of Theologism soon after the Greek Geometers had completed their labours in founding Mathematics. Physics, in the seventeenth century, by the labours of Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, threw off their allegiance to Theologism. Chemistry was able to disencumber itself from Theological and Metaphysical notions in the eighteenth century; and Biology asserted its claim to manumission early in the nineteenth century, and has fairly established its claim to the freedom it enjoys. Sociology and Morals, or the last of the Sciences, are still clad in Theological and Metaphysical swaddling clothes. Comte has created Sociology, and shown in what way its growth and development are hampered, and explained why it was so long before its basis was laid for lack of a true theory of Dynamics, or Progress, which theory he himself has formed and illustrated with a force and amplitude of which we cannot give even a faint conception here. It is obvious that Moral Science, although slowly fashioning itself, could not be completed before Social Science, which immediately precedes it in the hierarchical scale, was founded. We must first know who is the genuine Providence of man before we can construct a moral code which shall be scientifically conceived, rationally formulated, and rendered ever more adapted for human practice. Moral codes exist which man has slowly modified so as to fit them for his requirements and wants-codes which, while claiming a divine origin or influence, have come, in the long run, entirely under human domination, although they still retain the old theological sanctions which vitiate them morally no less than rationally. No one for a moment doubts that a Positive, or Scientific, Morality is being formed, and that, when completed, which it will not be yet, it will ignore as immoral all supernatural beings (so-called), all mere entities, and other-world promises and rewards, and will limit itself to the regulation and improvement of human beings and human societies, sustaining well-defined relations to each other in this world—their sphere of activity and rest. Its only object, in fine, will be to ameliorate and ennoble man "Man, the Minister and Interpreter of Nature," having obligations to real human beings, in a real human world, where suffering, sorrow, and trouble have to be borne as bravely as possible; and man can look to no one else for their removal but to himself, to his fellows, and to his successors. They will continue the work of our ancestors from remote times to render the world a fit habitation for man.

LECTURES ON POSITIVISM.

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In our third and fourth lectures we expounded Comte's Classifications of the Sciences, with the philosophical lessons deducible therefrom. It was intimated that the linear arrangement Comte adopted was the only rational one in the opinion of those thinkers most competent, by their encyclopædic knowledge, to form an opinion upon the matter-namely, of M. Littré, Mr. J. S. Mill, and Mr. G. H. Lewes. We might have named others, but these suffice. The sciences of Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology, and Morals, as classified by Comte, serve not only a scientific but a logical use, and their dogmatical arrangement coincides with their historical development. It was shown that each of the sciences dealt with facts of decreasing generality and increasing speciality, and that the more special sciences could not be formulated until the sciences preceding them in the scale had attained their due development. The higher and more complex phenomena depend upon the lower, as a pyramid rests upon its base.

Comte's Classification was explained to be a subjective grouping of all known or knowable phenomena, an objective synthesis being unattainable. The importance of knowledge of the order of nature was estimated from the Relative, and not from the Absolute, point of view, that knowledge and discipline being of most worth which fitted a man for his duties as a citizen. Knowledge is of use only in so far as it tends to render us good citizens, since we are members of a huge social organisation, and have well defined duties to discharge in it, personal and impersonal.

In the fifth and sixth lectures we dwelt upon the moral, intellectual, and material evolution of the race. The laws of man's growth under these several aspects were made known. First, man was regarded as a Biological product, and then as a Social one. The laws of the individual organism were enunciated, and the importance of man's contracting good habits (physical, moral, and social) as such habits became hereditary, was enlarged upon. Man was shown to be a three-fold being-under a physiological point of view, he having organic or vegetal life (the life of the heart, lungs, and intestines); animal life, or the life of the brain and nervous system; and cerebral life, or the life of the dual organ of thoughts and feelings-the Brain itself. So much for man the individual. evolution was indicated in outline as being from Conquest Man's social through Defence to Industry; and the operation of the

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causes which wrought so radical an alteration was briefly traced from primæval times down to our own.

