is to deprive ourselves for ever of the only true source of religion. All, whatever does not grow out of this ground is more or less superstition and enthusiasm.

"If nothing but limited beings existed there would be no limiting being. But in that case there would be no limited beings; in other words, the Limited, being limited by nothing, would be unlimited."

CHAPTER XI.

EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS AND CORRESPONDENCE.

1840.-Etat. 65.

January 1st. My retrospect of last year is for the most part painful and gloomy. Constant suffering, constant imprisonment in my chair, a most painful separation from my son, constitute an existence with nothing pleasureable in it. I have however to thank God for composure of mind, and undarkened understanding. But the prospect before me requires a constant exertion of self-government; else I should grow despondent.

2nd.

A very restless night-greatly convulsed. NewYear letters from Harriet and Louisa Moore. Dr. Sutherland came full of the idea that the use of my legs might be restored by rubbing. I agreed to do the rubbing myself, and began the practice steadily.— Mr. Thom told me that my London Publisher wished for leave to publish the Poor Man's Preservative on his own account. I feel very much inclined to re

cast that work into, The Plain Man's Preservative against both Roman and Protestant Popery. My little work, as far as it goes, is as correct as I can make it; but my views were very limited when I wrote it. I was at the lowest ebb of mental freedom, which I ever suffered since my first total casting off of Church Christianity. I considerably corrected the Poor Man's Preservative before Milliken's Edition; but I still was in the fetters of the Church of England, though they were nearly filed open. I should not like to die, leaving many parts of that work unrecalled or unexplained. Whatever relates to Romanism requires no correction or explanation; but the work makes extravagant admissions in regard to Priesthoods, Miracles, the Bible, &c. I will endeavour to bring my plan into effect.*

A PARABLE,

January 4th.

Occasioned by Dr. Hawkin's Sermon on the Duty of Private Judgment.

Two parties of powerful Squires divided between them a large portion of land, which they used as preserves for Game. These two parties were originally one, but, in the course of time, a considerable number of individuals separated themselves with the ob

[ See Appendix.]

ject of establishing a system of game-keeping more liberal to the peasantry than the original one. The old party had given notice, that besides a considerable number of steel-traps and spring-guns set in their grounds, which the peasantry had to fear if they ventured to cross in any direction, without taking a game-keeper for their guide, any one who should be found trespassing was to be shot. The liberal squirearchy declared that this system was shocking. They, on the contrary, urged it to be the duty of every peasant to examine and explore the preserves, only taking care not to tread upon any of the innumerable triggers set therein.-Now, which of these two systems had the advantage in mercy? I believe the first. I would certainly hunt, if possible, the old squirearchy out of the country; but, though their conduct was tyrannical, the peasantry had only to submit and they were safe. But the cruel hypocrisy of the liberal party was intolerable. Why did they urge the poor people to examine those most dangerous grounds, knowing that hundreds would perish in the search?

January 6th.

"Stick to your journal course: the breach of custom is breach of all."-Cymbeline.

This is an admirable maxim. It cannot be too much inculcated upon young people: but, like all general maxims, it cannot be interpreted literally;