and we soon find that we are gone beyond our depth. It may be readily admitted, that such too is the case in Revealed Religion. But whatever the obscurity may be, we have sufficient light for our guidance. We walk by faith; not by sight.

16. To say that a truth is mysterious furnishes no ground for saying that it is uncertain. Mystery may only be relative to the present state, showing us our ignorance, and not designed to lead us to scepticism, but to humble and admiring faith, as creatures who at present are only permitted to "know in part."

17. When men object to matters of Revelation as impossible or unreasonable, they forget that the power and reason of God are not to be arrogantly measured by the power and reason of man. "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Thus He speaks; "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

18. I assume, that there is an Author of all existence, whom we call God; that I exist as one of His rational and intelligent creatures; that He has given me a written revelation, to be the rule of my faith and practice; that I am accountable to Him for all my conduct in this world; that I am to exist for ever; and that my final condition will be happy or miserable as I am faithful or unfaithful in the use that I make of the various talents committed to my I am a responsible being.

care.

19. These are, in my estimation, some of those primary truths about which there can properly be no dispute. They are as agreeable to my reason and conscience as they are to Revelation. It is evident, therefore, that, if I would be happy for ever, I must have settled views, principles, and rules, for the regulation of my life. I must not live at random.

20. The present age has its peculiar features. I do not say that "the former days were better than these." All ages have their evils and dangers, and also their blessings and advantages. Perhaps no age has abounded with both more than the present in our own favoured land. But it may suffice to say, that our blessings and our dangers are great and many.

21. In the present day we have mental activity; we have inquisitiveness, restlessness, dissatisfaction, audacity, temerity. Pillars are shaken; foundations are explored; structures are tried. There is something like contempt for the past, with the anticipation of something in the future which is to be most surpassingly excellent.

22. Amidst all this feverish dreaming of the restless mind, is it not too much forgotten, that man will always be man; that the world will always be the world; that the Bible will always be the Bible; and that the real improvement of man, and the augmentation of his happiness, depend, not on man's new

and bold speculations, but on the faithful and diligent use of those plain truths and plain rules, which never will become obsolete, and never can be superseded by any human maxims?

23. At such a period, and in such a state of things, where is safety to be found? What is our true wisdom? The spirit of an age, the flux and reflux of opinions, the mental and moral phases of the world at different periods;-these are matters which we are incompetent to discuss, being connected, most probably, with that scheme of moral government of which we know comparatively little. We, therefore, will not rail; will not murmur; but we will think closely and impartially; so as to ascertain what false philosophy is; what true philosophy is; and above all, what true Religion is.

adulterated: and

Philosophy is a but perhaps not

It is caressed and

24. In the following pages, therefore, I shall offer a few remarks on philosophy, but they will be very concise. There are many things which may be genuine and pure, or spurious and is not philosophy one of them? lofty word; very commonly used; commonly well understood. idolized by some persons; and it is almost loathed by others: but both are wrong. Sound philosophy, the fruit of rightly exerted reason, must be accounted invaluable but false philosophy, the fruit of perverted reason, is not only worthless, but also extremely pernicious.

25. I shall, however, confine my attention prin

cipally to Religion, that is, to Revelation; only endeavouring to advance a few remarks on matters which I conceive to be of the greatest importance to every Christian. Although I discuss no topic at length, I hope that most of my paragraphs will suggest matter that may profitably employ the reflecting mind. How far I may succeed I leave others to decide; but I would wish to induce the reader to think on serious subjects in a serious way, as one who is desirous that his religion should be knowledge, and not prejudice; principle, and not profession; thought and conviction, and not mere phraseology.

9

CHAPTER II.

THE AGE.

1. It is a common remark, that every age has some peculiar and distinctive features: and it is the province of true wisdom to ascertain the real character of the age in which we live, in order that we may employ ourselves in its improvement, according to our ability.

2. We may look around us; read books, or listen to men; and then either dream, or censure and rail, or commend and extol, or be loud and vehement, or be passive, silent, and inert: but is any thing of this sort wise, rational, becoming?

3. We may exist in one of three states: for we may be far below our age, or on a level with it, or above it. A sound, spiritual, and reflecting Christian will have his place in the last state: he will see and feel as the multitude do not see and feel: he is familiar with bright visions of Excellence; he knows what Elevation means.

4. At any rate, we must not fall back in such an age as this, but advance forward, and rise higher. In a day of knowledge, we must know: in a day of thinking, we must think. We must not settle upon our lees. We must not suppose that all truth and right are exclusively ours, so that all who differ from us are entirely wrong. We certainly may