hension, a growth and development, a gradual culture of the human mind. Its march is slow. But it has been beautifully said that the faith in the progression of human nature towards perfection will-in some shape always be the creed of virtue. The wise and gentle Wordsworth, has worthily replied "Let us allow and believe that there is a progress in the species towards unattainable perfection, or whether this be so or not, that it is a necessity of a good and greatly gifted nature to believe it." But he has also reminded us that "it is not necessary, in order to satisfy the desires of our nature or to reconcile us to the economy of Providence that there should at all times be a continuous advance in what is of highest worth." The hindrances may delay but do not defeat the onward movement. A river (as Wordsworth observes) both in its smaller reaches and in its larger turnings is frequently forced back towards its fountains by objects which cannot otherwise be eluded or overcome, yet with an accompanying impulse that will insure its advancement hereafter, it is either gaining strength every hour or conquering in secret some difficulty, by a labour that contributes as effectually to further it on its course, as when it moves uninterrupted in a line direct as that of the Roman road." It is this faith in progress-this necessary belief in the completion of what has been commenced, that enables the poet to transcend the historian, and in the beautiful language of Lord Bacon, "to satisfy the mind with the shadows of things when the substance cannot be obtained. For (says he) if the matter be attentively considered, a sound argument may be drawn from Poesy, to show that there is agreeable to the spirit of man, a more ample greatness, a more perfect order, and a more beautiful variety, than it can anywhere (since the fall) find in nature." He has elsewhere added-" a more exact goodness." Therefore (saith he) because the acts or events,

of true history, have not that magnitude, which satisfieth the mind of man, poesy feigneth acts and events, greater and more heroical; because true history propoundeth the successes and issues of actions, not so agreeable to the merits of virtue and vice, therefore poesy feigns them more just in retribution and more according to revealed Providence." What feeds the imagination of the poet, nourishes the faith of the Christian. We find in the present, the earnest of the future; we are under a law of progress moving onward towards final completion. I have seen the glacier which in the lapse of centuries had glided from the lofty region of perpetual snow, into the bosom of the sunny valley; it had been carried forward by an irresistible law of God's appointment. Many a rocky hindrance interposed, but overcome in the movement, the seeming obstruction has but formed a convenient centre to collect and radiate the solar heat, which by another law of heaven liberates the ice-bound captive, and sends the melting drops in free and flowing streams downward to the abounding river, and onward to the swelling

ocean.

"The great eternal scheme

Involving all, and in a perfect whole
Uniting, as the prospect wider spreads
To reason's eye refined clears up apace."

You may have observed that in the first chapter, Butler has not enlarged on the moral argument in support of the probability of a future life. But at this stage we are enabled to call it in aid, with greatly increased effect. The argument derived from the tendencies of virtue and vice, leads us to presume, that there will be a future life, and a perfect moral government-both the fact, and the general character of that future life, are confirmed by the consideration of these tendencies. It would falsify our moral nature, and be at variance with

the law of progress, which regulates the course and order of things around us, if the expectation cherished in the heart, and founded in the common experience of our daily life-if the continuance of the moral government already commenced, should be abruptly and prematurely interrupted; or if the triumph of virtue should not be carried forward to its final and complete fulfilment.

Thus then the present life is found to be the stepping-stone to the future; and this earth is for us, but the outer court of the great temple of eternity. It is good for us to be here— we feel the presence, we acknowledge the power and we experience the protection of God-our heavenly Father, as He leads us onward to the promised land, and points to the inheritance purchased for His people, by our gracious Redeemer.

The earnest of the Spirit is given that we may have a foretaste of the joy and the peace of Heaven. It tells the loving heart

"There is a happy land, far far away.'

It connects by a Divine link, the life that now is with that which is to come-and man must not sever what God has joined together. The wind blowing from the west is said to have suggested to Columbus, the idea of a distant continent. Prompted by the heroism of his genius, by intuitions higher than reason and deeper than reflection; guided by intimations that pointed towards the land which he felt to be divinely promised to his faith and patience; his watchword wasPersevere

'Nor bate a jot

Of heart or hope, but only steer

Right onward,;

"Steer on, brave sailor! steer right on!

Though scoffers may deride,

1

LECTURE VI.

PROBATION.

THE teaching of Revelation as to a future life having been confirmed by analogy-the reality of a moral government of the world being matter of present experience, and the continuance and completion of this moral government hereafter, a reasonable inference and a revealed doctrine, the consideration of the present life as preparatory to the future, as a state of probation and of moral discipline, naturally demands our thoughtful attention. An immortal and moral being, placed in such a state by Him who is the righteous governor of the world, accountable to Him who will judge the world in righteousness and reward every man according to his workssuch a being has an unspeakable interest in the solemn practical question-what is our proper business, in this preparatory stage of our earthly existence? But it may here be asked what is meant by a state of probation? It may be supposed that in effect it amounts to the same thing as to say (what has been said and shewn already) that we are under the moral government of God; but it brings out more distinctly the state of trial in which we are placed, with allurements to wrong, difficulties in adhering uniformly to what is right, and the danger of miscarrying by such temptations.

The pleasures and the pains already shewn to be the gene