41)4 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Connexion of Natural and Divine Truth ; or, the Study of the Inductive 
Philosophy considered as subservient to Theology. By the Bev. Baden Powell, 
M.A., F.R S., F.G.S., of Oriel College, Savilian Professor of Geometry in the 
University of Oxford. London: John W. Darker, West Strand. 1838. 8vo. 
pp. 313. 
This volume reached us some months ago; our notice of it has not been thus 
long delayed because it emanates from the pen of a Rev. Oxford Professor, and 
because it must therefore be 44 flat, stale, and unprofitable,” but because, in spite 
of its birth-place, it appears to us a model of sound unpretending liberality, and 
hence demands a careful perusal. The Rev. Prof. Powell, M.A., is fully aware 
of his 44 grievous heresies,” but testifies no false alarm at the thoughts of publish¬ 
ing them to the world. He relies on Man s natural love of truth too confidently 
and too justly to believe that the promulgation of it will be a cause of alarm. 
If he errs, it is an error of judgment and not of intention. To blame any one 
for his opinion is really very ridiculous. For instance, some one conscientiously 
believes that there is no God: we consider that he is mistaken, and endeavour to 
convince him of it; but never can we blame him for boldly declaring his belief. 
It would be time enough to blame him when, disbelieving the existence of the 
Deity, he should, from whatever motive, attempt to maintain an opposite opinion 
in the face of the world. Let no one think himself liberal or charitable so long 
as he can confer the epithets u atheist,” 44 infidel,” &c., as terms of contempt. 
We are none of us infallible; and in a point shrouded in the utmost perplexity 
to the deepest thinker, it is possible the 44 atheist” may be right. Let us no 
longer discuss these high, these difficult subjects with fear. If the world be really 
governed by one Almighty Power—which we firmly believe—the more the 
point is investigated, the more likely shall we be to arrive at the truth; but if 
we shrink from reason through fear of upsetting favourite theories, where is our 
safeguard? If, again, the Scriptures are directly inspired—if the 44 Song of 
Solomon” (a love-song which, published in any modern novel, would be denounced 
immoral), the writings of Moses, and the Epistles, are alike the immediate 
emanations of God’s boundless wisdom, fear not that the employment of our 
reason will weaken our respect for them. Did God give us our highest faculties 
in order that they should lie dormant, be termed 44 proud,” 44 vain,” and never be 
exercised to decipher His noble works ? That the majority of our spiritual 
advisers think thus is very clear—that our author is of an entirely opposite 
opinion, we are happy to find. To prove that the preachings and the practice^ 
