history. As the great leaders in natural science have by
experiment and observation attended to Nature itself,
and their theories have depended on that attention, so
the leaders in Christian ethics have been intimately con-
cerned with actual morality. On that, and not pre-
eminently on their intellectual status, their position de-
pends. Thus in the consideration of Christian ethics,
men like Francis of Assisi, John Bunyan, and George
Fox have a place along with Augustine of Hippo,
Thomas Aquinas, and John Calvin. In large measure
I have used the words of the men I have considered: an
apology might have been called for, if I had not done
so.

The present volume is an elaboration of a course of
lectures delivered on the Stanton Foundation in the
University of Cambridge. In dedicating it to the mem-
ory of Dr. W. R. Sorley and Dean Hastings Rashdall,
I wish to express my high personal regard for and my
indebtedness to the two scholars from whom I learned
most in my study of ethics.

The notes and bibliographical references have been
placed at the end of the volume, so that they may be
disregarded by the general reader.

ALBAN G. WIDGERY.

Duke University, 1940.

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