AndshouldthelanguageofEnglandcontinuestationary，weshallprobablyenlargeouremploymentofit，untilitsnewcharactermayseparateitinnameaswellasinpower，fromthemother-tongue。
　　Althoughthecopiousnessofalanguagemaynotinstrictnessmakeapartofitsgrammar，yetitcannotbedeemedforeigntoageneralcourseoflecturesonitsstructureandcharacter；andthesubjecthavingbeenpresentedtomymindbytheoccasionofyourletter，Ihaveindulgedmyselfinitsspeculation，andhazardedtoyouwhathasoccurred，withtheassuranceofmygreatrespect。
　　THECODEOFJESUS
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Oct。12，1813_
　　DEARSIR——SincemineofAug。22。IhaverecievedyourfavorsofAug。16。Sep。2。14。15。and——andMrs。Adams’sofSep。20。I
　　nowsendyou，accordingtoyourrequestacopyoftheSyllabus。Tofillupthisskeletonwitharteries，withveins，withnerves，musclesandflesh，isreallybeyondmytimeandinformation。WhoevercouldundertakeitwouldfindgreataidinEnfield’sjudiciousabridgmentofBrucker’shistoryofPhilosophy，inwhichhehasreduced5。or6。
　　quartovols。of1000。pageseachofLatincloselyprinted，totwomoderate8vos。ofEnglish，open，type。
　　Tocomparethemoralsoftheold，withthoseofthenewtestament，wouldrequireanattentivestudyoftheformer，asearchthro’allit’sbooksforit’sprecepts，andthroughallit’shistoryforit’spractices，andtheprinciplestheyprove。Ascommentariestooonthese，thephilosophyoftheHebrewsmustbeenquiredinto，theirMishna，theirGemara，Cabbala，Jezirah，Sohar，Cosri，andtheirTalmudmustbeexaminedandunderstood，inordertodothemfulljustice。Brucker，itshouldseem，hasgonedeeplyintotheseRepositoriesoftheirethics，andEnfield，hisepitomiser，concludesinthesewords。`EthicsweresolittlestudiedamongtheJews，that，intheirwholecompilationcalledtheTalmud，thereisonlyonetreatiseonmoralsubjects。TheirbooksofMoralschieflyconsistedinaminuteenumerationofduties。FromthelawofMoseswerededuced613。precepts，whichweredividedintotwoclasses，affirmativeandnegative，248intheformer，and365inthelatter。
　　ItmayservetogivethereadersomeideaofthelowstateofmoralphilosophyamongtheJewsintheMiddleage，toadd，thatofthe248。
　　affirmativeprecepts，only3。wereconsideredasobligatoryuponwomen；andthat，inordertoobtainsalvation，itwasjudgedsufficienttofulfillanyonesinglelawinthehourofdeath；theobservanceoftherestbeingdeemednecessary，onlytoincreasethefelicityofthefuturelife。Whatawretcheddepravityofsentimentandmannersmusthaveprevailedbeforesuchcorruptmaximscouldhaveobtainedcredit！ItisimpossibletocollectfromthesewritingsaconsistentseriesofmoralDoctrine。’Enfield，B。4。chap。3。Itwasthereformationofthis`wretcheddepravity’ofmoralswhichJesusundertook。Inextractingthepureprincipleswhichhetaught，weshouldhavetostripofftheartificialvestmentsinwhichtheyhavebeenmuffledbypriests，whohavetravestiedthemintovariousforms，asinstrumentsofrichesandpowertothem。WemustdismissthePlatonistsandPlotinists，theStagyritesandGamalielites，theEclecticstheGnosticsandScholastics，theiressencesandemanations，theirLogosandDemi-urgos，AeonsandDaemonsmaleandfemale，withalongtrainofEtc。Etc。Etc。or，shallIsayatonce，ofNonsense。Wemustreduceourvolumetothesimpleevangelists，select，evenfromthem，theverywordsonlyofJesus，paringofftheAmphibologismsintowhichtheyhavebeenledbyforgettingoften，ornotunderstanding，whathadfallenfromhim，bygivingtheirownmisconceptionsashisdicta，andexpressingunintelligiblyforotherswhattheyhadnotunderstoodthemselves。Therewillbefoundremainingthemostsublimeandbenevolentcodeofmoralswhichhaseverbeenofferedtoman。Ihaveperformedthisoperationformyownuse，bycuttingversebyverseoutoftheprintedbook，andarranging，thematterwhichisevidentlyhis，andwhichisaseasilydistinguishableasdiamondsinadunghill。Theresultisan8vo。of46。pagesofpureandunsophisticateddoctrines，suchaswereprofessedandactedonbythe_unlettered_apostles，theApostolicfathers，andtheChristiansofthe1st。century。TheirPlatonisingsuccessorsindeed，inaftertimes，inordertolegitimatethecorruptionswhichtheyhadincorporatedintothedoctrinesofJesus，founditnecessarytodisavowtheprimitiveChristians，whohadtakentheirprinciplesfromthemouthofJesushimself，ofhisApostles，andtheFatherscotemporarywiththem。Theyexcommunicatedtheirfollowersasheretics，brandingthemwiththeopprobriousnameofEbionitesorBeggars。
