4 f * 
86 On the Institution of Literary 
ly by the active prevalence of those motives (very 
different from a passion for human praise) which 
Christianity prescribes for the regulation of the heart 
and conduct in every station and circumstance of 
life. | 
There yet remains one subject, on which (in 
treating of disadvantages not unlikely to be annexed 
to Literary and Philosophical institutions) it would 
be improper to be wholly silent. I allude to the 
charge not unfrequently alleged against philosophy ; 
and against the institutions in question as encourag- 
ing philosophy:—namely, that the philosopher is 
sometimes found to advance in the road to infideli- 
ty in proportion as he devotes himself to scientific 
researches. This charge is, I trust, an imputation, 
which has derived an unmerited degree of credit in 
consequence of being unhappily supported by some- 
particular examples, to enlarge on which would be 
unsuitable to the present occasion. With respect 
therefore to those examples I shall only observe, 
that if the effect of \philosophical pursuits on faith in 
Christianity were to be estimated by the authority 
of the names of believing and unbelieving philoso- 
phers; the venerable Newton would be found sta- , 
uoned at the head of a phalanx, whose intellectual pe- 
netration and scientific attainments would in vain, 
I apprehend, be sought on the adverse side. No 
supposition however can be more unreasonable than 
to imagine ‘that a sedulous enquiry into the works 
