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CHAPTER VI. 



On Deductive Habits ; or, on the Impression pro- 

 duced on Mens Minds by tracing the conse- 

 quences of ascertained Laivs. 



THE opinion illustrated in the last chapter, that 

 the advances which men make in science tend 

 to impress upon them the reality of the Divine 

 government of the world, has often been con- 

 troverted. Complaints have been made, and 

 especially of late years, that the growth of piety 

 has not always been commensurate with the 

 growth of knowledge, in the minds of those who 

 make nature their study. Views of an irreligious 

 character have been entertained, it is sometimes 

 said, by persons eminently well instructed in all 

 the discoveries of modern times, no less than by 

 the superficial and ignorant. Those who have 

 been supposed to deny or to doubt the existence, 

 the providence, the attributes of God, have in 

 many cases been men of considerable eminence 

 and celebrity for their attainments in science. 

 The opinion that this is the case, appears to be 

 extensively diffused, and this persuasion has 

 probably often produced inquietude and grief in 

 the breasts of pious and benevolent men. 



This opinion, concerning the want of religious 



