NATURE AND REVELATION HARMONIOUS: A DEFENCE OF SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS ASSAILED IN MR GEORGE COMBE'S WORK ON "THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN, CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO EXTERNAL OBJECTS." BY C. J. KENNEDY, PAISLEY. PUBLISHED UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION FOR EDINBURGH: WILLIAM OLIPHANT AND SONS, D. ROBERTSON, GLASGOW; W. CURRY AND CO., DUBLIN ; MDCCCXLVI. ADVERTISEMENT. This Work appears, as the title-page intimates, under the auspices of an Association which was formed in Edinburgh in 1845, for opposing prevalent errors in religion. The design of the Institution, which consists of ministers and laymen connected with various denominations holding evangelical sentiments, is to keep a vigilant eye on the efforts which may be made in this country to diffuse opinions at variance with scriptural christianity, whether these take the form of superstition or scepticism. There are not wanting facts to show, that if the current of opinion among a large portion of the population of this country has been of late tending towards infidelity, there is a reaction among another class-a powerful under-current, flowing towards superstition. The rapid spread of AngloCatholicism within the last few years, proves that the antiquated absurdities of a bygone age are not too gross to revive and grow beneath the shade of so-called protestant institutions, and amid the light and intelligence of the nineteenth century. The incessant and gigantic efforts of Rome to re-establish her ascendancy, together with the success which has, in too many instances, attended her ambitious schemes, call upon every friend of Bible truth and of liberty of conscience, to oppose the spread of popish influence: while the tendency of multitudes to seize with avidity every theory which may be broached by the votaries of infidelity, how crude soever the sophistries by which it is defended, points to the necessity that there is for Christians to bestir themselves in protecting the unstable against the sceptical views into which they are in danger of being beguiled. The above mentioned Association seeks, in reference to these diverse, yet connected forms of error, to adapt itself to the exigencies of the times. The object of the following pages is not to oppose the principles of Phrenology, but to examine and refute certain doctrines ostensibly founded by Mr Combe on phrenology and the "natural laws." The philosophy taught in the "Constitution of Man," is, in certain of its leading prin |