Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Abercrombie on the Intellectual Powers.

"Now this is precisely the good office which, in our estimation, Dr. A. has actually rendered to the disciples of that science of which he is himself so distinguished an ornament. In the very moderate compas of one volume, he has placed within the reach of the student as much sound metaphysical lore as any human being need give a rush to pos sess, unless he aspires to very high distinction in that peculiar line of investigation. He has divested his researches of all the frivolous trumperv in which the philosophers of former days were often in the habit of disguising their ambitious poverty. He has shown that, in this, as in other sciences, the grand object is to establish the universality of facts, and that science is successful and triumphant in proportion as she approximates to the accomplishment of this object. And, lastly, what is above all praise, he has exhibited phňosophy as the handmaid of religion; and has made it manifest that all the rays of knowledge naturally converge towards that one point in which is situated the throne of eternal and heavenly truth. All this he has done with a degree of mastery which shows the amplitude of his resources; and, at the same time, with that simplicity and modesty which are among the most engaging attributes of every superior inind. He professes not to offer any thing which has a claim to novelty or originality. His avowed object is merely to direct the inquiries of the student "on a subject of great and general interest," and of peculiar importance to the inquirer, namely, the philosophy of mind; and, without formally assuming the character of a moral or religious lecturer, he has made his work auxi!iary to the most sacred and majestic of all sciences. He has made it clear that sound metaphysical philosophy is not a knowledge which puffeth up: that, on the contrary, its legitimate tendency is to chastise the arrogance of human wisdom, and to conduct us to that wisdom which is from above, and which is pure, and peaccable, and rich in all the fruits which can strengthen up the soul into eternal life. But our limits admonish us that we must break off our converse with this candid, sagacions, and benevolent inquirer. We cannot, however, take leave of his work without expressing our reverence for the motives which prompted him to undertake it, and our admiration for the powers which have so nobly redeemed from loss and waste the fragments of time spared him from most extensive practice."--British Critic.

"Dr. ABERCROMBIE is already known to the public as a gentleman of the first eminence in his profession. The work before us proves him to possess an independent, vigorous, and practical mind, thoroughly conversant with the subjects it discusses, that enters ex animo into the spirit of inductive philosophy, and withal is deeply imbued with Christian piety. It is a volume calculated to render essential service to intellectual, medical, and theological science, and we have risen from the perusal of it with an earnest wish that it may find its way into the hands of every thinking man in the empire, be he a believer or an infidel. It abonds with interesting statement and powerful reasoning; and we confidently recommend it to our renders as a publication of no ordinary value-Dublin Christian Examiner.

".... It cannot be disseminated too widely in a nation eager for know. ledge, keen in inquiry to a proverb, and accustomed to think no mattera too high for scrutiny, no authority too venerable for question."Church

man.

[ocr errors]
[graphic][merged small][merged small]
[graphic]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed]
« ПредишнаНапред »