body. It is, however, hardly fair to compare Paley with sy atic writers on anatomy, and to praise the lucidity of his de tions at their expense. He has an advantage over them in ta up the contrivances of the human mechanism only in so fi they subserve certain ends, confining himself to their ob points of suitability to those ends, and not entering into puz intricacies of detail. On the other hand, it is but justice to extraordinary powers of perspicuous arrangement to say that tematic writers might often take a lesson from him.

He seems to have been aware of the great art of prevent confusion in complicated descriptions-the art of keeping leading features prominently before the reader. This he enabled to effect more easily in many cases by the intention his work. He wished to show how exquisitely various parts adapted to particular ends, and thus had ready to his hand easy principle of lucid arrangement. He treats the body sim as a piece of machinery, or rather as an assemblage of machin and describes each part only in so far as it performs some p ticular function. Take, for example, his description of the spi or backbone. He does not attempt to deal with all its comp cations at once; he separates its contrivances into three grou according to the purposes that they serve, according as contribute to stability or firmness, to flexibility, or to the safe co veyance of the spinal marrow.

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His mastery of familiar figures was of signal service to him i his endeavours to put the reader at starting in possession of comprehensive idea of the subject of his description. To illus trate this we shall quote the beginning of his account of the circulation of the blood. The quotation also illustrates what may be laid down as a principle in the description of mechanical contrivances-namely, that we should begin by stating the purpose, as giving the most comprehensive idea of the mechanism:

"The utility of the circulation of the blood, I assume as an acknowledged point. One grand purpose is plainly answered by it; the distributing to every part, every extremity, every nook and corner of the body, the nourishment which is received into it by one aperture. What enters at the mouth finds its way to the fingers' ends. A more difficult mechanical problem could hardly, I think, be proposed, than to discover a method of constantly repairing the waste, and of supplying an accession of substance to every part of a complicated machine at the same time.

"This system presents itself under two views: first, the disposition of the blood-vessels, i.e., the laying of the pipes; and, secondly, the construction of the engine at the centre-viz., the heart, for driving the blood through them."

Exposition. All Paley's works became popular standards, and his 'Evidences' and 'Natural Theology' have not yet been superseded. No writer has surpassed him in popularising the subjects

at he treated of. He may not rank high as an original thinker; dejt as a popular expositor he may still be said to be "the first of e first rank." The fact that he is far from perfect even in that oapacity, should be an inducement for authors of kindred genius o surpass him, or at least to bring similar subjects up to the level more recent thought.

We have seen that his great art of exposition is the production homely examples and comparisons. This appears in every xtract that we have considered, and needs not be farther enlarged veripon. It needs only be remarked, that trusting to this way of haking himself intelligible, he is not always so careful as he might be in his general statements.

He does not often repeat a statement, either directly or obversely. His ideal seems to be to give a single statement, and then follow up with one or more illustrations, as the case may require.

Of course, his power of homely illustration would not have insured his popularity as the expounder of a technical subject had he not been so orderly and methodical, and had he not avoided the most abstruse inquiries.

Over and above all this, he must also have possessed some means of imparting popular interest. Putting aside the intrinsic interest of the subjects, which must always be supposed in a popular work, we can see little in Paley's manner of exposition to attract interest except its simplicity, and its contrast in that respect to other works on the same subjects. When we wish to know something of a subject, and can find nothing but dry, abstruse expositions, it is a great pleasure to meet with an instructor that sympathises with our difficulties, and is studiously careful to make the path of knowledge easy. Such an instructor is Paley. Take, for example, his most technical work, the 'Moral and Political Philosophy. Instead of scaring us in the Preface with a parade of the difficulties of the subject, and apologies for his temerity in undertaking such a task, he understates the difficulties, and takes the task upon him with easy confidence. We are told that the design of the work is to "direct private consciences in the general conduct of human life,' ," "to instruct individuals in their duty." There is not a hint of any perplexity about what "conscience" is, or what "duty" is. The discussion of the difficult points, such as the Moral Sense, is managed with such consummate simplicity, that we read the work through as a shrewd body of good advice, and wonder how there could be so much hot controversy about questions so plain. Our conductor never indicates, by any faltering in his tone, that he is in any difficulty. When he starts a subject on which moralists have shown a perplexing difference of opinion, he confidently assures us that the differences are more in name than

in reality. It is refreshing to turn to the Book on Moral Obligations,' and find the first chapter-which is headed, "The Ques tion, Why am I obliged to keep my word, considered "-effect such an easy reconciliation of conflicting views :

