ON PR A 7ER ASA FORM OF PHYSICAL EN ERG T. 3 75 
notions vague, distant, and vast, which we cannot bring 
into contact with facts; as when we connect natural events 
with moral and historic causes." " Thus," he continues, 
" the character of mysticism is that it refers particulars, 
not to generalizations, homogeneous and immediate, but 
to such as are heterogeneous and remote; to which we must 
add, that the process of this reference is not a calm act of 
the intellect, but is accompanied with a glow of enthusias- 
tic feeling." 
Every feature here depicted, and some more question- 
able ones, have shown themselves of late; most conspic- 
uously, I regret to say, in the " leaders " of a weekly 
journal of considerable influence, and one, on many 
grounds, entitled to the respect of thoughtful men. In 
the correspondence, however, published by the same jour- 
nal, are to be found two or three letters well calculated to 
correct the temporary High ti ness of the journal itself. 
It is not my habit of mind to think otherwise than 
solemnly of the feeling which prompts prayer. It is a 
power which I should like to see guided, not extinguished 
devoted to practicable objects instead of wasted upon 
air. In some form or other, not yet evident, it may, as 
alleged, be necessary to man's highest culture. Certain it 
is that, while I rank many persons who resort to prayer 
low in the scale of being natural foolishness, bigotry, and 
intolerance being in their case intensified by the notion 
that they have access to the ear of God I regard others 
who employ it, as forming part of the very crearn of the 
earth. The faith that adds to the folly and ferocity of the 
one is turned to enduring sweetness, holiness, abounding 
charity, and self-sacrifice by the other. Religion, in fact, 
varies with the nature upon which it falls. Often unreason- 
able, if not contemptible, prayer, in its purer forms, hints 
at disciplines which few of us can neglect without moral 
loss. But no good can come of giving it a delusive value, 
by claiming for it a power in physical nature. It may 
strengthen the heart to meet life's losses, and thus 
indirectly promote physical well-being, as the digging of 
JEsop's orchard brought a treasure of fertility greater than 
the golden treasure sought. Such indirect issues we all 
admit; but it would be simply dishonest to affirm that it is 
such issues that are always in view. Here, for the present, 
I must end. I ask no space to reply to those railers who 
