432 Recapitulation. 



The discoveries in Chemistry have been tortured to 

 furnish a physical solution of all those phenomena 

 of motion, life, and mind, which are unanimously- 

 considered, by more sober inquirers, as teaching 

 the immateriality of the soul, and as proclaiming 

 the existence of a supreme intelligent First 

 Cause. Systems of Moral and Political philoso- 

 phy have been formed, by which their authors 

 meant to strike at the root of evangelic truth. 

 And all the stores of ancient and modern literature 

 have been ransacked to obtain some pretext for 

 disbelieving the precious Records which God con- 

 descended to bestow on our fallen race. 



This rage for impious theory, though it had 

 long before existed, began more boldly and exten- 

 sively to proclaim its views about twenty years 

 before the close of the period under consideration. 

 There is scarcely a single branch of human know- 

 ledge to which this scientific and literary perver- 

 sion has not reached; and scarcely a ridiculous or 

 odious form of error to which it has not given rise. 

 Were these motley and grotesque figures, formed 

 by perverted genius, only intended to traverse the 

 stage, for the temporary purpose of amusement, 

 they might excite less of our attention ; but, 

 considering them, as their framers have anxiously 

 desired to make them be considered, as guides to 

 knowledge, and as rules of action, every lover of 

 human happiness will regard them with more 

 serious and indignant feelings. And although 

 their influence has been counteracted by means 

 which will be presently mentioned, they have yet 

 poisoned the principles, and completed the ruin 

 of millions. 



Almost every successive age has some peculiarity 

 in the style and manner of its philosophers and 

 writers; some particular livery, which serves to 

 distinguish it from other times. The scientific 



