B. C., it is not wonderful that it gives inspiration to-day to nearly one-half of the human race.

But, he did not solve the problem. That solution can only come from the discovery of the cause of the law of Progressive Development. If that cause is matter, then Nirvana means Rest-the extinction of life-the annihilation of the Soul. If that cause is mind, then it means, for the Soul, infinite life and immortal happiness. So the old problem, of all ages, and all climes, viewed from the light of nature, remains as from the beginning.

The issue is between DEISM and MATERIALISM - - an issue resulting solely from the absence of FACTS, on both sides, which it is the object of these pages to present in their proper connection, that Science, Philosophy and Religion may be exhibited in harmony with each other and MUTUALLY illustrative of the solution of the above problem, and the WISDOM, the POWER and the GOODNESS of GOD.

In 1860, memorable in our country as the opening of the Great Rebellion, precipitated upon us in the face of the solemn warnings of Washington, by aggressions of a faction at the North, enacting evil that good might come, and th dominant faction in the South, maddened by these aggressions, the writer employed himself in supervising the printing of a little work he had writ ten, entitled "THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE." The page following on "INSPIRATION." is copied from that work without alteration. It was truth THEN, it is truth Now and will be truth FOREVER.

Recent advances in Materialism--in Atheism--have prompted the succeeding elaboration of the part of the original Essay on Science, Philosophy and Religion.

With little aid from art and within a compass so narrow as this brief essay the light of human knowledge may not be concentrated upon the exposition of the great Truth so as to bring it clearly and indubitably to the mind. But if it has reached the point of discovery of the Astronomer, who, observing the purturbations of one of our solar planets, conceived, not only a cause, but the cause, and indicated the direction in the Heavens where that cause would be found and was found; so, if these pages are only suggestive to some more fortunate mind, the end will be attained in the triumph of Truth.

If the work should be regarded by any one worthy of comment, the writer will please have the remarks mailed to my address.

INSPIRATION.

All TRUTH, whether intuitive or demonstrative; whether evolved from the native vigor of the mind, or, resulting from cultivated intellect; whether laboriously discovered in exploring the principles of matter or mind, or found in the contemplation of the Attributes of God--is Inspiration and comes from God.* Galileo -Columbus--Newton, were inspired with great truths. It was Inspiration which enabled SOCRATES to teach his friends a just conception of God--PLATO to say that the Soul emanated from God--and JESUS to teach us, that GOD is our FATHER, a name dear to the human heart, expressive at once of Origin, and Love UNBOUNDED as the Infinite nature of its source.

It was by Inspiration that all truth has been discovered whether in Science, Philosophy, Morals or Religion. It is not meant that in any instance there has been mi raculous inspiration, contrary to, or above, the general laws of nature; but simply, that God has so organized the human mind, as to enable it, in the progress of life, to discover new Truth.

It is not material to the subject, to determine, whether the SOURCE of Life acts through laws which constitute the forms of vital manifestation; or wheth er His Spirit is immediately present in all forms. Whether it is through the medium of laws controlling the organization of matter and mind, or from the immediate, informing presence of the DIVINE MIND, it is equally true that our JUST conceptions flow from God!

It is the province of the human mind to grasp the phenomena of Nature; to explore its history; to take cognizance of its expression; and to turn upon itself, and reflect upon its own laws, analyze its own powers, and to strive to discover the meaning of this wonderful state of being. In all ages and climes, this DI VINE INSTINCT of the human mind, however thwarted ($) has sought the Goon, the BEAUTIFUL, the TRUE;

*The genuine dictates of our natural faculties is the voice of God, no less than what He reveals from Heaven.-Reid's Philosophy.

According to the German Philosophers, God is conceived as the absolute and original Being revealing himself variously in outward nature and in human intelligence and freedom. It is not easy to see how pantheism, in this sense, differs from the Christian view of God, as expressed in the sublime language of St. Paul, "In whom we live and move and have our being." -Brande.

to discover its SOURCE-comprehend its nature and to explore its destiny. Here and there, in the long ages, brilliant lights have shot athwart the mental sky, dispersing the clouds of error and illustrating the persistence and energy of the DIVINE INSTINCT-an Instinct of exhaustless energy--one that can never cease to prosecute the discovery of TRUTH never REST, while anything remains unknown, of Man, of Nature or of God.*

THE ULTIMATE TRUTH IN SCIENCE.

Scientists say that all the phenomena of Nature can be traced to the laws of Matter." Science is founded upon accurately observed facts and many such acts are required to establish an indubitable bun, and in view of this, some doubt may r 3' upon THE terment, as the postulate is broad, covering indeed, the highest generalization of physical sciene.

It is not said, however, that ail phenomena can be traced to MATTER, but, to the LAWS of matter, and, the postulate being thus evidently true, a knowledge of the LAWS of NATURE becomes a subject of the pro.oundest interest to the human mind.

