subjects of their private studies, which the mind, as it becomes enlightened by its intellectual investigations, will always find to be among its most pleasurable and most profitable occupations. He will only add on this point, that in whatever form of style, and however strongly or positively the opinions of the Author may be found to be expressed, it has been in no part his desire or meaning to dictate to any one. But to have used qualifying expressions to every sentiment he wrote, would have loaded the pages with such perpetual repetitions, that he thought it better to state his ideas in the language, which implied his full conviction of their truth, and with the freedom and sincerity which will give them their chief value; and therefore in the phrases which thus naturally occurred to him: and to make this general disclaimer of any presumptuous assumption that he only can be right, or that he invariably is so. He therefore begs leave again to say, that he submits his Letters to the reading world as nothing more than his personal convictions, arising from the greatest degree of inquiry and consideration, that his means and ability allowed him to exercise; and as the conclusions which have appeared to him to be the truth he has been in quest of. What weight or influence they may obtain beyond himself, will depend upon the spontaneous judgment of those, who may favor them with a candid or not hostile perusal. There were some other topics he should have liked to have reviewed. He had purposed to have considered the Divine System in our laws of life and death, in the Empires which have been raised, since the Jewish, which he considered to have a providential character; in the state and continuance of the uncivilized nations of the world; in the plans that concern the subsistence of its sentient beings, and our individual participation of it; in the employments of the human race; in the establishment of government and laws; in the state of property and of poverty among mankind; in the rise and prevalence of the varied ranks and conditions of life; in the natural and moral evils which we occasionally feel; in the provisions which have been made for human happi ness and individual comfort; in the rise and partial progress of the arts and manufactures; and also in the gradual appearance, diversities and improvements of the literature and knowlege of mankind ; with some consideration of the future destinations, to which on this present Earth, human nature seems to be advancing. All these are continual subjects of the Divine Government, and form a part of the Sacred History of the human world. But the limiting space of the Volume checked the desire. This Publication could not be conveniently enlarged beyond its present extent. It is therefore respectfully offered, as it is, to the indulgence, and, when necessary, to the forbearance, or forgiveness, of all who may permit it to receive their temporary notice. 26 November 1834. [xi] The Study of DIVINE PHILOSOPHY recommended, in addition to our Cultivation of the Natural Sciences-And upon the same Plan on which they are pursued-Reasons for think- Nature distinguished into the Visible and the Invisible-Sacred History's Connection with the latter-Man, as the superior Being upon Earth, has a Sacred History attached to his Existence, in which nothing else participates-All Nature is a special Creation with specific Ends in view-Man peculiarly so-The Sacred History is founded on these-Erroneous On the Laws of Nature-What they really are-Their Divine Origin, and Operation page 51 Causes of the Idea of a Creation having been absent from the Ancient Mind-Importance of the Inferences which result from it-Ancient Suppositions of Necessity and Fate, instead of a Creation and Providence-No general Providence without Our Sacred History a part of that of the Universe, yet peculiar to ourselves-Other Worlds besides our own-Ancient Errors on this Subject-Man, a peculiar Order of Being only known Sacred History comprises the Plan, the Purposes and the Results Sketch of the Peculiarities which distinguish Human Nature |