840 REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



their unalterable love of truth. But such a deplorable state of affairs, we con- 

 fidently hope, will not, cannot last for ever. No : in the language of the prophet, 

 " the knowledge of the Lord," through his works, will one day " cover the earth 

 as the waters cover the sea." In that day men will no longer be persecuted for 

 their opinions, or for the grievous offence of preferring the knowledge of the Lord 

 obtained immediately from his works to that imparted, partially, if not incorrectly, 

 by men altogether ignorant of science, or even of the very nature of scientific 

 inquiry. Pitiable is the philosophy of those who teach that salvation is alone 

 attainable by an empty belief in their creeds, and that all others shall '' without 

 doubt perish everlastingly." Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord ; and shall frail 

 mortals arrogate to themselves the right of judging their fellow-mortals ? We 

 believe they cannot do it with impunity. Be this, however, as it may, they have 

 their reward. 



In the discussion of this point, we wish it to be distinctly understood that we 

 only so far object to the study of the Bible as relates to scientific inquiry, where 

 its accuracy or otherwise may be mathematically proved. The invaluable code 

 of morality imparted by the Sacred Volume will be the unerring guide and safe- 

 guard of Mankind as long as the world exists ; and, when time shall be no more* 

 and the precincts of eternity shall be open before us, then will men be happy or 

 miserable in proportion as they have fulfilled or neglected its everlasting precepts. 

 At that awful moment, or we are greatly deceived, no one will receive punishment 

 for opinions honestly held — in other words, for the result of the exercise of the 

 highest faculties : rather would those suffer who have permitted their talents to lie 

 dormant : rather will those be unhappy whose words and faith have been fair, but 

 whose works have been lamentably deficient. 



It were unfair to conclude without a few observations on the execution of the 

 Treatise which has given rise to these remarks. Its plan is lucid, the descriptions 

 are wholly free from verbosity or confusion, and the spirit pervading the whole is 

 excellent. Destitute of those factitious attractions commonly deemed requisite to 

 render scientific works " popular," the subject and the manner in which Professor 

 Phillips has treated it appear to us well calculated to ensure the attention of all 

 classes of readers. Under these circumstances, we congratulate the public on the 

 reappearance of the treatise, originally printed in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 

 in the present portable form. It is embellished with two good engravings of 

 Fingal's Cave. 



