servations more useful, it was thought necessary to reduce them into some order, and class them under certain heads. This has been attempted in the way which the editors of Mons. Pascal's Thoughts on Religion' tell us, in their preface, they pursued. A distinct chapter is allotted to each subject, and a regular method is aimed at in the order and connection of the subjects. This attempt was not without its difficulties. Many of the author's observations being of a complex kind, it was not easy to fix upon the leading sentiment, so as to assign them their proper place. Some inaccuracy will, perhaps, be discovered, and some indulgence is requested of the public in this respect. Under the head of Confessions, which is the title of the first chapter, will be found most of those devout aspirations and reflections, whether of a penitential or thankful kind, which lie scattered about in the author's diary; and under the term 'Christian Life,' which is the title of another chapter, the editors meant to give all his observations that relate to those exercises, conflicts, and circumstances, that peculiarly constitute and attend the Life of God in the Soul of Man.' I. On the indifference of Atheists II. The Characters of true Religion III. The true Religion proved by the Contrarieties which are discoverable in Man, and by ori- ginal Sin IV. It is not incredible that God should unite him- 45 |