154 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



attraftlon, of fermentation, of cryftallization ; in 

 a word, all the operations of Chemiftry, and all 

 the fubtilities of dialectics : but all, with equal 

 fuccefs, that is, with none whatever. We Ihall 

 demonftrate, in the article which follows this, 

 when we come to fpeak of the weaknefs of Human 

 Reafon, that the method adopted in our Schools, 

 of riling up to firfh caufes, is the perpetual fource 

 of the errors of our Philofophy, in phyfics as well 

 as in morals. Fundamental truths refemble the 

 ftars, and our reafon is like the graphometer. If 

 this inftrument, conftruded for the purpofe of 

 obferving the heavenly bodies, has been deranged 

 however flightly ; if from the point of departure, 

 we commit a miftake of the minuted angle ima- 

 ginable, the error, at the extremity of the vifual 

 rays, becomes abfolutely incommenfurable. 



There is fomething flill more ftrange, in the 

 method which Lucretius has thought proper to pur-' 

 fue : namely that, in a Work, the profelfed object 

 of which is to materialize the Deity, he fets out 

 v>^ith deifying matter. In this he has himfelf given 

 way to an univerfal principle, Vvhich we fliall en- 

 deavour to unfold, when we come to adduce the 

 proofs of the Divinity from feeling; it is this, 

 that we find it impoffible powerfully to intcrcft 

 mankind, whatever be the objed, without prefent- 

 ing to the Mind, fome of the attributes of Deity, 



Before 



