The question whether Atheism be compatible with moral virtue, or whether an Atheist may be a virtuous man, is one of those that can only be answered by discriminating aright between the different senses of the same term.

In the Christian sense of virtue, which comprehends the duties of both tables of the Law, and includes the love of God as well as of man, it is clear that the Atheist cannot be reputed virtuous, since he wants that which is declared to be the radical principle of obedience, the very spirit and substance of true morality.

But, in the worldly sense of the term, as denoting the decent observance of _relative_ duty, it is possible that he may be so far influenced by considerations of prudence or policy, or even by certain natural instincts and affections, as to be just in his dealings, faithful to his word, courteous in his manners, and obedient to the laws.

But this secular, prudential morality, is as precarious in its practical influence as it is defective in its radical principle.

Atheism saps and undermines the very foundation of Ethics.
The only law which it can recognize (if that can be called a law in any sense which is not conceived of as the expression of a Supreme Will) is, either the greatest happiness of the individual, or the greatest happiness of the greatest number; but, whether it assumes the form of _Felicitarian_ or of _Utilitarian_ calculation, it degenerates into a process of arithmetic, and is no longer a code of morals.