　　ForacomparisonoftheGraecianphilosophywiththatofJesus，materialsmightbelargelydrawnfromthesamesource。Enfieldgivesahistory，anddetailedaccountoftheopinionsandprinciplesofthedifferentsects。Theserelatetothegods，theirnatures，grades，placesandpowers；
　　thedemi-godsanddaemons，andtheiragencywithman；
　　theUniverse，it’sstructure，extent，productionandduration；
　　theoriginofthingsfromtheelementsoffire，water，airandearth；
　　thehumansoul，it’sessenceandderivation；
　　thesummumbonumandfinisbonorum；withathousandidledreamsandfanciesontheseandothersubjectstheknolegeofwhichiswithheldfromman，leavingbutashortchapterforhismoralduties，andtheprincipalsectionofthatgiventowhatheoweshimself，topreceptsforrenderinghimimpassible，andunassailablebytheevilsoflife，andforpreservinghismindinastateofconstantserenity。
　　Suchacanvasistoobroadfortheageofseventy，andespeciallyofonewhosechiefoccupationshavebeeninthepracticalbusinessoflife。Wemustleavethereforetoothers，youngerandmorelearnedthanweare，topreparethiseuthanasiaforPlatonicChristianity，andit’srestorationtotheprimitivesimplicityofit’sfounder。IthinkyougiveajustoutlineofthetheismofthethreereligionswhenyousaythattheprincipleoftheHebrewwasthefear，oftheGentilethehonor，andoftheChristiantheloveofGod。
　　AnexpressioninyourletterofSep。14。that`thehumanunderstandingisarevelationfromit’smaker’givesthebestsolution，thatIbelievecanbegiven，ofthequestion，WhatdidSocratesmeanbyhisDaemon?Hewastoowisetobelieve，andtoohonesttopretendthathehadrealandfamiliarconversewithasuperiorandinvisiblebeing。Heprobablyconsideredthesuggestionsofhisconscience，orreason，asrevelations，orinspirationsfromtheSuprememind，bestowed，onimportantoccasions，byaspecialsuperintendingprovidence。
　　IacknolegeallthemeritofthehymnofCleanthestoJupiter，whichyouascribetoit。Itisashighlysublimeasachasteandcorrectimaginationcanpermititselftogo。Yetinthecontemplationofabeingsosuperlative，thehyperbolicflightsofthePsalmistmayoftenbefollowedwithapprobation，evenwithrapture；andIhavenohesitationingivinghimthepalmoveralltheHymnistsofeverylanguage，andofeverytime。Turntothe148th。
　　psalm，inBradyandTate’sversion。Havesuchconceptionsbeeneverbeforeexpressed?Theirversionofthe15th。psalmismoretobeesteemedforit’spithiness，thanit’spoetry。EvenSternhold，theleadenSternhold，kindles，inasingleinstance，withthesublimityofhisoriginal，andexpressesthemajestyofGoddescendingontheearth，intermsnotunworthyofthesubject。
　　’TheLorddescendedfromAndbowedtheheav’nsmostabovehigh；
　　AndunderneathhisfeethecastThedarknessofthesky。
　　OnCherubimandSeraphimFullroyallyherode；
　　AndonthewingsofmightyCameflyingallabroad。’
　　windsPsalmxviii。9。10。
　　TheLatinversionsofthispassagebyBuchananandbyJohnston，arebutmediocres。ButtheGreekofDuportisworthyofquotation。
　　{Oyranonagklinaskatebeypopossid’eoisinAchlysamphimelainachythekainyxerebenne。
　　RimphapotatoCheroyboocheymenos，ospereph’ippo。
　　Iptatodepterygessipolyplagktoyanemoio。}
　　ThebestcollectionofthesepsalmsisthatoftheOctagoniandissentersofLiverpool，intheirprintedFormofprayer；buttheyarenotalwaysthebestversions。IndeedbadisthebestoftheEnglishversions；notarayofpoeticalgeniushavingeverbeenemployedonthem。AndhowmuchdependsonthismaybeseenbycomparingBradyandTate’sXVth。psalmwithBlacklock’sJustumettenacempropositivirum[”amanjustandsteadfastofpurpose”]ofHorace，quotedinHume’shistory，Car。2。ch。65。AtranslationofDavidinthisstyle，orinthatofPompei’sCleanthes，mightgiveussomeideaofthemeritoftheoriginal。Thecharactertooofthepoetryofthesehymnsissingulartous。Writteninmonostichs，eachdividedintostropheandantistrophe，thesentimentofthe1st。
