424 CONSTITUTION OF THE INTELLECT. [CHAP. XXII. 



ancient and just conception of truth as one though manifold. 

 Much of this error, as actually existent among us, seems due 

 to the special and isolated character of scientific teaching 

 which character it, in its turn, tends to foster. The study of 

 philosophy, notwithstanding a few marked instances of exception, 

 has failed to keep pace with the advance of the several depart- 

 ments of knowledge, whose mutual relations it is its province to 

 determine. It is impossible, however, not to contemplate the 

 particular evil in question as part of a larger system, and connect 

 it with the too prevalent view of knowledge as a merely secular 

 thing, and with the undue predominance, already adverted to, of 

 those motives, legitimate within their proper limits, which are 

 founded upon a regard to its secular advantages. In the extreme 

 case it is not difficult to see that the continued operation of 

 such motives, uncontrolled by any higher principles of action, 

 uncorrected by the personal influence of superior minds, must 

 tend to lower the standard of thought in reference to the objects 

 of knowledge, and to render void and ineffectual whatsoever ele- 

 ments of a noblerfaith may still survive. And ever in proportion 

 as these conditions are realized must the same effects follow. 

 Hence, perhaps, it is that we sometimes find juster conceptions 

 of the unity, the vital connexion, and the subordination to a 

 moral purpose, of the different parts of Truth, among those who 

 acknowledge nothing higher than the changing aspect of col- 

 lective humanity, than among those who profess an intellectual 

 allegiance to the Father of Lights. But these are questions 

 which cannot further be pursued here. To some they will ap- 

 pear foreign to the professed design of this work. But the 

 consideration of them has arisen naturally, either out of the 

 speculations which that design involved, or in the course of 

 reading and reflection which seemed necessary to its accomplish- 

 ment. 



THE END. 



