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our minds, and that that which we habitually speak will be stamped with some impress of our character. Where the peculiarities of a man's character are strongly defined, his style and manner show them; and thus it is that in reading a man's writings, or in listening to his conversation, we obtain a familiar acquaintance with some parts of his character, which can never be obtained otherwise. And if this be true of different individuals of the same nation, much more is it true of different nations, inhabiting different countries, and living in periods of the world remote from one another. With the former there are many things which tend to assimilate their style; they are accustomed to the same general manners of society, the same national feelings, the same spirit of the times. But with the latter all is different: they live under different institutions, they entertain different views, they use different customs and manners, and the different methods of thinking, and styles of writing, which these induce, become wrought into the very spirit and grammar of their different languages. Hence a literal translation from the one language into the other exhibits many strange incongruities: and the closest and best translation, however well it may transfer the general substance of the work, must fail to convey the full spirit and meaning of the original, often even suggesting an idea very dif

ferent from that which the author intended. But in learning the language of the original, we become acquainted with the mould in which the writer's thoughts were cast, we almost unconsciously obtain a knowledge of the general character and spirit of the writer, and the general manners of the society to which he belonged; and things which appeared incongruous when looked at through the medium of a translation, may seem beautiful and fitting in his native tongue.

Thus, in studying ancient languages, we rid ourselves of many of the narrow prejudices arising from the use of words. In several of them we may at the same time trace the origin and history of our own tongue, and acquire a more determinate understanding of its power and meaning. In pursuance of this latter object every one should read Horne Tooke's admirable work entitled "The Diversions of Purley." Locke, in his Essay on the Understanding, has an excellent chapter on the abuse of words and the means of remedying it, which should be read again and again; Dugald Stewart's observations and example on the same subject are equally valuable; and no means should be left untried, which may conduce to give us clear ideas, separate and independent of the words which may be employed in expressing them. For what are words without ideas? And

how lamentable is it that these should have been the cause of so many bitter dissensions, so many useless controversies, so much strife, malice, and mutual hatred, in the philosophical and religious world!

CHAPTER XIII.

OF THE BEING AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

SCIENCE has unfolded, in an astonishing, though still imperfect degree, the beautiful order, and complicated, yet simple, machinery of nature. Discovery is still progressively advancing, and, at every step, is found some new adaptation of means to an end,—some new instance of minute effects being governed by great and general laws,—some new case of the harmonious co-operation of antagonist principles, some new proof of design, and unity of design, in the manifold parts of this stupendous universe. Even the most cursory observer, who casts his eye over the scenes which surround him, -who contemplates the starry heavens in their silent and inexhaustible glory,—the adorned earth, with its fair variety of mountain, vale, and plain, all filled with abundant supplies for the subsistence and covering of the innumerable tribes of living creatures,--the clouds that carry fertilizing showers to water the earth,--the sun that arises to gladden

the face of nature, and cherish, with his beams, the vegetable tribes, and sets again, that the exhausted world may have refreshment and repose, —the sea, with its new world of wonders, whether it slumbers in the still majesty of its unmeasured waters, or awakes in the terrific fury of the storm, —the air, with its myriads of living creatures,-the hail, the snow, the wind, the lightning and thunder, -the beauty, the variety of form and colouring which nature everywhere exhibits,-the life of animals and vegetables, their production and their death, the instincts of animals, their busy pursuits, their social communities,-the bee, the ant, the beaver; their wisdom, their ingenious industry, -and man, the sovereign of this lower world,— his intelligence, the range of his knowledge,the multiplicity of his inventions,—and yet, the weakness of his infancy, the briefness of his age, the helplessness of his latter end, even the most unlettered man, contemplating these things, would find it hard to believe that all this fair universe is the result of the fortuitous concurrence of inanimate atoms-the work of CHANCE! It is difficult to conceive such credulity as this, yet some, who have prided themselves on their fancied wisdom, have been thus strangely credulous. In the various superstitions which have chequered the history of man there are many instances of childish fancy, of simple and easy belief yielded to singular absurdities. But credulity like this!-that the universe

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