you; can you be contented with fragments of knowledge about religion, picked up in childhood, or accidentally and carelessly in the course of life; and which have no coherence, no completeness, no standing upon well-studied proof; which are often indeed nothing but vulgar prejudices?* Did the religion of Dr. Turner, who so long and meritoriously filled the office of Secretary to the Geological Society, impede his exertions in the field of philosophy; or in any way depreciate their value? The testimony of his friend Mr. Dale should be inscribed upon the heart of every man of science. "He received the Bible with implicit deference, not as the word of man, but, as it is in truth, the word of GOD.-Blameless, excellent as he was, to outward appearance, in every relation of life, he knew that he could not abide the scrutiny of one who looked upon the heart; and he joyfully took refuge in the comfortable doctrine of an Almighty Saviour, one able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” * O that they would practically and efficiently abrogate the distressing monition of one of the distinguished philosophers of our country! "There is no subject on which the generality, even of educated and reasoning persons, are less given to reason than on religion. Hence the prevalent disposition (even among those who think deeply, and are perhaps profoundly engaged in philosophical investigations on other subjects,) is to avoid all such examination of religious matters; to adopt nominally the established creed without question; to dismiss all particular distinctions from their thoughts; or, if questioned, to recur to mystery, and repose in the incomprehensibility of the doctrine; maintaining this, too, as in itself the most effectual and legitimate means of cherishing a due and becoming sentiment of religion. And all this grounded upon and vindicated by the favourite and fashionable idea, so grateful to human nature, that religion is altogether a matter of feeling." Powell's Tradition Unveiled; p. 62. he When Dr. Turner knew that death was near, adverted to the perfect calmness of his pulse, and asked, "What can make it so, at such an hour? What, but the power of religion? Who, but the Spirit of God?—I could not have believed (he said,) that I could be happy on my death-bed. I am content my career should close. -The question was put to him by an anxious relative, Is not Christ as good as his word? Yes, he faltered, quite. And, when he had said these words he fell asleep."* I cannot but add, that any member of the learned and scientific societies to which Dr. Turner belonged, is doing himself a wrong if he do not read and deeply ponder the Sermon which has furnished these extracts. In a word; suffer one to intreat you, who puts forth no claim but that of the sincerest regard, and the warmest desire for your enjoying happiness of the most exalted kind and in the most perfect degree. Suffer him to intreat, that you would effectually resolve to yield to religion its rightful place in your minds and your hearts: that you would give the just proportion of your studies to the facts and evidences of Christianity, its doctrines and duties, its promises, its invitations, and its faithful warnings. "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST; ON EARTH, PEACE; AMONG MEN, GOOD WILL !" The Philosopher entering as a Child, into the Kingdom of God: a Sermon preached at the Parish Church of St. Bride, Feb. 27, 1837; on the Death of Edward Turner, M.D., F.R.S. &c. by the Rev. Thomas Dale, M. A. Pp. 24, 28, 29. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. [A.] Referred to at pages 11 and 290. DISSERTATION ON THE LAWS OF ORGANIZED NATURES, INVOLVING THE NECESSITY OF DEATH; AND ON GEOLOGICAL STUDIES IN GENERAL. In the Congregational Magazine for November, 1837, the inquiry was proposed, under the signature of T. K. "Could there be death, by violent and painful means, before the entrance of sin had deranged the order of a holy world, or had given occasion for bringing into action the instruments of violent death?" To this, the following answer was returned: and, as it has been made an object of controversial attack by Mr. Mellor Brown, and as it may contribute some further illustration to several of the topics treated in these lectures, I have thought it not unsuitable to be here introduced, omitting a few sentences. The question of your correspondent, T. K., merits the most serious attention. It forms one, and probably the heaviest, of the two great difficulties which Christians feel in relation to the discoveries and doctrines of modern |