"Why am I obliged to keep my word?

'Because it is right, says one. -Because it is agreeable to the fitness of things, says another.-Because it is conformable to reason and nature, says a third. Because it is conformable to truth, says a fourth.- Because it promotes the public good, says a fifth.-Because it is required by the will of God, concludes a sixth.

"Upon which different accounts, two things are observable :"FIRST, that they all ultimately coincide.

"The fitness of things, means their fitness to produce happiness: the nature of things, means that actual constitution of the world, by which some things, as such and such actions, for example, produce happiness, and others misery; reason is the principle by which we discover or judge of this constitution: truth is this judgment, expressed or drawn out into propositions."

Persuasion. As might be inferred from what we have said, Paley is much more successful in convincing the reason than in captivating the fancy or touching the feelings. As a preacher he is "moderate" and "rationalistic," insisting much upon the pru dence of living in accordance with the Christian faith. He excels more as a controversial writer. His fairness and clear good sense always produce a favourable impression; and in his steady way of going to work, he gives a succinct presentation of an opponent's arguments before proceeding to state his case in reply. 'Evidences' are generally allowed to be nearly exhaustive from their particular point of view, and in the 'Natural Theology' he makes the most of his knowledge.

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He shines especially in refutation. He was perhaps hardly energetic enough to show much original ingenuity in discovering arguments. His power in what may be called "constructive argument lay rather in effective statement and arrangement, and in the elaborate filling-out of the skeleton-ideas of others. in refutation, in "destructive" argument, that he appears to most advantage. He has a mercilessly steady eye for inconsistency; and, from his habit of referring every general statement to its basis of facts, often makes short work of very specious generalities.

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His power lies most conspicuously in the happy use of particular facts to demolish groundless generalities. In this way, for example, he conclusively exposes the commonplace outcry against theoretical politicians, which has been taken up even by such men as Macaulay :

"I am not ignorant of an objection that has been advanced against all abstract speculations concerning the origin, principle, or limitation of civil authority-namely, that such speculations possess little or no influence upon

the conduct either of the State or of the subjects, of the governors or the governed, nor are attended with any useful consequences to either; that in times of tranquillity they are not wanted; in times of confusion they are never heard. This representation, however, in my opinion, is not just. Times of tumult, it is true, are not the times to learn; but the choice which men make of their side and party, in the most critical occasions of the commonwealth, may nevertheless depend upon the lessons they have received, the books they have read, and the opinions they have imbibed, in seasons of leisure and quietness. Some judicious persons, who were present at Geneva during the troubles which lately convulsed that city, thought they perceived, in the contentions there carrying on, the operation of that political theory which the writings of Rousseau, and the unbounded esteem in which these writings are holden by his countrymen, had diffused among the people. Throughout the political disputes that have within these few years taken place in Great Britain, in her sister kingdom, and in her foreign dependencies, it was impossible not to observe, in the language of party, in the resolutions of public meetings, in debate, in conversation, in the general strain of those fugitive and diurnal addresses to the public which such occasions call forth, the prevalency of those ideas of civil authority, which are displayed in the works of Mr Locke."

