160 



men. But it also is true, her instructions have not been 

 universally adopted ; and multitudes are content to continue 

 the slaves of example and habit, and abandon tliemselves in 

 the vigour and manhood of their understandings to a system 

 of errors, fit only to impose on the credulity of childhood,^ 

 or the inanity of dotage. 



This perversion of intellect could scarcely have arisen, 

 were it not for a term of fearful importance among the abet- 

 tors of human degradation. They have not invented the 

 word — but the}' have distorted its meaning. Faith may be 

 sometimes interpreted simply " belief" — sometimes " reli- 

 ance on God," and perhaps it sometimes is used in this 

 double capacity : but never except in the glossaries of igno- 

 rance, superstition, or enthusiasm, does it signify " an assent 

 to a conclusion unsupported by premises" — nor can it be 

 supposed by a sane understanding, that God is best pleased 

 with his creatures, when they most firmly believe without evi- 

 dence, what the faculties he bestowed declare most incre- 

 dihle. On the contrary, it is manifest, that if it is in the 

 power of human beings to acquire the favour of God, it 

 must be by the exercise of that towering faculty, which keeps 

 the passions in subjection, enlarges, the dominion of the in- 

 tellect, and in unfolding the immensity of nature, elevates 

 the mind to a conception of its stupendous Author. 



As the reason of man advances toward perfection, the im- 

 provement of the physical and moral world must necessarily 

 advance with equal strides. Every addition of knowledge is 



