nies of preachers. Daily they resorted to the temple where Malachi had promised the appearance of him whom they looked for. There they put up their prayers for the coming of the consolation of Israel, and as the fated term came nearer they redoubled their watching and prayer. The more deeply they meditated, and the nearer the time came, the more they felt the want and the desire. Their prayers were a delightful expression of confidence in God's promises, to which on their wings they soared, and apprehended them. Daily they thus laid hold of them, and daily thus prepared their minds for his coming, that he may find them a people ready equipped for his service.

Ir is difficult for the most lively imagination, however well supplied with the food of facts, and however excited by their singular grandeur, to depicture adequately the situation of the whole civilized world, about the time of our Saviour's birth. The Jew saw lying in ruins the third monarchy prophesied by Daniel. He counted the seventy prophetic weeks, and they were fast running out. His countrymen, scattered in large bodies throughout the cities of Asia and Africa, communicated to the heathen their curiosity and agitation, so that the whole eastern world was standing up in breathless and throbbing expectation, and looking out for him who was to come. The notions of the heathen were of course but vague and carnal. But among the In such expectation and preparation the faithful SiJews they were of very different degrees of spirituality. meón had now passed a long life. He was not impaThe gross and blind vulgar looked to but a carnal de- tient for the day of the Lord, yet he earnestly desired to liverer from their carnal subjection to the infidel. The see it. His term of life seemed now likely to coincide priesthood would naturally contain two extreme par- with the accomplishment of the prophecy, and he natuties, both the most carnally minded, and the most spirally felt an intense wish to see the hope of a long life ritually minded of these expectants. Being the ap- realized before he died. There was nothing carnal in pointed mediators between God and the Jew, the inte- this. The best men like to behold with their own eyes rests of the priests were especially concerned. If the those who have been long the object of their thoughts. Messiah was to be in any way a temporal deliverer, They long to see their benefactor personally. They then would they be his nobles and satraps. If he was delight to pour out their whole heart in blessing and to be a purely spiritual Saviour, it followed by no ob- thanksgiving in his presence, to kindle their love afresh scure deduction that their occupation would be at an at the light of his countenance, to hang upon the mouth end. When we consider the dreadful degeneracy of which speaks such comfort and gladness, to look into the Jews at this time, we may readily conclude, and the eyes which beam with such love and kindness, and the whole tenor of the Gospels confirms the conclusion, to kiss the hand which hath wrought for them such that the latter was a very small party indeed, and kept wondrous salvation. However assured by faith, which under, and held down with a curb of silence by the is the hope of things not seen, yet it is most comfortable violence of the other. The precise nature of the opin- to see the seal of ratifications set to that hope. No one ions of this minority it is difficult to determine. But ever hoped for a thing which he did not wish to be the exceeding soreness which the other party always present. Who does not at this day earnestly wish that manifested upon any expression which bore upon the the coming of the kingdom of the Lord for which he continuance of their temple,* seems to show that this daily prays, may be in his own lifetime? and the greathad been disputed and denied: and the prophecies er reason which he has for thinking it near at hand the which led to the spiritual view would carry on their more ardently does he desire it, and long to see it bereaders to that unpopular opinion. The song of Si- fore he die; the more does he grudge the loss of that meon gives us the only trace of these spiritual notions short interval which may elapse between his own deamong the Jews. Nor need we wonder. They could parture and the Lord's coming. It will indeed be all not be openly propounded among men who looked one and the same when the grave shall have closed for the Messiah to set his seal upon their corrupt tra- over him; then at any rate he will see his Lord and dition and practice: who deemed that the Prince of Master face to face, and enjoy that palpable commuPeace should give them peace by putting to peace nion which was denied him on earth. Yet neither can every mouth that should dare to open against their ccr- he nor should he forego that natural feeling. Hearti ruptions, and give peace to earth by turning the landness is a fundamental quality in the gospel. While of the Gentiles into a desert: who were thus prepared, even before he came, for crucifying the Lord of glory. So little, and so affrighted was the flock to which Simeon belonged. It was the only flock of God upon earth. It alone was alive in the spirit. All the rest of the nation was dead in the letter. They did not ruminate over the political slavery of their country, and call for a deliverer. They felt the oppression of the yoke, and the festering of the rankling chains of sin. They did not gaze at the huge foundations of the temple, and admire it as built for the palace of an everlasting Prince. They did not number its offerings and count its treasures. They did not cast an ambitious eye at the vast bodies of their countrymen planted already like armies throughout the fairest regions of the heathen, and prepared to raise the banner at the moment of the Redeemer's appearance. But they thought of spiritual temples, of spiritual treasures, of spiritual compa

* Matth. xxvi. 61. Acts. vi. 14.

we are in the flesh we must obey its natural impulses, only regulating them by the gospel. Cold philoso phical abstraction is widely different from Christian spirituality.