　　memberrespondedwithamplificationorantithesisinthesecond。
　　OnthesubjectofthePostscriptofyoursofAug。16。andofMrs。Adams’sletter，Iamsilent。Iknowthedepthoftheafflictionithascaused，andcansympathisewithitthemoresensibly，inasmuchasthereisnodegreeofaffliction，producedbythelossofthosedeartous，whichexperiencehasnottaughtmetoestimate。Ihaveeverfoundtimeandsilencetheonlymedecine，andthesebutassuage，theynevercansuppress，thedeep-drawnsighwhichrecollectionforeverbringsup，untilrecollectionandlifeareextinguishedtogether。EveraffectionatelyyoursP。S。Your’sofSep——justrecievedTHENATURALARISTOCRACY
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Oct。28，1813_
　　DEARSIR——Accordingtothereservationbetweenus，oftakinguponeofthesubjectsofourcorrespondenceatatime，IturntoyourlettersofAug。16。andSep。2。
　　ThepassageyouquotefromTheognis，IthinkhasanEthical，ratherthanapoliticalobject。Thewholepieceisamoral_exhortation_，{parainesis}，andthispassageparticularlyseemstobeareprooftoman，who，whilewithhisdomesticanimalsheiscurioustoimprovetheracebyemployingalwaysthefinestmale，paysnoattentiontotheimprovementofhisownrace，butintermarrieswiththevicious，theugly，ortheold，forconsiderationsofwealthorambition。ItisinconformitywiththeprincipleadoptedafterwardsbythePythagoreans，andexpressedbyOcellusinanotherform。{Peridetesektonallelonanthropongeneseos}etc——{oychedonesenekae}{mixis}。Which，asliterallyasintelligibilitywilladmit，maybethustranslated。`Concerningtheinterprocreationofmen，how，andofwhomitshallbe，inaperfectmanner，andaccordingtothelawsofmodestyandsanctity，conjointly，thisiswhatIthinkright。Firsttolayitdownthatwedonotcommixforthesakeofpleasure，butoftheprocreationofchildren。Forthepowers，theorgansanddesiresforcoitionhavenotbeengivenbygodtomanforthesakeofpleasure，butfortheprocreationoftherace。Forasitwereincongruousforamortalborntopartakeofdivinelife，theimmortalityoftheracebeingtakenaway，godfulfilledthepurposebymakingthegenerationsuninterruptedandcontinuous。Thisthereforeweareespeciallytolaydownasaprinciple，thatcoitionisnotforthesakeofpleasure。’ButNature，nottrustingtothismoralandabstractmotive，seemstohaveprovidedmoresecurelyfortheperpetuationofthespeciesbymakingittheeffectoftheoestrumimplantedintheconstitutionofbothsexes。Andnotonlyhasthecommerceoflovebeenindulgedonthisunhallowedimpulse，butmadesubservientalsotowealthandambitionbymarriageswithoutregardtothebeauty，thehealthiness，theunderstanding，orvirtueofthesubjectfromwhichwearetobreed。TheselectingthebestmaleforaHaramofwellchosenfemalesalso，whichTheognisseemstorecommendfromtheexampleofoursheepandasses，woulddoubtlessimprovethehuman，asitdoesthebruteanimal，andproducearaceofveritable{aristoi}[”aristocrats”]。Forexperienceprovesthatthemoralandphysicalqualitiesofman，whethergoodorevil，aretransmissibleinacertaindegreefromfathertoson。ButIsuspectthattheequalrightsofmenwillriseupagainstthisprivilegedSolomon，andobligeustocontinueacquiescenceunderthe{’Amayrosisgeneosaston}[”thedegenerationoftheraceofmen”]whichTheogniscomplainsof，andtocontentourselveswiththeaccidentalaristoiproducedbythefortuitousconcourseofbreeders。ForIagreewithyouthatthereisanaturalaristocracyamongmen。Thegroundsofthisarevirtueandtalents。Formerlybodilypowersgaveplaceamongthearistoi。Butsincetheinventionofgunpowderhasarmedtheweakaswellasthestrongwithmissiledeath，bodilystrength，likebeauty，goodhumor，politenessandotheraccomplishments，hasbecomebutanauxiliarygroundofdistinction。Thereisalsoanartificialaristocracyfoundedonwealthandbirth，withouteithervirtueortalents；forwiththeseitwouldbelongtothefirstclass。ThenaturalaristocracyIconsiderasthemostpreciousgiftofnaturefortheinstruction，thetrusts，andgovernmentofsociety。Andindeeditwouldhavebeeninconsistentincreationtohaveformedmanforthesocialstate，andnottohaveprovidedvirtueandwisdomenoughtomanagetheconcernsofthesociety。Maywenotevensaythatthatformofgovernmentisthebestwhichprovidesthemosteffectuallyforapureselectionofthesenaturalaristoiintotheofficesofgovernment?Theartificialaristocracyisamischievousingredientingovernment，andprovisionshouldbemadetopreventit’sascendancy。Onthequestion，Whatisthebestprovision，youandIdiffer；butwedifferasrationalfriends，usingthefreeexerciseofourownreason，andmutuallyindulgingit’serrors。
