valuable acquisition to the library of every man who wishes to become well acquainted with the Hebrew polity and the leading principles of Hebrew legislation.

I have not always coincided with the views embraced by some of the writers to whom I have referred; and I have been the more careful to express my dissent from Michaelis, in order that my reference to his authority on some questions might not be interpreted as an indication that I embrace his sentiments on others. He was a man not only of great learning, but of great pride in his learning. This led him to take positions which cannot be maintained, and also to treat the Bible itself as if he felt himself authorized rather to show what it ought to teach, than to explain His works contain various

what it does teach.

and valuable information, but he is an unsafe commentator for those who will not take pains to separate the chaff from the wheat.

I feel that I ought not to forego this opportunity of acknowledging the kindness of friends by which I have been enabled to pursue the work to which for some time past I have devoted myself. Subject after subject has been pre

sented for consideration till I have been induc ed to enter upon fields of inquiry far beyond the limits originally contemplated; and of course the more time is required to prepare the whole work for the press. I am constantly reminded by those best qualified to judge, that investigations professing to illustrate the connection between science and religion ought to be conducted with great care and deliberation. Nothing can be gained, and much may be lost, by injudicious haste. It is not to be denied that in the contest which Christianity has been called to wage against "philosophy falsely so called," truth has too often suffered by arguments in its defence that were found in the end to be superficial and inconclusive.

Some of our distinguished scholars and divines revised and rewrote many of their most useful sermons twelve or fourteen times before publication; and if they were willing to bestow such care and diligence on discourses which treated the more familiar subjects of Christianity, I ought not to be sparing of labor and patience when pursuing investigations on the harmony between those two great depart

ments of knowledge, the Word and the Works of God.

Sincerely do I wish that the work I have before me was in abler hands than mine. I derive satisfaction from the hope that I shall be followed by those who will supply my deficiencies. "Every age," says a distinguished writer, "as well as every individual, has its specific duty; and the duty of the nineteenth century is to bring science, in all its discoveries, to bear upon religion, and to corroborate, if we may so speak, the Word of God." There seems to be a wide spread conviction of this important truth among intelligent Christians. But although the attention of able scientific men has been turned to the subject, the adequate illustration of the Scriptures by the discoveries of science is a work only just begun. Much, much remains to be done before learning shall have paid the debt which she owes to the volume of inspiration. The christian scholar should never rest satisfied till every discovery in the world of nature is laid at the foot of His altars, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Although I may be able to do but little in carrying forward so impor

tant a service, I should feel grateful if allowed to have any part in it; nor do I know how I could be more usefully employed, than in fulfilling the task which in this view I have prescribed to myself.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.

The capacity of nations for self-government is one of the great questions of the age. Fresh discussions of it are prompted by events which follow each other in such rapid succession as to resemble the ever-varying figures and colors of the kaleidescope. Governments in the old world, which had endured for centuries, have fallen into a state of dilapidation; and, in some instances, their foundations have been destroyed by convulsions, which required but a single day for their entire overthrow. To an extent seldom witnessed before, we have seen the Scripture fulfilled-"Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it