Let us glance at these laws, at least at the general laws or FORCES of NATURE. Probably with neiulous matter the counteracting tendences of the law of gravitation gave to the great globes of space their form and their movements, and evidently Heat, light and Electricity, were agencies in the evolution of vegetable life. But these forces, if not produced by mattor could have had no effect without it, and though essential as media, let us see if they are not subordinate to a higher FORCE. Let us contemplate THAT as a LAW OF FORCE clearly recognizable to the human mind.

Science has traced the laws of Nature back to the "mysterious ether" pervading space; to the nebulous matter or "fire mist" of the astronomer; to the atoms of

* "One great object," says Hallam, that most of the Schoolmen had in view was to establish the principles of natural theology by abstract reasoning. * But all discovery of truth by means of such a controversy was rendered hopeless by two insurmountable obstacles: (the authority of Aristotle and the Church.) * After three or four hundred years the Scholastics had not untied a single knot, nor added one unequivocal truth to the domain of philosophy. How different is the state of genuine philosophy, the zeal for which will never wear out by length of time or change of fashion, because the inquirer, unrestrained by authority, is perpetually cheered by the discovery of truth in researches which the boundless riches of nature seem to render indefinitely progressive.-Middle Ages, p's. 52778

the chemist, or, the molecules of the physicist. It can go no farther-trace no farther matter or its forces.

And yet, there is another FORCE paramount, and over-ruling all others and the atoms of matter in all their combinations. A FORCE physical science recognizes, as far as science treads, as preceding all observation of the molecules, and forming in its control of other forces, the worlds of space. A Force which entered into inorganic matter and controlled the movements of the molecules in all their combinations-informed the chrystals-and clothed itself in living forms out of the Primitive Rocks. Name it as you will--instinct of the molecules," "the law of selection," the principle of "attraction and repulsion," "reason,” “intellect," "wisdom," all the same, as either expression. exhibits the manifestation of the INTELLECTUAL FORCE in Nature, which, through matter, has clothed itself successively in the vegetable, the fish, the reptile, mammalia, and lastly, in man, the highest and most complete concentration of the over-ruling FORCE of Nature.

"The fifty-five elementary substances into which the solid liquids and aeriform fluids of the earth have been reduced, observe, in their combinations, certain mathematical proportions. One volume of them unites with one, two, three, or more volumes, of another, any quantity being sure to be left over if such there should be. It is hence supposed that matter, composed of in finitely minute particles or atoms, each belonging to any one substance, can only, through the operation of some hidden law, associate with a certain number of the atoms of any other."

"An influence," says Herschel, "is apparent not only in the matter of the earth, but the worlds of space, giving them all the same direction, a family likeness, as they move in order around some great centre of the infinite universe."

"Law," said Humboldt, "is the supreme rule of the universe, and that law is wisdom, is intellect, is reason. whether reviewed in the formation of Planetary systems, or in the organization of the worm."-Kosmos.

**"From the consideration of ourselves and what we infallibly find in our own constitutions our reason leads us to the knowledge of this certain and evident truth, that there is an eternal. most powerful and most knowing Being which, whether any one will please to call God, matters not."-Locke.

We cannot become too familiar with this FORCE, Go back to the molecules or the "mysterious ether" and you find that it it is a FORCE IN but not or matter.

We trace matter to the immaterial, the inscrutable, and still find the FORCE an ACTIVE POWER. Follow it from the molecules up to man and you find that it is instinct, thought, intellect, reason, reflection, memory, perpetually IMPELLED in search of better and higher expression. Scientists name it the "law of selection." It would be more definite to call it the selecting Force, or better still, the DIRECTING, INFORMING and ADVANCING FORCE of Nature.

"Atoms and molecules," says the chemist, "arrange themselves under the influence of chemical and chrystalic laws, into geometrical shapes and thus the solid rocks of the earth were formed." Elementary substances unite in definite proportions and form their physical combinations in obedience to the instinct pervading all nature, informing all matter. With matter organized, that instinct becomes the conservator of life. It adapts the organized being to its environment, and supplies, subject to that environment, its wants. In all the orders of nature, vegetable and animal, every atom is moved by the same FORCE, the same instinct, seeking that which is necessary to the organization. Follow it from the vegetable to the quadruped and from the latter to man, and you see it moving the tender roots of the plant in search of food; moving the brute in search of its appropriate aliment and moving man in a like pur suit, the FORCE, in all instances, adapted to the organization, subject to its environment.

It appears, then, that to this FORCE, as it is imparted to matter, may be traced all the phenomena of nature. "As IT IS IMPARTED TO MAITER!" The Fauna and Flora of the Polar, Temperate and Torrid Zones differ. Montesquieu tells us truly that the laws, manners, habits and customs of man differ from climatic influences. If such is the effect of the Sun upon development, physical and mental, how natural that the emanations, the rays, the gleams of the mental FORCE of the Universe-the Source of intellect-should produce diversified expression, especially when we know that inert matter is its medium.

That there is then an INTELLECTUAL FORCE pervading and over-ruling all Nature, is abundantly sustained by all the facts of Science and the observations of common

sense.