　　_You_thinkitbesttoputthePseudo-aristoiintoaseparatechamberoflegislationwheretheymaybehinderedfromdoingmischiefbytheircoordinatebranches，andwherealsotheymaybeaprotectiontowealthagainsttheAgrarianandplunderingenterprisesoftheMajorityofthepeople。Ithinkthattogivethempowerinordertopreventthemfromdoingmischief，isarmingthemforit，andincreasinginsteadofremedyingtheevil。Forifthecoordinatebranchescanarresttheiraction，somaytheythatofthecoordinates。Mischiefmaybedonenegativelyaswellaspositively。
　　OfthisacabalintheSenateoftheU。S。hasfurnishedmanyproofs。
　　NordoIbelievethemnecessarytoprotectthewealthy；becauseenoughofthesewillfindtheirwayintoeverybranchofthelegislationtoprotectthemselves。From15。to20。legislaturesofourown，inactionfor30。yearspast，haveprovedthatnofearsofanequalisationofpropertyaretobeapprehendedfromthem。
　　_I_thinkthebestremedyisexactlythatprovidedbyallourconstitutions，toleavetothecitizensthefreeelectionandseparationofthearistoifromthepseudo-aristoi，ofthewheatfromthechaff。Ingeneraltheywillelecttherealgoodandwise。Insomeinstances，wealthmaycorrupt，andbirthblindthem；butnotinsufficientdegreetoendangerthesociety。
　　Itisprobablethatourdifferenceofopinionmayinsomemeasurebeproducedbyadifferenceofcharacterinthoseamongwhomwelive。FromwhatIhaveseenofMassachusetsandConnecticutmyself，andstillmorefromwhatIhaveheard，andthecharactergivenoftheformerbyyourself，[vol。1。pa。111。]whoknowthemsomuchbetter，thereseemstobeinthosetwostatesatraditionaryreverenceforcertainfamilies，whichhasrenderedtheofficesofthegovernmentnearlyhereditaryinthosefamilies。Ipresumethatfromanearlyperiodofyourhistory，membersofthesefamilieshappeningtopossessvirtueandtalents，havehonestlyexercisedthemforthegoodofthepeople，andbytheirserviceshaveendearedtheirnamestothem。
　　IncouplingConnecticutwithyou，Imeanitpoliticallyonly，notmorally。ForhavingmadetheBibletheCommonlawoftheirlandtheyseemtohavemodelledtheirmoralityonthestoryofJacobandLaban。Butaltho’thishereditarysuccessiontoofficewithyoumayinsomedegreebefoundedinrealfamilymerit，yetinamuchhigherdegreeithasproceededfromyourstrictallianceofchurchandstate。Thesefamiliesarecanonisedintheeyesofthepeopleonthecommonprinciple`youtickleme，andIwilltickleyou。’InVirginiawehavenothingofthis。Ourclergy，beforetherevolution，havingbeensecuredagainstrivalshipbyfixedsalaries，didnotgivethemselvesthetroubleofacquiringinfluenceoverthepeople。Ofwealth，thereweregreataccumulationsinparticularfamilies，handeddownfromgenerationtogenerationundertheEnglishlawofentails。
　　Buttheonlyobjectofambitionforthewealthywasaseatintheking’scouncil。Alltheircourtthenwaspaidtothecrownandit’screatures；andtheyPhilipisedinallcollisionsbetweenthekingandpeople。Hencetheywereunpopular；andthatunpopularitycontinuesattachedtotheirnames。ARandolph，aCarter，oraBurwellmusthavegreatpersonalsuperiorityoveracommoncompetitortobeelectedbythepeople，evenatthisday。
　　AtthefirstsessionofourlegislatureaftertheDeclarationofIndependance，wepassedalawabolishingentails。AndthiswasfollowedbyoneabolishingtheprivilegeofPrimogeniture，anddividingthelandsofintestatesequallyamongalltheirchildren，orotherrepresentatives。Theselaws，drawnbymyself，laidtheaxetotherootofPseudo-aristocracy。AndhadanotherwhichIpreparedbeenadoptedbythelegislature，ourworkwouldhavebeencompleat。