37S Dr. Spuizhehjis demonstrative Course of Lectures 



Led. 1 . Of tliefuciihies proper to Man. — No philosophical 

 system hitherto jnoposed has adef|uate!y indicated tlie h"ne of de- 

 marcation between men and brutes: the latter have all the primi- 

 tive faculties mentioned by pliilosophers, — :perception, memory, 

 judgement, and imagination. Some have denied them the latter ; 

 but animals dream, and therefore imagine. Sentiments proper to 

 man : — the first is religion, wliich prevails every where in all states 

 of human existence. It hai been vulgarly observed that men with 

 bald heads are religious ; but women have rarely bald heads, and 

 yet are more religious than men. Artists have delineated the chiefs 

 of almost ail religious sects with elevated heads ; the saints are 

 all so represented, llore the lecturer exhibited seven profile 

 impressions of Christ's head, many of them he considered as 

 that of coxcombs, having the organ of approbation highly de- 

 veloped. He then shewed a small figure of the Saviour, havinj^ 

 a high head with the hair failing down on each side. The head 

 of Christ (he observed, for the information of artists, who often 

 exhibit a savage tyrant for a representation of the divine author 

 of our religion,) should have all the faculties proper to man 

 greatly elevated, and those proper to animals depressed. Lava- 

 ter had tliis coniiguration very conspicuous. Religion is too vague 

 a term for this sentiment, which does not include benevolence 

 and the moral virtues, many men being pious witlmut benevo- 

 lence, justice, or moral honesty ; they will lie, cheat, and de- 

 ceive; theoso])hy is no better a term, as we know nothing of 

 God's knowledge. Veneration is the best appellation, and 1 de- 

 nominate it the org.in of veveratioii, as it venerates and re- 

 spects, and is especially directed towards the Great Creator of 

 all things. But, although men are endov.ed with this sentiment, 

 yet revelatiori is not superfluous ; religion existed among all men 

 long prior to revelation, and manv nations are v/ithout revelation 

 to tlie present day ; yet the sentiment of veneraf^n even to the 

 works of their ovrn hands, to cats, dogs, and other animals, ex- 

 ists among the most savage jjeople. Man must be prepared for 

 receiving revelation ; it is not given to animals, which are inca- 

 pable of receiving such gifts. Tliis faculty is to be exercised, and 

 it proves that religion is both luitural and necessary to man. H(^ 

 who is destitute of this organ can never conceive how men vene^ 

 rate the Creator of v/hom thoy know so little. You may reason, 

 describe, and remonstrate with such a person abi.ut religion, but 

 he can never either feci or comprehend your meaning. If he not 

 only rejects tlie practice of veneration, but cavils and rails at all 

 religion, he only condemns himself, he merely proves himself to be 

 destitute of this primarv sentiment. His conduct is like that of 

 a blind man whosiiouid conclude that there is no such thing a.? 



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