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It may signify that this principle connects Man with the rest of creation by 
assimilation; such might be the sense of the words ; but the context denies this, 
since, instead of being assimilated to the rest of creation by means of this 
principle, he would rather be completely disjointed and set apart. Things are 
connected together by what they possess in common, and not by peculiarities.— 
Or, it may mean that Man is thereby enabled to place himself in connexion with, 
and render subservient to his uses, 44 all that is below him in creation.” To this 
there are two objections. 1st., This kind of connexion is brought about, not by a 
principle, but by a faculty or faculties. The Cat places itself in connection with 
the Mouse, the Spider with the Fly, the caterpillar with the leaf, not by means 
of a principle, but by means of appropriate faculties and instincts. But the 
sphere of action of the inferior animals is confined because their faculties are so. 
Man possesses higher faculties, and therefore stands in connexion with a wider 
range of natural phenomena. A being with higher faculties than those engaged 
by Man, if such be possible, would in consequence possess a still wider range of 
action, but it would be in the highest degree absurd to say that he was for this 
reason endowed with a principle denied to Man.—2nd., This sense of the words 
(namely, 44 that Man is enabled by this principle to place himself in connexion,” 
&c.) is rendered impossible by what follows; for then the sentence would run 
thus :— 44 Man is by it enabled to place himself in connexion with all that is 
below him in creation, and also with all that is divine and spiritual beyond the 
bonds of matter and the records of time.” This last clause makes me fear that the 
writer did not himself attach any particular meaning to the word 44 connect;” for 
he surely does not intend to affirm, that matter can place itself in connexion with 
spirit. At the present day, if a man sees what is called a 44 ghost,” it is at once 
ascribed to derangement of the nervous system, or of the imagination, but it is 
never for a moment supposed that the apparition is a reality in any other sense 
than as it is real to the individual affected. It is therefore a mere assumption, 
that Man is connected with what is 44 spiritual beyond the bonds of matter.” 
Similarly situated are we with regard to 44 all that is divine beyond matter.” 
First prove that there is any thing divine beyond matter, before you venture to 
assert that any 44 principle” can connect us with that divine thing. 44 With all 
that is divine and spiritual beyond the records of time”! Here is the climax 
of mysticism, with a vengeance ! Is it meant to be asserted that Man can see 
that which has no existence, that he can have any notion of that which is a 
negation and a negation only, of all that he has learned, and of all that he is 
learning, through the medium of the senses ? Is it meant to be asserted, that he 
can connect himself with that which never happened, or that he can foresee that 
which at some future time will happen, in any other way than by induction from 
what he already has experienced ? And yet this must be what is intended, if we 
