262 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



he has to form an opinion on points which are not demonstrable ; for, although 

 he does not take anything for granted till he has satisfied himself at least of 

 the probability of its truth, yet, knowing the great difference there is between 

 reason actually contradicting, and reason not being able to explain, because he 

 cannot demonstrate to the contrary of what is set forth in any doctrine, as in- 

 volving no absurdity, suspends his judgment as far as regards demonstration, till 

 he [can prove either for or against. On looking around us, and beholding the 

 great predominance of good over evil, should we cast our eyes upon this apparent 

 anomaly in Nature, viz. — that animals prey upon each other as necessary to their 

 existence, might we not at first be inclined to doubt universal benevolence, till 

 philosophy comes to our aid, and says — ' human nature is finite, God all-powerful, 

 Nature profound, and shall Man dare to dispute the goodness of the Almighty 

 because he cannot explain all its manifestations V I trust not : as true philoso- 

 phers we should suspend our judgment. 



" This, it may be said, is taking a very comprehensive view of philosophy ; but 

 is it not so ? — Is noj that an extended, elevated, and ever gratefully-exciting 

 philosophy which constantly unfolds to our delighted eyes that beautiful con- 

 nection ever existing between our truest — and therefore purest — sources of real 

 and lasting enjoyments here, and our eternal happiness hereafter? What a 

 foundation — what a preparation of the mental soil, wherein to sow the seeds 

 which are to bring forth the fruits of a sublime religion I 



" So much for the real philosophy. This term has, however, been allowed to 

 slip rather from its original meaning; because, taken collectively, it has been 

 sometimes used to signify a class of studies or supposed reasonings, which, although 

 they originated in the observation of facts, went further than Nature and just 

 reason warranted them ; of this kind, says Professor Playfaib, called by Bacon 

 the sophistical, were almost all the physical systems of antiquity. And this is 

 the philosophy (so called) of many of the ancients, who vainly supposed that 

 reason (that power which enables [us only to perceive relations founded on facts, 

 and confirmed by other facts, the foundation of the Baconian philosophy) was, 

 from a few imperfectly observed phenomena, to conjure up a system, which, as it 

 pretended to explain, was exactly to represent that Nature with which the pro- 

 pounders had not even condescended to compare it. 



" Well might this, which was no philosophy at all, be opprobriously termed 

 the pride of Man's philosophy, as distinguished from that which Bacon beautifully 

 terms the interpretation of Nature ; and truly cautious should we be not to con- 

 found this with philosophy, so that by avoiding the one we discard the other ; lest 

 we insult the Deity by the abuse of that reason with which he has blest us, and 

 through the help of which we gain both the knowledge of his true glory, and the 

 hope to possess it. As the Apostle says, ye shall give a reason for the faith that 



