OBJECT AND PLAN OF THE WORK HE FRIEND confifts of a methodical series of effays, the principal purpose of which is to affift the mind in the formation for itself of found, and therefore permanent and univerfal, principles in regard to the investigation, perception, and retention of truth, in what direction foever it may be pursued; but pre-eminently with reference to the three great relations in which we are placed in this world, as citizens to the state, as men to our neighbours, and as creatures to our Creator,-in other words, to politics, to morals, and to religion. The author does not exhibit any perfect scheme of action or fyftem of belief in any one of these relations; and that he has not done fo, nor meant to do so, are points which must be borne in mind by every reader who would understand and fairly appreciate the work. For its fcope is to prepare and discipline the ftudent's moral and intellectual being, not to propound dogmas or theories for his adoption. The book is not the plan of a palace, but a manual of the rules of architecture. It is a προπαίδευμα, fomething to fet the mind in a state of pure recipiency for the specific truths of philosophy, and to arm its faculties with power to recognise and endure their presence. In pursuing, however, this main design, the author has examined with more or less minuteness many particular systems and codes of opinion lying in his way; and in ftating the grounds of his rejection of fome, and entire or partial admiffion of others of them, he has in effect expreffed his own convictions upon several of the most important queftions, yet difputed in moral and political philofophy. But it is not so much to any given conclufion fo expreffed that the reader's attention seems to be invited, as to the reasoning founded on principles of universal application, by which such conclufion has been evolved; the primary and prevailing aim throughout the work being, as well under the forms of criticism, biography, local description, or personal anecdote, as of direct moral, political, or metaphysical difquifition, to lay down and illuftrate certain fundamental diftinctions and rules of intellectual action, which, if well grounded and thoroughly taken up and appropriated, will give to every one the power of working out, under any circumstances, the conclufions of truth for himself. The game from time to time started and run down may be rich and curious; but ftill at the end of the day it is the chase itself, the quickened eye, the lengthened breath, the firmer nerve, that must ever be the huntsman's beft reward. ; The Friend is divided into two main fections the first comprising a discussion of the principles of political knowledge; the second treating of the grounds of morals and religion, and revealing the fyftematic discipline of mind requifite for a true understanding of the fame. To these is prefixed a general introduction, for the greater part devoted to a statement of the duty of communicating the truth, and of the conditions under which it may be communicated fafely; and three several collections of effays, in fome degree miscellaneous and called Landing-Places - interpofed in different places for amusement, retrospect, and preparation -complete the work. TH TABLE OF CONTENTS. HE following fynoptical view of the plan and GENERAL INTRODUCTION. VOL. I. ESSAYS I—xvI. pp. 1—162. V-XIII. II. Ditto continued: neceffity of at- tion between them. IV. Defence against charges of arro- V. Inexpediency of pious frauds: in- difference of truth and falfehood poffibility of conveying an ade- VI. Conditions, under which right, VII. Application of thofe conditions to publications by the prefs;- Ditto.-2. as between the publisher XI. Law of libel: its anomalies and XII. Defpotifm and infecurity without XIII. Only folution of the difficulties of a free prefs: toleration and tole- rance. XIV. Clearness of conceptions in the un- XV. Right ufe of metaphyfic reafoning: Theory of Ap-(III. Theory to explain Luther's visions: paritions. Effay III. the work and apostrophe on Thomas Wedg- IV. Purpose of the Landing-Places: |