While he was one day thus looking forward with anxious hope, the Holy Ghost announced to him that he should not see death before he saw the Lord's Christ. How great must have been the joy of this faithful servant at so gracious an annunciation. It was a seal set of approval upon his long and unwearied expectation. He had kept his loins girt and his lights burning, and was to receive his Master at last. Perhaps the Holy Spirit, in imparting to him this prophetic grace, revealed to him, as to the most favored prophets of old, a more spiritual view of the nature of the kingdom of Christ. How unsubstantial then would all things ap pear around him. All the rites at which he assisted were but as the voice of a person unseen indeed, but approaching. Still more eager did they make him for his arrival, and more closely than ever would he keep

OR, AN INQUIRY INTO THE MEANS BY WHICH A GENERAL DIFFUSION
OF KNOWLEDGE AND MORAL PRINCIPLE MAY BE

PROMOTED.

ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS.

BY THOMAS DICK, LL. D.

AUTHOR OF THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER, PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION, &c.

NEW-YORK:

THOMAS GEORGE, JR. 162 NASSAU STREET.

+

PREFACE.

in all its bearings, is the most extensive and interesting that can occupy the attention of mankind.— Should the present volume, however, meet with general approbation, some more specific details in reference to the subjects here discussed, and to other topics connected with the improvement of society, may afterwards be presented to the public.

Several excellent works have lately been published on the subject of education, some of them recognizing the leading principles which are here illustrated. But the author has, in every instance, prosecuted his own train of thought, without inter

THE train of thought which runs through the fol- | it is merely an outline; for the subject, considered lowing work has been familiar to the author's mind for upwards of twenty-six years. Nearly twenty years ago he intended to address the public on this subject; but he is now convinced that, at that period, the attempt would have been premature, and, consequently, unsuccessful. He took several opportunities, however, of suggesting a variety of hints on the necessity of new-modelling and improving the system of education-particularly in the London "Monthly Magazine," the "Edinburgh Christian Instructor," the "Christian Recorder," the "Perth Courier," and several other publications, as well as in several parts of his former volumes. Offering with the sentiments or language of others, late years the attention of the public has been directed to this subject more than at any former period, and even the British Legislature has been constrained to take into consideration the means by which the benefits of education may be more extensively enjoyed. It is therefore to be hoped, that the subject will now undergo a deliberate and unbi-cellent treatise of Mr. Simpson, entitled "Necessity assed consideration, corresponding to its interest and importance.

In endeavoring to establish a new system of education-although every requisite improvement could not, in the first instance, be effected-yet nothing short of a comprehensive and efficient system should be the model after which we ought to copy, and to which all our arrangements should gradually approximate. To attempt merely to extend the present in many respects inefficient and limited system, without adopting those improvements which experience and the progress of society have rendered necessary, would be only to postpone to an indefinite period what must ultimately be established, if society is expected to go on in its progress towards perfection.

In the following volume the author has exhibited a brief outline of the whole series of instructions requisite for man, considered as an intelligent and moral agent destined to immortality-from the earliest dawn of reason to the period of manhood. But

BROUGHTY FERRY, NEAR DUNDEE,
November, 1835.

unless where it is acknowledged. Some of the works alluded to he has not had it in his power to peruse; and the same current of thought will sometimes occur to different writers on the same subject. The greater part of this work was composed before the author had an opportunity of perusing the ex

of Popular Education;" a work which abounds with liberal and enlightened views, and which recognizes the same general principles which are here illustrated. But the two works do not materially interfere; and the one may be regarded as a supplement or sequel to the other, both having a bearing on the same grand object.

It was originally intended to offer a few remarks on classical learning, and on the system of education which prevails in our colleges and universities, but the size to which the volume has swelled has rendered it expedient to postpone them to a future opportunity. For the same reason, the "Miscellaneous Hints in reference to the Improvement of Society," and the remarks on "Mechanics' Institutions," have been much abridged, and various topics omitted which were intended to be particularly illustrated.

The author intends proceeding with his promised work "On the Scenery of the Heavens," as soon as his present engagements will permit.

MORAL IMPROVEMENT OF MANKIND.

