L. S.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-first day of March, Anno Domini, 1831, & Co. of the said District, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit:"The Elements of Mental and Moral Philosophy, founded upon Exper.ence, Reason, " and the Bible;" the right whereof they claim as I roprietors, in conformity with an act of Congress, entitled "An act to amend the several acts respecting Copy Rights." Clerk of the District of

PREFACE.

WHEN a philosopher has a new and curious piece of mechanism submitted to his inspection, if consistent with his profession, he begins to investigate these particulars. How is it constructed? For what purpose is it made? Is it in perfect order so as to answer the design of the contriver, or is it disarranged? If disordered, what is the process for rectifying it? How is it to be used, so as to accomplish the object for which it is formed? Who is its contriver? Is there any communication from him, to give any light on these subjects? If so, what information is to be obtained from this source? And what are the deductions of reason, from observation, and from the information given by the author of this contrivance ?

Mind, is the most splendid, powerful, and astonishing contrivance, that ever engaged the attention of man; a machine with complicated faculties, that are eternally to exist and to act with sublime and ever increasing power. With it has come a communication, inscribed by the hand of the Divine Contriver, and stamped with the ensignia of his authority. In this record is revealed its origin, the object of its construction, the nature of its present operations, the mode by which the object of its contrivance can be secured, and the consequences which will result from pursuing, and from neglecting the mode pointed out.

In examining the works of Mental Philosophers, certain singular and painful deficiencies, cannot but be felt, by every

christian reader. Such works seem to consist simply of a description of the machinery of mind, in its present mode of operation, a classification and nomenclature of its various powers, together with a multitude of discussions and rejoinders as to the propriety of different modes of classification, and of the names given to the different powers. But farther than this, little is to be found.

The

These philosophers seem to make a merit of avoiding entirely, the communication received from the Divine Author, as a matter entirely foreign from their profession. works of Aristotle, and of other ancient sages, the speculations of more modern writers, the lucubrations of heathens, infidels, and sceptics, are quoted in abundance, but to establish any thing on this subject by an appeal to the Bible, is a phenomenon almost unknown. Although it is a work whose divine authority is acknowledged by many such writers, and the only work on earth, which presents any claims to such a distinction, yet it is scarce ever referred to, even as a literary curiosity.

Meantime, no enquiry is instituted by them as to the object for which mind is created; no attempt is made to ascertain whether it is in order, whether it is acting right or wrong, whether it is fulfilling the purposes for which it is formed, or acting in opposition to them. Nor is any enquiry made as to the mode of remedying any disarrangement that may occur in its operation.

The works too, of a theological nature, which treat of the duties and obligations of men to God, and to each other, seem often verging to the other extreme, devoting their exclusive

attention to the Book of Revelation, and neglecting to examine the nature of mind. One set of Philosophers seem to examine the machine, and neglect the communication from its Author; the other, to examine the record, and neglect the object to which it refers.

Such deficiencies have been painfully felt by the writer, to whom has been extensively committed the training of mind, and this work has been prepared as a limited and temporary supply, till some other hand will furnish a better.

It is in too imperfect a form to be presented to the public; to those for whom it is designed, it is prefaced with the following outline of the objects attempted.

1. To describe the nature of the different powers and operations of mind.

2. To show the object for which it was made.

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3. To show the mode by which this object can be secured. 4. To show that the mind of man is a disordered one.

5. To show the mode by which it can be rectified, so as to accomplish the purpose for which it was made; to show that this mode is revealed in a communication from its Maker; and to establish the authority of this record.

6. To show the consequences in a future state, of the continued disordered operation of mind.

7. To show the causes why the remedy for the disordered operation of mind, is not more generally secured.

8. To exhibit the mode of training and regulating mind, according to the dictates of experience, reason, and the revealed communication of its Author.

The discussion of these subjects has necessarily involved