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I can see no benefit in tLe attempt to propitiate such 
teachers. In my opinion, those who value the truth should 
take a bolder course, and show the inseparable connection 
between fa Ise science, false religion, and false morality. 
I have endeavoured to lay before the Institute, as both 
a Religious and Philosophical Society, subjects requiring 1 
thoughtful consideration and bearing with increasing pressure 
on the interests of religious truth. It has not appeared to 
me either becoming or proper to adopt the style of lecturing, 
which I have objected to at the commencement. Rather 
would I continue a student amongst reverent students of the 
works of God, satisfied that shallow dogmatism will not meet 
the need of the Church in the coming age; neither will it 
avail the chosen people “ to go down to the Philistines to 
sharpen every man his axe,” but rather to learn for themselves 
how to fashion the best weapons of war, and to recover that 
supremacy in the regions of philosophic thought possessed of 
old time by the church of God. 
I conclude with an extract from the letter of a scientific 
friend, presenting a chapter from the ever fresh and ever 
varied records of Providential care over man. 
“You have read Mungo Park’s story about finding the 
moss in the desert when he had lost his way, and fell down 
exhausted, expecting to die. The same accident happened to 
my brother-in-law. Dui’ing one of those sudden storms which 
occur in the Andes, he and the guides lost their way, and, 
separating in different directions, my friend became at last 
so exhausted that he sunk to the ground, never expecting to 
rise again. A couple of condors were hovering over him, 
waiting till they saw life extinct, or nearly so, before they 
attacked the body. He had had no food since the previous 
day, as the puna or mountain sickness had been on him, and 
now was so faint he could not move. When lying on the 
ground, he observed a small snail-shell, the animal of which 
was moving slowly along the parched ground. He remem- 
bered my love for shells ; he thought of the incident to Park. 
Still lying on the ground, he collected as many of the snail- 
shells as lie could, thought of the watchful Providence which 
protected them, was inspired with new strength, made a fresh 
effort, and in half an hour arrived at a small village, where ho 
received every attention.” 
“ O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast ! How excellent 
is Thy loving-kindness, 0 God ! Therefore the sons of men 
put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings 