In the seventh and last lecture man was regarded as a moral being, and the moral laws which regulated his action as an individual and an organ of Humanity were set forth. These moral laws were shown to be in harmony with the lessons and deductions of experience-an experience of the longest, widest, and deepest-of man's opinions, desires, and passions. Of this lecture we need say nothing more; you have just heard it.

Those who have followed us thus far will sufficiently grasp what Positivism is as a whole-how it methodises thought in order to ameliorate man's intellectual, affective, and active existence, giving one and all its manifestations a sacred character and destination. The word sacred is used advisedly. The scope and purpose of Positivism is to render man, and all that appertains to man, sacred-his knowledge no less than his feelings, his worship no less than his activities. Its aim is to make a inan at one with himself, in order that he may be at one with others. It reveals to him the great Human Providence which has cared for him and all his fellows, of whatever time, clime, or sex, and asks that he will give to this Providence all the gratitude and worship it claims and is entitled to claim. This history of man, and his endeavouring to improve his environment, is a sacred history, if any history deserves that name. It records, among other noble things, man's "infinite patience and the pangs of loving hearts that yearn." It is at once one of the grandest and most pathetic panoramas that the eye can rest upon, the mind contemplate, and the heart be thrilled with. It is big with issues of the most tremendous import and a destiny the most wonderful and sublime. Indeed, outside Humanity there is nothing either sublime, wonderful, great, and pathetic-these characteristics belong alone to whatever deeply concerns her, And what does not? There is no interest in heaven or earth but it is hers. She pervades all, transcends all, ennobles all. It is she, and she alone, that can say, with the poet

"I am the eye with which the universe

Beholds itself, and knows itself divine;

All harmony of instrument or verse,

All prophecy, all medicine, are mine-
All light of art or nature; to my song
Victory and praise in their own right belong."

WORKS OF AUGUSTE COMTE.

Système de Philosophie Positive. Deuxième Edition. 6 vols. 45fr. Baillière et Fils.

Comte's Positive Philosophy. Abridged and condensed by HARRIET MARTINEAU. Second Edition. 2 vols. 258. Trübner & Co. Système de Politique Positive. 4 vols. 30fr. 50c. Ibid. Comte's System of Positive Polity. English Translation. In 4 vols. 808. Longmans.

Catéchisme Positiviste, ou Sommaire Exposition de la Religion Universelle. 3fr. Trübner & Co.

Comte's Catechism of the Positive Religion. CONGREVE. 68. 6d. Trübner & Co.

Translated by Dr.

Appel aux Conservateurs, par le Fondateur du Positivisme. 3fr. Dunod, Paris.

Synthèse Subjective, ou Système Universel des Conceptions propres à l'état normal de l'Humanité. Tome I. Contenant le Système de Logique Positive, ou Traité de Philosophie Mathématique. 1 vol 9fr. Dunod, Paris.

Traité Elémentaire de Géométrie Analytique. 1 vol. 7fr. Dunod, Paris.

Traité Philosophique d'Astronomie Populaire. 1 vol. 6fr. Dunod, Paris.

POSITIVIST PUBLICATIONS.

Notice sur l'Œuvre et la Vie d'Auguste Comte. Par le Docteur ROBINET. 8fr. Dunod, Paris.

Unity of Comte's Life and Doctrine. An Answer to John Stuart Mill. By Dr. J. H. BRIDGES. Trübner.

Appel aux Médecins. AUDIFFRENT. 3fr. 50c. Dunod, Paris. Also, Le Divorce. Also, Lettre au Congrès ouvrier de Marseille. Also, Mouvements Irresistables. Also, Le Positivisme des Derniers Tempe.

La Politique Républicaine. Par. Docteur SEMRRIE.
La Civilisation Chinoise. Par. M. PIERRE LAFFITTE

Essays: Political, Social, and Religious. By Dr. CONGREVE, 188. The Author.

Annual Addresses. By Dr. CONGREVE Kegan Paul & Co.