dice. To contend with the former, is a more than herculean labour, in which I dare not engage; and, to diminish the universal influence of the latter, is no facile task. How numerous are the minds, too chaste and temperate not to be always proof against the enchantments of the circæan cup, who will, nevertheless, suffer themselves to be led captive by this usurping tyrant! who will sacrifice even Truth itself, though adorned with all the graces of faith, and hope, and charity, for the sake of paying their more willing obedience to her stubborn foe! The man, whose judgment is really emancipated from all unjustifiable prepossession, is perhaps one of the greatest curiosities, and certainly one of the noblest characters, of every age. Rara avis *!

"The writers on Logic, whose province it is, to. direct and assist mankind in the exercise of their intellectual powers, have contributed, in too many instances, to mis lead them. Sufficient care has not been taken to guard the mind against indolence, inattention, inaccuracy of observation, precipitancy of judgment, and that variety of deceptions, which arise from prepossession, passion, and

"is that to the

Prejudice," says one, mind, which dust is to the sight; it both hurts the organ and disguises the object. Its narrow breast, shrivelled and confined, leaves no room for the noble parts to dilate and play. I do not know, whether it is placed by any Moralist in the catalogue of vices; but, I am sure, it is a vice, and productive of many more. It is a declared enemy to truth, and to the freedom of ingenuous inquiry; to the right of private judgment, and to detachments from party. But, though irrational in itself, uncomfortable to those who encourage it, and pernicious in its effects, so imperceptibly does it steal upon us, so completely does it establish its throne within us, and so entirely does it govern us, that, to reason with Prejudice, is just as available, as to hold a lamp to the blind. It hates argument, bethe innumerable biasses, to which humanity is subject. The main design with them is, to form an acute reasoner, and able disputant, with little regard to that more useful acquisition and valuable accomplishment, The love of truth." This is that moral Logic, if I may so express it, which ought never to be separated from Logic intellectual,

cause it dreads conviction." To remove prejudice, would be making great progress towards the destruction of error, and the triumph of truth.

If I have not essayed to support this Temple with the pillar of human Authorities, it is not, because there are not many to whose exalted genius and talents I most cheerfully bow with deference and respect: but, if what I submit be not sanctioned by much higher Authority, let it perish in deserved oblivion: if it be, the Sun needs no satellites and human authorities, after all, prove nothing, except it be, that great men, as to earthly science, are not always wise in that, which it most concerns them to understand. The Lux evangelica is the light and guide, I implicitly follow, through all the darkness of benighted reason, false philosophy, counterfeit virtue,

Who is there, that is not well read enough to know, that authorities, equally ingenious and learned, full of the most laborious trains of reasoning, may be adduced for twenty systems of opinions, various, opposite, and contradictory?"

and fictitious morals. I have weighed them all in a just Balance, and offer the result to public inspection. Should the Learned frown upon it with disdain, there may be those of my own intellectual standard, who will secretly smile their approval: they may deplore the insufficiency of the powers employed in so arduous an undertaking, but they will accept the goodness of the intent.

I have taken a prospective view of every thing that can await me in this bold attack on that self-satisfaction, that vain conceit, and those stubborn prejudices, with which the comprehensive nature of my subject obliges me to combat: and my courage would certainly have failed me in the encounter, were I not deeply impressed with the idea, that the Cause is worthy the contest; and that, though

"The works of man inherit, as is just,
"Their Author's frailty, and return to dust;
"Yet TRUTH DIVINE for ever stands secure,
<< Its head is guarded, as its base is sure.

"First, in the rolling flood of endless years,
"The pillar of TH' ETERNAL PLAN appears;
"The roaring storm and dashing wave defies,
"Built by that Architect, who built the skies.”

There is nothing indeed so much to be dreaded, as the merciless tomahawk of those modest and humble characters, who will fly, like vultures, at the four first Assertions of the following Synopsis, and pay no more attention to those which succeed, than if they were not essential branches of it! Such is their excessive attachment to their own ideas of practical goodness, that they can pass over all the pitiful minutiæ, which appertain to integrity and honour! Such too were the Pharisees of other times. Happy had it been for our Religion, had they left no imitators, who tread too closely in their self-opinioned steps.

As a private Individual, in search of Truth and Good; as an obscure Scribbler, too insignificant to excite envy or jealousy, and desirous to remain so; conscious, too, of that deficiency, which must not presume