PART I. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. Philosophy is the science of reason. It inves-" tigates causes, and is the highest knowledge that can be obtained of a subject. It is by Cousin called reflection, "the abstraction of thought from every external form." Metaphysics is the general name given to the sciences that treat of immaterial subjects. The branch relating to soul or mind, is that, to which these Lectures call your attention it is Mental or Intellectual Philosophy. This science will lead you to an acquaintance with the powers of your own minds, and be the first step in that most important part of your education, SelfKnowledge. We are assured, by a muchesteemed writer, that, "in order to a true selfknowledge, the human mind with its various powers and operations, must be narrowly inspected all its secret springs and motives ascertained: otherwise, our self-acquaintance will be but partial and defective; and the heart, after all, will deceive us."* The science of Physiology has already made you acquainted with animated nature, more especially with the human frame. Upon examination, we find the animal body to be a most complicated piece of machinery, wonderful in its operations, and easily deranged in its movements. The design visible in every part, shews that it was intended to contribute to the enjoyment, as well as to the operations of its inhabitant, the Soul. The eye, alone, is sufficient to shew the matchless skill of its Contriver. This delicate instrument is more complicated in its formation, more beautiful in its appearance, and is better adapted to usefulness and pleasure, than is any piece of workmanship ever invented by the most ingenious artist. Yet the eye is but an instrument, designed to convey to the mind, ideas of the innumerable objects of use and beauty, with which this earth abounds. The ear, formed with equal delicacy and skill, is nothing less than the instrument of communication between mind and mind; imparting to the soul thoughts and feelings that have enlightened and affected other souls. The tongue, that wonderful organ, moved by so great a variety of muscles, that no dissector's knife * Mason, on Self-Knowledge. has been able to trace them, seems designed chiefly, as an instrument to the mind. Since, then, this body, "so fearfully and wonderfully made," is intended for no purpose but to be the receptacle, or, as Plato calls it, the "prison of the soul or mind," how much more precious, more wonderful must be the soul, for which so glorious an abode is furnished! At the head of animated forms, we find the human frame, the noblest of material objects; the last, best exhibition of Divine skill, enclosing the immaterial spirit, said by St. Augustine, to be excelled by no object in the universe, except its Creator. Mind, when viewed in its wonderful qualities and operations, gives to us a more conclusive proof of the existence of the great Creator, the first Intelligence, than all the evidences gathered by Dr. Paley, or any other, in the world of matter. "Shall we then," says Lord Brougham, 'deny that the eye could be made without skill in optics, and yet admit that the mind could be fashioned and endowed, without the most exquisite of all skill, or could proceed from any but an Intellect of infinite power?"* 66 When we consider the developement of simple ideas in the mind, until it reaches the power * Brougham's Discourse on Natural Theology. |