of Science, turn away from it before what is unquestionably useful in the common Dialectics has incorporated itself with the other stores of their Mind.

But there is another study still more necessary than Logic, for the acquisition of sound religious Knowledge, of which there is scarcely a Notion among the British Divines-I mean the Study of the Sources, Limits, and Application of the mental Faculties, according to their primitive, essential Nature. The absence of such acquaintance with our Faculties, the total inattention to the Number, Nature, and Extent of the Capacities given to us for knowledge-not in a confused Mass, but naturally distributable into compartments, which have a reference to our various mental Powers-this ignorance of what should be the Foundation of all regular Instruction, shows itself in almost every page of the theological writings which daily multiply among us.

There is to me, a most striking Result of this Ignorance of our own spiritual self in the blind-man's buff Debate, which is carried on between those who contend that we must go to the Bible if we are to have any knowledge of God, and those who, certainly much more rationally, though not quite correctly, insist that Natural Theology must prove to us the Existence and Attributes of God, before we can derive Instruction from Revelation. I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not place these two Parties on the same intellectual or philosophical level. I am persuaded that the Study of Nature, by itself,

does not lead to the Acknowledgment of the Deity; but I am on the other hand convinced that this Study, assisted, however unconsciously to the Observer, by the light of that Rationality of which the simple, yet sublime Principles are most easily developed in Man, will certainly lead to God.-The Point of comparison between the two parties is this: that neither of them can see, that for the correction of the imperfect, and not unfrequently monstrous Notions of God, which their respective favourite Sourcesespecially the Bible-give them, they must have recourse to something which is neither external Nature, nor the Bible. Now it is practically obvious that both apply to some Principle within their own Minds. To me it is clear, that if they were well acquainted with their SPIRITUAL Self,-the invisible World within them-if they had begun their philosophical and theological Studies by examining What is in Man, they would not have involved themselves in this unmeaning controversy. Experience, and Common Sense, however, might teach them that the Principle, which enables both of them to perceive and to correct the Notions of God which they derive from what they call Nature and Revelation, should take the Lead of all other Guides.

"God has spoken to me," says some primitive Sage to his People, whom, on the hypothesis that Revelation alone can lead to the Deity, we must suppose totally ignorant of both the Word and Notion about to be introduced by the Prophet." What do you

mean by God?" might answer some shrewd Thinker among them.-This Question would be re-echoed by every one not already subdued by hierarchical Authority and most naturally, for how is it possible that Words can convey to men any Notion to which there is nothing analogous in their own Minds?

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But let us imagine that the Sage was allowed to proceed, and that he delivered some Doctrine or Statement, as from God." God," he would say, "told me so and so." "I do not like your Message" (might the Objector reply): I think the Being, whom you call God, has deceived you."—" Impossible!" would the Prophet retort :-" God cannot lie." Indeed, as men are constituted, the majority of the Assembly would applaud an Answer, which, in all ages, will be approved by the Wise and Good.-The Answer then is true; but whence does it derive its Power? Surely not from Revelation-for that is the very Question-whether the God that is supposed to speak can deceive. If Revelation is the only Source of our Knowledge of Him, we can know nothing of his character when he begins to address any Man in human Language. The invisible or falsely visible speaker (for in whatever Shape he might show himself, the Image employed would be already a gross Misrepresentation)—the floating Voice might come from some wicked Agent unknown to us. Nevertheless, let us once grant that God speaks, and the unanimous sense of mankind is, that he speaks the Truth, that He cannot deceive.

There is then a Source of Knowledge respecting God, which is not only independent of the Method of Instruction called Revelation, but appears to exist in all Men. It is this source then which all thinking Men should endeavour to trace up to the very Dawn of spiritual, i. e. rational Life in Man; carefully observing its phenomenal Exhibitions, and anxiously separating what in it is primitive and universal, from what is accidental and individual. A truly philosophical Work on this most important Point-this Foundation of true Religion–is very much wanted in England.

Feb. 18th.

Mr. Studely Martin,-to whom I gave a little Herodotus, with a Latin inscription, expressive of my Thanks for his kindness, especially during this last illness.

Feb. 22nd.

I have lately observed that the increase of the constant feverishness which has been upon me since the 19th Dec., has taken place somewhat later every night. For the last three days I observe that the pulse is quicker just about ten o'clock when I leave my dressing-room. To-day I find it going at the rate of one hundred and twenty. It is true, I have had no rest.

Same day.

Dr. Woodward (I believe that is the name) asserts in his printed Sermons, that God cannot prevent all Evil: I speak upon Professor Powell's authority as to the Fact.-This View may raise very pious feelings in Dr. Woodward and his Hearers, and prevent their being angry with God, as very pious People are apt to be. But it is demonstrable that such a Being as Dr. Woodward worships, is not God. It may be a Jupiter Opt. Max. subject to Fate, but God, the Supreme, he is not. The original Idea of God is inseparable from that of Unlimitedness. Man is conscious of his own limited Existence, and, without the necessity of a Logical inference, perceives, in his own Limitation, the Existence of the Unlimited that limits him. Dr. W.'s God must be limited in regard to his Power over Evil, by one greater than He. That limiting-Unlimited is God. If Dr. W. does not perceive the force of this Demonstration, he is incapable of abstract philosophical Reasoning.

March 4th.

The Prospect of my Day, under this long Illness :

Here I am, at half-past 10, A. M., having forced a cup of coffee and a few pieces of toast down my throat, looking about for means to pass away the Day.-Books?-their Power over me is gone for the present. Exhausted by a succession of sleepless Nights, which are for the most part past in violent