INTRODUCTION.

any insurmountable difficulties stand in the way of its accomplishment. There are not wanting, even amidst the light of science which is now shining around us, many individuals in the higher classes of society who are bold enough to insinuate, that an increase of knowledge would be injurious to the lower ranks of the community-that its accomplishment is both undesirable and impracticable--that the moral world will proceed on ward as it has hitherto done-that there is no possibility of meliorating the condition of the great mass of mankind--and that it is alintellectual energies of the human race into any other channel than that in which they have hitherto been accustomed to flow. Such insinuations evidently flow from a spirit of misanthropy, and are intended, if possible, to fix the moral world in e qui- ́ escent state, as the material world was supposed to be in former times, and to damp every exertion that is now making to promote the improvement and the happiness of our species. They are likewise inconsistent with the dictates of Divine Revelation, which plainly declare that "the knowledge of Jehovah shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the channels of the seas," and that "all shall know him, from the least to the greatest."

BEFORE We attempt to accomplish any great and extensive enterprize, it is requisite to ascertain, in the first place, whether the object we propose be attainable, and, in the next place, whether, if attained, it would be productive of beneficent effects. If these points are not ascertained previous to our engaging in any undertaking, we may exert our intellectual faculties and active powers, and spend our time, our wealth, and our labor to no purpose, and in the end meet with nothing but disappointed expectations.-together Utopian to attempt to direct the moral and The history of the world, and even the annals of science, would furnish hundreds of facts to corroborate this position. The object of the alchemists was to transmute earthy substances and the baser metals into gold, and by the fortunate labor of some happy day, when the stars were propitious, to realize vast treasures of wealth, to enable them to live in splendor and opulence during the remaining period of their lives. In this visionary pursuit, which, for several centuries, occupied the attention of princes, statesmen, ecclesiastics, physicians, and experimenters of various descriptions, thousands of fortunes were irretrievably wasted, and the dupes of this fallacious science kept in perpetual anxiety, and amused with vain and unfounded expectations. Even al- In a work lately published, I have endeavored to though such schemes had been practicable, which ex-illustrate, at considerable length, some of the advanperience proves they are not, it would not be difficult tages which would result from a general diffusion of to show, that, had they been successful, they would knowledge, which, I presume, will tend to substanhave produced more misery than happiness among tiate the position, that an increase of knowledge mankind. The study of the heavens, with the view among all ranks would be productive of an increase of foretelling future events, and the destinies of men, of enjoyment. If a more extensive diffusion of knowfrom the different aspects of the planets and the signs ledge would have a tendency to dissipate those suof the Zodiac, was another scheme which, for many perstitious notions and false alarms which have so ages, absorbed the attention of kings, legislators, long enslaved the minds of men; to prevent numepopes, cardinals, and even men of science, as well as rous diseases and fatal accidents; to accelerate the that of the illiterate vulgar; and, in numerous in- improvement of the physical sciences; to increase stances, no public affair of any importance was un- the pleasures and enjoyments of mankind; to prodertaken, without first consulting the stars. This mote the progress of the liberal and mechanical arts; fallacious art has likewise been proved impractica- to administer to the comforts of general society; to ble and inconsistent with the peace and happiness prepare the way for new inventions and discoveries; of mankind. The researches which were long made to expand our views of the attributes and moral goafter the panacea, or universal remedy for all disor-vernment of the Deity; to advance the interests of ders-the search for an universal menstruum and ferment-the search for a medicine which will confer immortality even in this world-the attempts to discover mines by means of divining-rods-and to cure palsies, inflammations, obstructions, and other disorders, by animal magnetism and metallic tractors-and above all, the attempt to conduct mankind to happiness by discarding the idea of a Divine Being and every species of religion from the plans proposed-with hundreds of similar schemes-may be regarded nearly in the same light as the foolish arts of astrologers and alchemists, and could easily be shown to be equally unprofitable and vain.

In endeavoring to promote a general diffusion of knowledge among the various ranks of society, it becomes us likewise to inquire, whether the attempt would be accompanied with such beneficial effects as to warrant the labor and expense which must necessarily attend such an enterprize; and, whether

morality; to prepare the mind for the pleasures and employments of the future world; to promote a more extensive acquaintance with the evidences, fac's, and doctrines of Revelation; to prepare the way for the establishment of peace and harmony among the nations, and to promote the union and the extension of the Christian church: if such positions can be fairly proved, every philanthropist and every rational and well directed mind will readily admit, that a more general cultivation of the human intellect, and a more extensive diffusion of rational information, are highly desirable, and would be productive of the most auspicious and beneficial results, in reference both to the present interests and the future prospects of mankind.

With regard to the practicability of this object, no rational doubt can be entertained if the moral machinery requisite for its accomplishment were once thoroughly set in motion. Whatever man has hither