It would be better to say, A moral action is the voluntary
action of an intelligent being, performed in view of the
fact that it is right or wrong. Wayland says, "The right
or wrong of an action exists in the intention."

Wayland asks the question, "Whence do we derive
our notion of the moral quality of action ? . . . I think
it is not proved that an action is right because it is pro-
ductive of the greatest amount of happiness. It may be



HISTORY OF ETHICS 343

so, or it may not, but we ought not to believe it without
proof." What is the force of the words ought not in the
above sentence? Wayland goes on to say: "To me the
Scriptures seem explicitly to declare that the will of
God alone is sufficient to create the obligation to obedi-
ence in all his creatures, and that this will precludes
every other inquiry." God's will is undoubtedly always
right, and a knowledge of his will is a guide to conduct ;
but there is a reason for God's will, and it is not un-
reasonable to believe that the reason is the greatest
amount of happiness, and Wayland was not warranted
in saying, "We ought not to believe it to be so without
proof." What of those who through all the ages have
neither had the Scriptures nor known the will of God?

Wayland discusses the nature, function, and author-
ity of conscience, and the law by which it is governed;
he gives rules for moral conduct, treats of virtues in
imperfect beings, discourses on happiness, self-love, the
necessity of enlightening the conscience, treats of natu-
ral religion and its relation to revealed religion, and
argues for the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures.
