on the other hand; which unites both of the grand political desideratums, viz. the greatest degree of safe power, with the greatest degree of safe liberty.

From what has been said above, it is evident (to those who have eyes to perceive as well as to see) that universal analogy is a plain matter of fact, and not an hypothesis.

This proves, in coincidence with the declarations of Holy Scripture, that the centre of the human heart, from the time of the fall, has been the spirit of sin and self; and it accounts reasonably and consistently for the deep humiliations, self-loathing, and open, yet reluctant confessions (that is to say, figuratively, earthquakes, and irruptions of lava, sulphur, ashes,

at the same instant! The imagination of man cannot possibly image to itself such a case, which is too absurd and contradictory even for the powers of that Proteus to imitate!

In alluding to the antipodes, my reader will, of course, perceive that I mean to infer, that as men stand upright, with their feet nearest to, and their heads farthest from each other, on their antipodes, all round the globe; therefore, they are all attracted downwards from all points of the surface of the earth, towards the one grand central point, which is common to the whole, and in which they all necessarily terminate, with respect to their attraction. Yet as this true theory, or rather matter of fact, has a secret reference, by analogy to the being and power of one Supreme Governor of the universe; and the popular hypothesis favours infidelity and democracy, even to atheism, therefore all infidels will support it unto the end.

Moral volcanic principles.

&c.) of convinced, terrified, and humbled sinners: because, not only are the aëriform fluids of the atmosphere typical of the spiritual world, but also the same fluids combined in the earth, together with its various minerals, are emblems of moral and spiritual things in the human heart, and of their operations; as will be shown at large in my Essay on Chemistry, if it pleases GOD.

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Hence the natural volcanic principles, viz. nitre,' hydrogen," sulphur, phosphorus,* carbon, iron, &c. &c. which respectively symbolize with carnal wisdom,1 pride and vanity," all carnal covetings or concupiscence, ambition and vain glory, sinful ignorance, and secular carnal reason, work together, and ferment in the earth, as the corresponding moral principles or human elements do in the human heart, and produce similar effects.*

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Now, the moral vital air or Spirit of Truth, is, or becomes also when it meets sin, "the Spirit of burning," Isaiah iv. and ix. “ for wickedness burneth" (or causes burning)" as the fire." Therefore, through the medium of con

*As it is quite impossible to transfuse the greater part of an Essay of six or seven hundred pages, on the analogies of Chemistry, into this first Essay, so I must hope that my readers will generously take these things at present on trust, for argument's sake; though they are only hypothetical as yet, till they can be regularly proved.

science in sinners, it inflames all their corruptions, all their moral volcanic principles, and causes such burnings of remorse and horror, to find that their heart is like "the bottomless pit of hell in miniature, and that their idol self is the very image and spirit of Satan, his delegate and representative, Apollyon, or the Destroyer, that they can no longer restrain or smother their groanings, or roarings, as David experimentally calls them, but they burst forth like volcanos, which amaze and alarm the surrounding world.*

and ex

receiver.

When bodies are withdrawn from the influ- Air-pump ences of the atmosphere, as, for instance, in an hausted exhausted receiver, then it is found that what we suppose to be the lightest bodies, together with the heaviest, fall with equal velocity! Now if we consider the great mass of the atmospheric air, as the natural emblem of the principles of moral life and death, good and evil, according to what has been premised in

This is only one view of the natural symbol, (in what may be called the passive voice,) which has another interpretation in the opposite scale, (or active voice,) which is equally true and more popular; viz. the irruptions of ambitious pride in princes and heroes. They will all be considered in the course of the subject, and they all illustrate the testimony of St. Paul, viz. "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sin, which (motions) were by the law (oxygen gas) did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Romans vii.

the introduction, and hitherto, we shall clearly discern the interpretation of this curious phenomenon and parable.* The atmosphere being under this view an emblem of what religious and moral considerations are to the heart of man, or the earth, it will be evident that when we are acting, feeling, or reasoning under the full influence of these important considerations, every object of our desires will possess a comparative weight only, according as this gravity, or desire, or weakness, is restrained and modified by them; and therefore will be desired, or attracted by the heart in a medium degree, compounded of the strength of desire or attraction, on one hand, and the restraining influence of moral and religious considerations on the other; viz. respecting this world chiefly, or considerably, for sincere pure Gospel motives are typified by pure vital air, or oxygen gas.

But the air-pump and exhausted receiver are (in this particular point of view) emblematic of the case of a person, who blinded and infatuated by the flesh, and the devil, (who pumps out the air,) considers and desires the objects of his carnal mind and heart as unconnected with, and wholly abstracted from religious and

* That is to say, "According to the course of this world,* according to the prince of the power of the air," or what is called, formal righteousness, and mere moral and prudential considerations.

hausted

moral considerations, with respect to this, and Air-pump to both worlds; in short, without being at all and ex influenced by these restraining, though mixed receiver. and imperfect motives, but merely by the strong Minus. lust of his blind heart for the object presented at the time. Therefore, to such a person, whatever trifling, or vain, or sinful caprice engages his mind and heart for the moment, will in such a state of perilous captivity and abstraction, appear equally weighty with any other object: because, being bewitched and spell-bound by lust and the devil, he sees and feels nothing else. He is really in a magic circle, and from the nature of the heart, the sole measure of the object's weight, is his desire for it. Let conscience bear witness to the truth of this statement, after the action or speculation (whatever it be) is finished, and when the temporary abstraction of the mental receiver, is again opened to the influence of heaven! For when once the considerations of good and evil, honour and dishonour, (though perhaps merely temporal,) typified by atmospheric air, are admitted, then every object assumes its due relative importance, and gravity or weight," according to the course of this world," with respect to every other.

Opposite

This parable, however, like all others, will bear a different, yet equally just application, plus. according to the nature of the subject, or con

+