LECTURE III. 



DEEP in the soul of man abides the feeling, that in his 

 better nature he belongs not to this material world which 

 environs him, that a world of independent living spirits 

 is his proper home ; and readily does he soar in inspired 

 anticipation to those regions, which seem to him his truer 

 sphere. Returning from such a flight, for which the feeling 

 of his origin lent him wings when, after such exaltation, 

 he is again transplanted into the dead world of matter, he 

 tears himself unwillingly from the fair pictures, and readily, 

 especially in the youth, both of individuals and of the whole 

 race, invests surrounding Nature with the free spiritual life, 

 so congenial to himself. Youthful fancy lends to the 

 rock, the tree, the flower, an animating genius, and in the 

 thunder hears the voice of God. Then comes earnest 

 science stripping Nature of that inspiring charm, and sub- 

 stituting the unvarying law of blind necessity. The real 

 aim of man is to place his spirit in its true sphere, inde- 

 pendent and irrespective of external Nature, and in the full 

 understanding of this Nature, with pious hope to exalt over 

 all, the Highest Being ; but in the transition to this elevated 



