into the mine, and enriching ourselves with its treasures, there will remain more than sufficient to excite and to reward the labours of those who are to follow us on the stage of being; and the same unconfined regions of truth and loveliness, in which the sages of the past have delighted to roam, and in which they acquired those high honours that have associated their names with the history of the species, will ever be the means of affording fresh discoveries and new enjoyment to the busy and inquiring mind of man.— The Philosophy of the Human Mind, then, so far from being uninteresting, presents to the student, at every step of his progress, new and unexpected results; it renders every branch of knowledge subservient to the elucidation of its principles; it analyzes that which seems, at first view, scarcely susceptible of an accurate investigation; and the surprise which is felt when the elements and the laws of human thought are reduced to a system, and the apparently unconnected phenomena of the moral world traced to their origin, and subjected to established rules, cannot but form a stimulus to exertion, and a source of high satisfaction.

Another advantage attending the study of the Philosophy of the Human Mind is, that it gives us clearer and more enlarged views of moral obligation. This I conceive to be one of its leading designs; and as it is a design which so closely affects the highest interests of the human race, no one to whom Providence has granted the opportunity can exempt himself from the duty of giving the subject his most serious consideration. Revelation, indeed, has not left unnoticed

any point which essentially concerns the moral im provement and happiness of man; it has diffused its cheering and steady light over the darkness of nature, and has given to the doctrines of theological science a splendour of evidence all its own; but as this unspeakable gift of heaven has not been given to supersede the use of reason, in cases where reason alone is sufficient, or, at least, where its exercise is of the highest utility, it may well be maintained that our knowledge of moral obligation becomes more definite and enlarged by an attentive study of the faculties of man. We must believe with Melancthon," that those precepts which learned men have committed to writing, transcribing them from the common reason and common feelings of human nature, are to be accounted as not less divine than those contained in the tables given to Moses; and that it could not be the intention of our Maker to supersede, by a law graven upon stone, that which is written with his own finger on the table of the heart."

Obvious as this truth may appear, it was neglected and denied during the dark ages, and the Reformer, whose opinion I have now quoted, was one of the first who contended for its authority and importance, in opposition to the doctrine that all moral distinctions are created by arbitrary appointment. This tenet was not only false, but was actually productive of the most pernicious consequences; since its influence gradually prepared the way for transferring the homage due to the eternal obligations of morality, to the unmeaning rites of superstition; and insensibly induced mankind to act in defiance of the plainest dictates of

reason and of common sense. The progress of juster views has discovered to mankind, at least to a considerable portion of the human species, the magnitude of this error; yet, it may safely be affirmed, that even in Protestant countries it still continues to affect the opinions and the conduct of many individuals.

This is not the place for entering into any detailed discussion as to the grounds, or the extent of moral obligation: but I cannot help remarking, even here, that our views on this subject will be much more accurate and enlarged by a close examination of the active powers of our nature;—that our impressions of the unalterable distinctions between virtue and vice will be strengthened, and have a greater influence on the habits of thought and conduct;-and that we shall be much more prepared to examine with candour the doctrines of revealed religion, when we are thoroughly taught to do homage, in every instance, to the high authority of God. When it is observed, for example, that in every part of the world, human beings entertain the same moral feelings and the same moral tendencies; that, though some of them may be modified by peculiarity of circumstances, they are in every place essentially the same:-we are surely entitled to infer that principles thus united to the nature of man, in all ages, and in all nations, are to be regarded as an expression to us of the will of the Deity. When we observe that in every situation the child loves his parent and the parent his child, we justly conclude that filial and parental affection forms a law of human nature; and that independent of the fifth precept of the decalogue, children are laid under moral obligations to love and honour

their parents. When we find a susceptibility for religious worship inherent in man, and contradistinguishing his nature from the inferior animals, we feel an irresistible conviction that he has been formed for contemplating the perfections and obeying the will of the Creator; and we observe in the first commandment of the law only the explicit statement of a truth, which, while the constitution of human beings remains unchanged, must continue for ever unalterably the same. Thus, we might proceed in our investigation of all the moral tendencies essentially connected with our nature, and discover that the elementary principles of moral obligation are indelibly impressed on the heart; and that the duty of yielding a full obedience to their requirements is so far from being the creation of arbitrary appointment, or of political arrangements, that it can only cease to be with the extinction of our being. That the advantages resulting from such discoveries are of the first importance to the interests of mankind, is sufficiently obvious. I shall only observe, that revelation itself assumes the fact, that from the moral feelings of our nature, though often perverted by ignorance and corruption, we may infer many of our obligations; that its doctrines and its precepts are proposed to us on the supposition that the duty of yielding a ready compliance with the will of our Maker is founded on the inherent principles of our constitution; and that the same integrity of mind requisite for a candid examination of the one, is conducive to the full reception of the other.

There is yet another advantage resulting from the study of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, which

I must mention; the striking proofs which it affords of the beneficence and wisdom of the Creator. On this point I am the more disposed to lay stress, because I feel persuaded that in no department of nature are there clearer or more impressive indications given of the boundless goodness and intelligence of Him that formed us; and though the phenomena of the material world be more frequently appealed to on this subject, it is only because external objects are familiar to the thoughts of every one, and require less abstraction of mind to discover in them a continued illustration of the divine perfections. After tracing the goodness of the Deity in the various kingdoms of nature, in the air, the earth, the sky,-more especially in the mighty and harmonious movements of the planetary worlds, the metaphysician returns to survey regions which are, indeed, concealed from vulgar view, but whose phenomena afford the most affecting proofs of that tender mercy that pervades and gladdens the universe. He can perceive in the constitution of the human mind-in the balance which is established between its intellectual and moral powers,—in the admirable adaptation of its various tendencies to the circumstances with which it is surrounded, and in the growth of affections corresponding to youth, to manhood, and to old age, the wisdom and the goodness of a Being who is not only himself infinitely perfect, but who, in communicating life to his intelligent offspring, has given them, with this blessing, the essential elements of happiness.

Were it my object to enter into details on this subject, it were easy to multiply illustrations. I might