308 PROCBBBINGS OF PROVINCIAL 80CIETIES. 



Having concluded this part of his subject, he illustrated the close 

 connection between natural philosophy and religious devotion by 

 quoting the views entertained of the nature and attributes of the 

 Deity by the ancient philosophers, of whom he remarked — '' The 

 ancients were deeply versed in most of those arts and sciences which 

 could be obtained without the assistance of scientific instruments ; 

 and the extraordinary talents of many of their philosophers, and 

 their eminent proficiency in Natural History, abstract reasoning, 

 and Metaphysics, opened to them as clear and comprehensive a view 

 as reason, unenlightened by revelation, could attain of the nature 

 and attributes of the Deity. Aristotle says that God appears the 

 cause of all things and a first principle ; he also describes him as im- 

 mortal, incorruptible, uncreated, and self-existing. Plato, although 

 convinced of the unity of the Deity, frequently speaks of him in 

 the plural number, out of indulgence, perhaps, to the prejudices of 

 his countrymen. The following is a remarkable view which he 

 takes of what constitutes blasphemy : — the first species is ' denying 

 the existence of a Deity or Gods ;* the second, * admitting their 

 existence, but denying that they care for man ;' the third kind of 

 blasphemy was that of ' men attempting to propitiate the Gods to- 

 wards criminal acts, such as murder, &c., by prayers, thanksgiving, 

 and sacrifice, thus making those pure beings accomplices in their 

 crimes.* The first two of Plato's doctrines cannot be impeached ; 

 and how exactly should we agree with the last view of the great 

 heathen in contemplating alone the purity of God ! but thankful 

 ought we to be that he has condescended to reveal to us the blessed 

 truth that his love and mercy are equal to his justice." After 

 quoting some fine passages from Epicurus, Plutarch, Seneca, and 

 the elder Pliny, expressing their full belief in the omnipotence and 

 unity of the God of Nature, the lecturer proceeds: — "Thus, then, 

 have these wondrous men bequeathed us in their works a proud me- 

 morial of genius inspired by the contemplation of external Nature, 

 and thus on every page have they engraved an inscription imperish- 

 able as that on the Athenian altar, ' to the unknown God.' Some- 

 thing, however, was still wanting ; it was the light of revelation to 

 pierce that mental cloud which philosophy alone was unable to dis- 

 pel — it was the voice of an apostle, to declare unto them that Being 

 whom they ignorantly adored. I will not describe, for it must be 

 obvious to all, in how beautiful and comprehensive a manner the 

 Deity whom we meet in every path of Nature is shadowed out to 

 us in the sacred writings, and with what enthusiasm the ancient 

 philosophers would have hailed that delineation as the fulfilment of 

 their deepest speculations and fondest hopes. From the eye of 

 every christian the veil has been long withdrawn which separates 

 anxious doubt from the glorious certainty ; and it is our privilege 

 to peruse with unsatiated delight the works of Nature, and to rest 

 with humble confidence on the written word of God." The lectur- 

 er then goes on to describe, with much enthusiasm, the elevating ten- 

 dency of the contemplation of Nature, from the glorious objects 



