ing and indecency were fashionable vices; gaming and drunkenness abounded; and the practice of duelling was carried to a most irrational excess. In the theatre, as well as in society, the corruption of Charles the Second's reign continued to prevail. And men of the highest rank were the habitual encouragers of the coarse amusements of bull-baiting, bear-baiting, and prize-fighting."

Addison and Steele state in the "Spectator," the objects they had in view. "I shall endeavour to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality; that my readers may, if possible, both ways find their account in the speculation of the day. And to the end that their virtue and discretion may not be short, transient, intermittent starts of thought, I have resolved to refresh their memories from day to day, till I have recovered them out of that desperate state of vice and folly into which the age is fallen. The mind that lies fallow but a single day, sprouts up in follies that are only to be killed by a constant and assiduous culture. It was said of Socrates that he brought philosophy down from heaven to inhabit among men; I shall be ambitious to have it said of me, that I have brought philosophy out of closets and libraries, schools and colleges, to dwell in clubs, and assemblies, at teatables, and coffee-houses."

It will be seen that this distinguished man

aimed rather at an outward than an inward improvement of his age. The evil lay deep in the polluted human heart, given over to work all iniquity with greediness. This heart was left untouched by such remedies as Addison prescribed. Religion, not mere literature, is the real regenerator of the human race. Nevertheless there is certainly great merit due to one who brought about an external reformation as to manners and taste, which would in many cases doubtless be auxiliary to the introduction of loftier and more abiding principles. The man who drains a morass, and makes it ready for cultivation, is equally a worker with him who tills and plants, and finally makes it a fertile field.

Probably all literary biography does not present so remarkable an instance of a man who loved virtue, and yet failed to practice it, as Sir Richard Steele, the schoolfellow, friend, and coadjutor of Addison. His whole life was a struggle between his principles and his passions. He was constantly striving to conform to his own model of virtue, and constantly failed; because he strove in his own strength, without dependence on Him without whom nothing is wise, pure, holy, or successful. Let those who think an elegant literary taste, and an admiration of moral virtues, a sufficient shield from the evil of their own hearts, read the life of Sir Richard Steele, and be admonished.

CHAP. XIII.

MIND AND MATTER: THEIR STUDENTS AND EXPOSITORSHON. ROBERT BOYLE, JOHN RAY, JOHN LOCKE, CATHERINE COCKBURNE, AND SIR ISAAC NEWTON.

AMONG the immediate successors of Lord Bacon who studied on his plan, the most distinguished was the Hon. Robert Boyle, born 1627. He became acquainted at Oxford with Dr. Wilkins, a scientific man, who had married the sister of Oliver Cromwell. A company of learned men who inquired freely into the causes of natural phenomena met at Dr. Wilkins's rooms at Wadham College. The researches and inquiries of these gentlemen were continued until they were incorporated in 1662 under the title of THE ROYAL SOCIETY. Of this society the Hon. Robert Boyle was a most distinguished and industrious member. He was eminently a Bible student, and all his scientific researches served but to reveal to him the more clearly the goodness, wisdom, and power of God. He wrote extensively on religious subjects, and was solicited to adopt the clerical profession, which he declined to do, fearing the responsibilities of the pastor's

office, and conscientiously alleging as a yet stronger reason, "Not having felt within himself an inward motion to it by the Holy Ghost."

His works occupy six thick quarto volumes. Chemistry and pneumatics he particularly studied, making many valuable improvements in the airpump, and, by his inquiries, leading the way to the further researches of his successors. His religious works are peculiarly valuable, as he was eminently a Christian philosopher. Truly and beautifully does he say, "It is not by a slight survey, but by a diligent and skilful scrutiny of the works of God, that a man must be, by a rational and affective conviction, engaged, to acknowledge with the prophet, that the Author of Nature is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."

Contemporary with this distinguished man, and only a year younger, was a man born in a very different station of life-John Ray, the son of a blacksmith, at Black Notley, in Essex, who, however, gave his son a liberal education. Ray was the first botanist that England produced; and, with the exception of Linnæus, the most valuable writer on the science, of which he may be considered one of the founders. He also was a religious man and a sufferer for conscience sake. The Act of Uniformity in 1662, which injured so many good men, drove Ray out of his fellowship

of Trinity College, and effectually prevented his entering into the Church. His most popular work is "The Wisdom of God manifested in the Works of the Creation." His reason for composing this work he thus states:-"Being not permitted to serve the Church with my tongue in preaching, I know not but it may be my duty to serve it with my hand in writing; and I have made choice of this subject as thinking myself best qualified to treat it." This work was much admired and extensively read. It is now in some measure superseded by the greater popularity of Paley's "Natural Theology." It is, however, due to Ray, to state that Paley's work has been termed " an imitation of Ray's volume; and he has derived from it many of his most striking arguments and illustrations."*

Much as science had advanced since Lord Bacon's method of induction from experiment had been adopted, still attention had only been directed to what the senses presented to the mind, while the operations of the mind itself, in the acquisition of knowledge, had not in England been investigated. John Locke was the first who was brought to consider this very abstract, and yet most useful subject. As all men reason, it is important to know by what process they reason, and how they arrive at just conclusions.

Chambers's Cyclopædia of Literature, vol. i. p. 524.