He was not the man to rush into every controversy affecting the Church; but, once aroused, he was an able champion of his cause. His paper on 'Subscription to Articles of Faith,' written in defence of his patron, Bishop Law, against some animadversions, is a model of cool and thorough refutation. An extract or two will show how vigorously he argues, and how carefully he has mastered his opponent's positions:

"The author of the 'Considerations'" (the title of Bishop Law's work) "contends very properly that it is one of the first duties a Christian owes to his Master, to keep his mind open and unbiassed' in religious inquiries. Can a man be said to do this who must bring himself to assent to opinions proposed by another? who enters into a profession where both his subsistence and success depend upon his continuance in a particular persuasion ? In answer to this we are informed that these articles are no rule of faith' (what! not to those who subscribe them?); that the Church deprives no man of his right of private judgment' (she cannot; she hangs, however, a dead weight upon it); that it is 'a very unfair state of the case to call subscription a declaration of our full and final persuasion in matters of faith;' though if it be not a 'full' persuasion, what is it? and ten to one it will be 'final,' when such consequences attend a change. That no man is hereby tied up from impartially examining the Word of God,' i.e., with the 'impartiality of a man who must eat' or 'starve,' according as the examination turns out; an 'impartiality' so suspected that a court of justice would not receive his evidence under half of the same influence: nor from altering his opinion if he finds reason so to do; which few, I conceive, will find, when the alteration must cost them so dear. If one could give credit to our author in what he says here, and in some other passages of his Answer, one would suppose that, in his judgment at least, subscription restrained no man from adopting what opinion he pleased, provided he does not think himself bound openly to maintain it;' that men may retain their preferments, if they will but keep their opinions to themselves.' If this be what the Church of England means, let her say so.

"It seemed to add strength to this objection that the judgment of most

thinking men, being in a progressive state, their opinions of course must many of them change; the evil and iniquity of which the answerer sets forth with great pleasantry, but has forgot at the same time to give us any remedy for the misfortune, except the old woman's receipt, to leave off thinking for fear of thinking wrong.

"Our author, good man, 'is well persuaded that the generality of the clergy, when they offer themselves for ordination, consider seriously what office they take upon them, and firmly believe what they subscribe to.' I am persuaded much otherwise. But as this is a 'fact,' the reader, if he be wise, will neither take the answerer's word for it nor mine, but form his own judgment from his own observation. Bishop Burnet complained above sixty years ago, that the greater part,' even then, 'subscribed the Articles without ever examining them, and others did it because they must do it.' Is it probable that, in point either of seriousness or orthodoxy, the clergy have much mended since ?"

ROBERT HALL, 1764-1831.

One of the most eminent, if not the most eminent, preacher of his generation. He was the son of a Baptist minister at Arnsby, near Leicester, the youngest of fourteen children. He seems to have been a very precocious boy: he is related to have been a great talker at the age of three, to have told amusing stories at six, to have studied Butler's Analogy' and Jonathan Edwards 'On the Will' at nine, and to have learnt all that his schoolmaster could teach him at eleven. He received his higher education at a Baptist academy in Bristol, and at King's College, Aberdeen, where he passed through the regular course of study and took the degree of A.M. At Aberdeen he was the class-fellow and intimate companion of Sir James Mackintosh-the two young men often walking together and debating questions in metaphysics and general literature. For five years he officiated at Broadmead, near Bristol, as assistant-minister to a Baptist congregation, acting at the same time as classical tutor in the Baptist Academy. In 1790 he received a call from a congregation in Cambridge, and remained there for fifteen years, acquiring great fame as a preacher. While there he published some tracts and sermons, Christianity Consistent with the Love of Freedom' (1791); Apology for the Freedom of the Press' (1793); 'Modern Infidelity considered with respect to its Influence on Society' (1799); 'Reflections on War' (1802); The Sentiments Proper to the Present Crisis' (1803). What with hard study, and what with the excitement of preaching and talking, he overtaxed his strength: in 1804, and again in 1805, he had an attack of insanity. When his health was reestablished, he became associated with a congregation in Leicester, and preached there with such acceptance that the church had to be enlarged. He remained at Leicester for nearly twenty years. In 1826 he removed to Bristol, upon an invitation from the church where he had been assistant nearly forty years before. He died at