Human Physiology. 



a direct revelation, given a religion to man, or has he left him 

 to form for himself as many as he likes? If the latter, we have 

 only to construct one as useful and agreeable as we can devise, 

 having first decided that some kind would be either useful or 

 agreeable. 



But if we decide that there is a religion, revealed by God. 

 for the benefit of man, then it is our highest interest and duty 

 to find and accept it ; and that religion of necessity excludes all 

 others. And that religion must be perfectly adapted to the 

 nature and wants of man. It may and must be marred by 

 human imperfections on its human side, but in itself, and as 

 divinely given, it must be divinely pure, holy, good, and beau- 

 tiful a religion of heroism and sanctity, of the highest love to 

 God, and the most unselfish devotion to the good of men. 



And the test of a true religion must be that it satisfies the 

 religious wants of man, as that of a true society is that it 

 satisfies his social wants. It should appeal in the strongest 

 way to all his higher faculties and penetrate and sanctify every 

 portion of his life. It should consecrate the ties of family, 

 friendship, and society; inspire the ardour of benevolence and 

 charity; give unity to science; become the object and highest 

 expression of art. Such a religion, such a church, such a wor- 

 ship, should unite the grandest and most impressive architecture, 

 the noblest sculpture, the highest genius in painting, the sub- 

 limities of music, the charm of poetry, the moving power of 

 eloquence, every symbol, every ceremony, every sacrament 

 that can elevate the soul of man and unite him to God. It 

 must be human in its means and adaptations, because it is 

 made for and adapted to humanity. It must be divine, uniting 

 men to each other in a common brotherhood, and restoring 

 them to unity with God. 



If all men could unite in a religion, so comprehensive, so 

 divine as to satisfy all the wants of the soul, and give it the 

 foretaste of perfect felicity, the work of social organisation 



