he clears the way for others, and may chance to make even his errors subservient to the

cause of truth.

BURKE.

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT.

Freedom of thought being intimately connected with the happiness and dignity of man in every stage of his being, is of so much more importance than the preservation of any constitution, that to infringe the former under pretence of supporting the latter, is to sacrifice the means to the end.

ROBERT HALL.

IN WHAT FREEDOM OF THE UNDERSTANDING CONSISTS.

In these two things, viz. an equal indifferency for all truth, I mean the receiving it in the love of it as truth, but not loving it for any other reason before we know it to be true,— and in the examination of our principles, and

not receiving any for such, nor building on them, until we are fully convinced, as rational creatures, of their solidity, truth, and certainty, consists that freedom of the understanding which is necessary to a rational creature, and without which it is not truly an understanding.

LOCKE.

THE IMAGINATION AN INSTRUMENT OF RESEARCH.

The influence of the imagination as an instrument of research has, we think, been much overlooked by those who have ventured to give laws to philosophy. This faculty is of the greatest value in physical inquiries. If we use it as a guide, and confide in its indications, it will infallibly deceive us; but if we employ it as an auxiliary, it will afford us the most invaluable aid. Its operation is like that of the light troops which are sent out to ascertain the strength and position of the enemy. When the struggle commences, their services

terminate; and it is by the solid phalanx of the judgment that the battle must be fought

and won.

SIR DAVID BREWSTER.

THE HUMAN IMAGINATION.

The human imagination is an ample theatre upon which everything in human life, good or bad, great or mean, laudable or base, is acted.

In children, and in some frivolous minds, it is a mere toy-shop. And in some, who exercise their memory without their judgment, its furniture is made up of old scraps of knowledge that are thread-bare and worn-out.

In some this theatre is often occupied by ghastly superstition, with all her train of Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. Sometimes it is haunted with all the infernal demons, and made the forge of plots, and rapine, and murder. Here everything that is black and detestable is first contrived, and a thousand wicked designs conceived that are never executed. Here, too, the Furies act their part,

taking a severe though secret vengeance upon the self-condemned criminal.

How happy is that mind in which the light of real knowledge dispels the phantoms of superstition; in which the belief and reverence of an all-governing Mind casts out all fear but the fear of acting wrong; in which serenity and cheerfulness, innocence, humanity and candour guard the imagination against the entrance of every unhallowed intruder, and invite more amiable and worthier guests to dwell!

There shall the Muses, the Graces, and the Virtues fix their abode: for everything that is great and worthy in human conduct must have been conceived in the imagination before it was brought into act. And many great and good designs have been formed there, which for want of power and opportunity have proved abortive. The man whose imagination is occupied by these guests must be wise; he must be good; and he must be happy.

THOMAS REID.

MYSTICISM.

In the present day, when religion and philosophy are assuming such novel aspects; when the mysterious in revelation is subjected to the scrutiny of philosophy, and philosophy herself straying into the labyrinths of mysticism, and claiming kindred with the supernatural; when the apostolic simplicity of Christian worship is marred by the glitter and mummery of exploded superstitions; it is necessary to warn you against speculations morally and intellectually degrading. In the blue heavens above, in the smiling earth beneath, and in the social world around, you will find full scope for the exercise of your noblest faculties, and a field ample enough for the widest range of invention and discovery. Science has never derived any truth, nor art any invention, nor religion any bulwark, nor humanity any boon from those presumptuous mystics who grovel amid nature's subverted laws, burrowing in the caverns of the invisible