494 



REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



The Connexion of Natural and Divine Truth ; or, the Study of the Inductive 

 Philosophy considered as subservient to Theology. By the Rev. Baden Powell, 

 M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., of Oriel College, Savilian Professor of Geometry in the 

 University of Oxford. London: John W. Parker, West Strand. 1838. 8vo. 

 pp. 313. 



This volume reached us some months ago ; our notice of it has not been thus 

 long delayed because it emanates from the pen of a Rev. Oxford Professor, and 

 because it must therefore be " flat, stale, and unprofitable," but because, in spite 

 of its birth-place, it appears to us a model of sound unpretending liberality, and 

 hence demands a careful perusal. The Rev. Prof. Powell, M.A., is fully aware 

 of his " grievous heresies," but testifies no false alarm at the thoughts of publish- 

 ing them to the world. He relies on Man's natural love of truth too confidently 

 and too justly to believe that the promulgation of it will be a cause of alarm. 

 If he errs, it is an error of judgment and not of. intention. To blame any one 

 for his opinion is really very ridiculous. For instance, some one conscientiously 

 believes that there is no God : we consider that he is mistaken, and endeavour to 

 convince him of it ; but never can we blame him for boldly declaring his belief. 

 It would be time enough to blame him when, disbelieving the existence of the 

 Deity, he should, from whatever motive, attempt to maintain an opposite opinion 

 in the face of the world. Let no one think himself liberal or charitable so long 

 as he can confer the epithets " atheist," " infidel," &c, as terms of contempt. 

 We are none of us infallible ; and in a point shrouded in the utmost perplexity 

 to the deepest thinker, it is possible the " atheist" may be right. Let us no 

 longer discuss these high, these difficult subjects with fear. If the world be really 

 governed by one Almighty Power — which we firmly believe — the more the 

 point is investigated, the more likely shall we be to arrive at the truth ; but if 

 we shrink from reason through fear of upsetting favourite theories, where is our 

 safeguard? If, again, the Scriptures are directly inspired — if the "Song of 

 Solomon" (a love-song which, published in any modern novel, would be denounced 

 immoral), the writings of Moses, and the Epistles, are alike the immediate 

 emanations of God's boundless wisdom, fear not that the employment of our 

 reason will weaken our respect for them. Did God give us our highest faculties 

 in order that they should lie dormant, be termed " proud," " vain," and never be 

 exercised to decipher His noble works ? That the majority of our spiritual 

 advisers think thus is very clear — that our author is of an entirely opposite 

 opinion, we are happy to find. To prove that the preachings and the practice of 



