
sit reason for the faith that is in him. Il
lis will also lead him to discover the laws
L by which he is TO acquire, retain and
to- communicate Snowledge.-to perceive The
he foundations Of religious duty, which ar,
IA laid in the mind itself, The means o
rj strengthening our social and religion.
I'd feelings, and Of bringing TO their highes
Is, projections all our intellectual and mora
?. faculties
his We would not intimate that none O
be these attainments can be made except By
those who are capable Of scientific inves
asi tigalion; but, whatever the means ma,
uil be by which we arrive at this knowledge
IN we are thereby put in possession of III
asi objects of mental science He is bes
YES acquainted with the principles of thi
lad science who is best able TO control III
as springs Of human action
From this cursory view of the natur
m and objects of mental philosophy. who ]
ZIP. prepared TO denounce it as a system Q
me dry and fruitless abstraciions2 and, espe
II cially, what minister of Chris can eXcus
,ed, himself who has not endravored 10 ma
me ture his opinions upon the subjects
the involves! Were he 10 regard only III
AT pleasure and advantage he might deriv
lme from an intimate acquaintance with b
v OF own mind, he would have sufficient a
eat luremenl to these studies; but. in additio
ime to these. behold the rich and gorgeou
10 fields of literature. which il wouldshe b
hen privilege 10 traversel All that relates
all the beautiful and The just, the useful. n
uld true. and the good. must pass under b
The notice. His. will be The pleasure Of COZ
the templating the monuments Of past WI
h l dom. and OF communing with the wise
and of men upon the lofiest themes III