Chapter XII: Christian Ethics

General characteristics of the Christian ethical system 467-468

Dogmatic postulates:--

(1) Doctrine of God: God a Personal and Ethical Being 469-470

(2) Doctrine of Man: his ideal nature; his destiny as
related to the good through conscience and freedom;
his present condition 470-476

(3) Doctrine of Christ: Catholic view of His Person 476

I. Christ's revelation of the Highest Good 476-480

The Kingdom of God: twofold meaning of the term 477-479

Christian view of the world 479-480

II. The Moral Law; its authority, sanctions, and content 480-489

The basis of obligation found in the idea of personal
relationship between God and Man 480-482

The sanctions, and motives of Christian Morality 482-484

The Law of Duty embraced in the decalogue 484-489

III. Christ the pattern of character 489-504

Conditions required in the perfect example 490-491

Christ the pattern of filial dependence, obedience,
and love 491-494

Virtuous action seen to imply a harmony of the
different elements in personality, postulating a
threefold virtuous principle supernaturally imparted 494-496

Christian character: the Christian personality in its
relation:--

(1) To God--Christian Wisdom 497-498

(2) To Man--Christian Justice 498-501

(3) To Self--Christian Temperance 501-502

(4) To the hindrances of environment--Christian
Fortitude 502-503

IV. Christ the source of the recreation of character 504-512

Claim of Christianity to recreate character 504-505

Dogmatic truths implied in the recreative process 505-506

Holiness dependent on a permanent relation to Christ 506

The Church a school of character, and sphere of
individual discipline 506-508

Christian ascetics--their ground in reason, and effect
on character 509-512

V. The consummation of God's kingdom 512-518

The intermediate stage 513

The final stage of glory:

(i) The kingdom to be finally manifested 513-514

(ii) and purified through judgment 514

Extent and limits of the final triumph of good 514-516

Perfection of human personality: the perfect state one of

harmony 516-517

glory 517

blessedness 517

and fellowship in a moral community 517

VI. Conclusion: relation of Christian Ethics to the products of
civilization, to individual character, to social life 518-520

APPENDIX I. ON SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN DUTY 521-525

APPENDIX II. ON THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN 526-538