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most holy of mankind, without the discovery of those general laws, by which its action on the intellectual and moral frame is governed and determined to its proper end. In the following pages an attempt will be made to establish the truth of this probability upon more positive grounds, by showing, that ignorance of right principle, in this instance as in most others, is to be attributed to a voluntary neglect of means of information, which God has placed within our reach. The ground of this conclusion lies in the facts, which must be proved at length, that whatever is necessary to be known, on this as on all other subjects of eternal interest, has been revealed in the inspired Word of God; and, farther, that it has also been frequently deduced therefrom, if not as a system, yet in its several parts, by ancient writers of deserved authority. If, in addition, we are able to conclude, that the deductions of those writers obtained a general reception in the best ages of the undivided Church, we seem to possess an amount of evidence that is nothing short of a complete moral demonstration of the truths in question. Since, however, it may appear to those who do not fully realize the unity in doctrine and doctrinal principle which prevailed in early times, with infinite diversity of application and expression, among all who professed adherence to the ancient faith, that, after all, the allegation of Holy Scripture, in those parts where its

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meaning is not apparent to all minds, is but an appeal to the private interpretations of uninspired men; it will also form part of the design now undertaken, to exhibit, as occasion shall serve, the strict harmony and accordance of the principles maintained with the acknowledged facts and necessary laws of human nature.

It must be allowed that investigations of this kind, though presenting considerable difficulties, might with advantage engage the attention of more persons than are found disposed to enter on them. We all acknowledge that it is our duty to maintain, as we best may, that portion of the truth with which, through God's providence, we are in trust; and we should be ashamed to express a doubt of the ultimate reward of our exertions in its cause, if they failed to meet with the encouragement of present and visible success. Notwithstanding, it is too true, that while no amount of labour is thought ill-bestowed on the less necessary details of learning in all its departments, the men of this generation are impatient of the study of those eternal principles, in harmony with which alone consist the truth and power of growth of all real human knowledge. Even the teachers of the age, who, from their natural gifts and providential advantages, are capable of nobler work than the accumulation and arrangement of outward facts, are generally found to shrink from the full responsi

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bility of their exalted office, or perhaps from the vulgar odium that always attends the guardianship of that which may not be disputed. Thus loose in their attachment to fixed principle, too many are allured by the ambitious novelties of speculative disquisition, and learn soon to be contented, if they do not find themselves in front-tofront conflict with truths that have endured the assay of ages, or been stamped by the attestation of the Word of God. In the meanwhile, parties are multiplied and enjoy credit for a day; for originality is always more or less popular, because, even when it does not remove old restraints, being destitute of authority, it cannot offer to impose new on the unwilling. There have been some, however, who appeared to begin well, who were not ashamed of the truth because it was old, nor despised it because they had learned and not discovered it; and yet, in the hour of trial, proved themselves to be but feebly influenced by those enduring principles which they honoured with a lip-service, and too easily moved by that spirit of change, "the spirit of the world,” to which their words were a defiance. If no ex

amples of this inconstancy had been furnished by our own age and country, it is not too much to say, with reference to our especial subject, that we should ere this have witnessed the revision-in some cases, it may be, the general rejection-of many specious, but false, theories in the philosophy

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པ་

of faith, which still retain an undisputed place in the acceptance of the multitude.

It is a subject of daily complaint, that modern endeavours to convert the unbeliever, or to induce the professed Christian to walk worthy of his vocation, are not blessed with that measure of success which the importance of a right faith and practice, and the experience of former ages, might naturally lead us to anticipate. It was in the attempt to ascertain the cause of this failure, that the writer found himself carried through that extended course of reasoning and reflection to which he desires now to invite the attention of others. He is satisfied that he has ample ground for the conclusion, that the evil to which he refers has, in a great measure, arisen from the very general error of allowing an exclusive or disproportionate influence in the determination and apprehension of the objects of | religious faith to one or more faculty or function of the mind, while other elements of our complex being are denied their just exercise and operation. That some evil consequences must ensue from such a course is at once obvious; and it is not unreasonable to believe, that their seriousness will be in proportion to the importance of the subject concerned, and the dignity of those faculties which suffer, whether from undue excitement, from misdirection, or disuse. It is hoped, therefore, that the wide prevalence of tendencies in this direction,

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will justify the attempt, however humble in design, and imperfect in execution, to call attention to that theory of conversion and belief, which, being evidently set forth in Holy Scripture, is itself entitled to be regarded as an integrant part of the divine revelation.

It is true that the erroneous principle, on which our faulty practice has been built, is now seldom maintained in express terms among ourselves: yet it may be feared that it is not less influential in fact, than when it was enforced by the direct teaching of many eminent and able authors. The national mind has been formed by lessons, some of which have been forgotten, though their effect remains. The result of this has been, the prevalence among us of modes of thought and feeling which may be traced to sources that many of those who entertain them are often found most anxious to repudiate. We have passed through a period of cold love, and, therefore, of reluctant faith; and evidences of its debasing influence are still to be seen on every side. The evil may have developed itself in other forms than those by which our fathers were misled; and these, perhaps, less obviously noxious; but since, at the same time, we are assailed at more points and with a more ensnaring guile, the amount of mischief that ensues is not diminished. This is an age of subtle self-deception. Men act unconsciously on principles which they