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365.

If there be an analogy or likeness between that system of things, and dispensation of Providence, which revelation informs us of, and that system of things, and dispensation of Providence, which experience, together with reason, informs us of, that is, the known course of nature; this is a presumption that they have both the same author and cause; at least, so far as to answer objections against the former's being from God, drawn from anything which is analogical, or similar to what is in the latter, which is acknowledged to be from Him.-Bp Butler. 366.

Now I think that the Christian doctrine of the resurrection meets the Materialists so far as this; that it does imply that a body, or an organization of some sort, is necessary to the full developement of man's nature. Beyond this we cannot go; -for, -granting that the brain is essential to thought,still no man can say that the whole pulp which you can see, and touch, and anatomize, can itself think, and by whatever names we endeavour to avoid acknowledging the existence of mind, whether we talk of a subtle fluid, or a wonderful arrangement of nerves, or any thing else,-still we do but disguise our ignorance; for the act of thinking is one sui generis, and the thinking power must in like manner be different from all that we commonly mean by matter. Dr Arnold.

367.

The Atheist, arguing about the doubts only himself can see, is like the sick man combating with the phantoms which are produced only by his disordered mind.-E. W.

368.

I believe that any man can make himself an Atheist speedily, by breaking off his own personal communion with God in Christ; but, if he keeps

this unimpaired, I believe that no intellectual study, whether of nature or of man, will force him into Atheism; but, on the contrary, the new creations of our knowledge, so to speak, gather themselves into a fair and harmonious system, ever revolving in their brightness around their proper center, the throne of God. - Dr Arnold.

369.

It seems to be the character and object of Scepрticism, to leave in doubt its own opinions, as well as those which it professes to doubt of. - W. Danby. 370.

Among the extravagancies of faith which have characterised many infidel writers, who would swallow a whale to avoid believing that a whale swallowed Jonah, a high rank should be given to Dupuis, who, at the commencement of the French Revolution, published a work in twelve volumes, octavo, in order to prove that Jesus Christ was the Sun, and all Christians, worshippers of Mithra.S. T. Coleridge.

371.

I hold that Atheism and pure Scepticism are both systems of absurdity; which involves the condemnation of hypotheses leading to either of them as conclusions. For Atheism separates truth from goodness, and Scepticism destroys truth altogether; both of which are monstrosities, from which we should revolt as from a real madness. --Dr Arnold.

372.

There are some of whom it may be said, that if they had learnt more, they would not have known so much, or at least, not so usefully; for what they have learnt, may have confounded their minds, or if they have not "too much knowledge for the sceptic side," they may have learnt just enough to incline them to it; not the scepticism of ignorance, but of presumptuous confidence and selfconceit.-W. Danby.

373.

I did not observe anything amounting to a sneering spirit; but there seemed to me a coldness on religious matters, which made me fear lest it should change to sneering, as the understanding became more vigorous: for this is the natural fault of the undue predominance of the mere intellect, unaccompanied by a corresponding growth and liveliness of the moral affections, particularly that of admiration and love of moral excellence; just as superstition arises, where it is honest, from the undue predominance of the affections, without the strengthening power of the intellect advancing in proportion.-Dr Arnold.

374.

Men work themselves into an atheistical judg

ment by atheistical practices. - Dr Whichcote.

375.

Men of holy hearts and lives best understand holy doctrines and things. Those who have not the temper of religion, are not competent judges of the things of religion. - Dr Whichcote.

376.

When the doctrine of the Gospel becomes the reason of our mind, it will be the principle of our life. Dr Whichcote.

377.

In worship there is: 1. Apprehension of the object, and acknowledgment of its perfection; 2. Union with the object, and affection to it; 3. Sense of infirmity and dependence on the object. These are things in worship, of which nothing can be done, but by the spirit. - Dr Whichcote.

378.

True wisdom consists in seeing how all the

faculties of the mind and all parts of knowledge bear upon each other, so as to work together to a common end; ministering at once to the happiness of man and his Maker's glory.—Professor Sedgwick.

379.

In no age has there existed any philosophy, or sect, or religion, or law, or system, which so much exalted the good of the community, and depressed that of the individual, as the holy Christian Faith: the clear conclusion from which is, that it was one and the same God who gave to inanimate creation those laws of nature, and to men the law of Christ. -Bacon.

380.

Christianity is a system of wonders. It enjoins upon man to acknowledge himself vile,—yea, abominable; yet commands him to aspire to a likeness to God! Without such a counterpoise, his elevation would render him fearfully vain, or his abasement hopelessly abject.-Pascal.

381.

Any one understanding the real nature of man, must perceive that a true religion ought to be versed in our nature; ought to know its greatness and its degradation; and the causes of both the one and the other. What religion but Christianity exhibits such a knowledge as this?-Pascal.

382.

For my part, I confess, that as soon as I found the Christian religion laying down this principle,that the nature of man is corrupt, and fallen away from his Maker, my eyes were open to the truth of the entire system.—Pascal.

383.

The assertion that human nature is totally corrupt, requires some qualification or explanation. If nothing more be meant than that man is so depraved that he will never of himself repent, believe,

entertain genuine love to God, or from right motives practise his commands, the proposition is correct. But if it express that no kind or portion of moral excellence resides naturally in man, it is unsupported by Scripture, and decisively confuted by fact. Are not benevolence, filial and parental affection, pity, gratitude, generosity of disposition, the love of justice, in themselves morally good, and parts of the nature which God has communicated to mankind? Or are they peculiar to the renovated and religious character? Though man's nature is in ruins, it exhibits many traces and fragments of its original beauty and magnificence. - W. B. Clulow. 384.

The opening flower blooms alike in all places: the moon sheds an equal radiance on every mountain and every river. Evil exists only in the heart of man; all other things tend to shew the benevolence of Heaven towards the human race. - Chinese maxim.

385.

The supposition that mankind acquire depravity from example, education, or circumstances, not from what is termed original sin, only removes the difficulty a single step, if we admit, what cannot be controverted, that they are actually depraved. The same objection might be urged against their introduction to circumstances which invariably occasion depravity, as against their inheritance of a corrupt nature from Adam. The whole difficulty, in fact, lies in the permission of moral evil, or its entrance into our world; for that once obviated, the perplexities attending the problem would be of comparatively easy solution; as, that one class should be involved in the consequences of behaviour not their own, since otherwise no system of general laws could be established, or if established, could not be continued without the frequent intervention of miracle.-W. B. Clulow.

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