166 THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS. 



He suggested a higher scholarship in the church, and 

 a broader and more enlightened spirit of theological 

 inquiry, resting upon the Bible rather than dogmatic 

 standards. 



It is curious to see how much education and theology 

 engrossed his thoughts, along with science, from 1851 

 to 1853. Among his MSS. is the following, evidently 

 meant for a title-page : — " The Education of the People, 

 Training of the Clergy, and Kevision of Public Wor- 

 ship ; Three Subjects for Immediate Consideration by 

 the Church of Scotland : A Letter to the Very Eeve- 

 rend the Moderator of the General Assembly, from a 

 Non-official Member of the Kirk." He complained of 

 the system of public worship, that the Scriptures were 

 not read or expounded, that there was too much 

 preaching, and that the prayers were too doctrinal. 



In 1853 Goodsir revised the English translation as 

 it passed through the press of a work by Dr. Hannover 

 of Copenhagen — On the Construction and Use of the 

 Microscope. 



The death of his loving associate Edward Forbes, 

 in November 1854, was a sore trial to Goodsir and 

 many other friends ; the loss of so noble a spirit was 

 also a sad blow to the Edinburgh University. Con- 

 sidering the bonds of friendship, the joint labours of 

 their earlier years, and other circumstances in their 

 history, the public generally looked to Goodsir for a 

 biography of his departed friend, for he was the best 

 fitted to do justice to his memory. It is not necessary 

 to allude to the circumstances which brought Dr. 



