when once formed; hence the frequency and force with which they become motives to action; and the ungovernable impulse with which they involve all the mental manifestations in their train.

From this sinister influence, it is evident how important is the part of imagination in the production of prejudice, that canker-worm of the soul which slowly gnaws at its very centre, and destroys all its opening beauties; that strangling ivy, which entwines around its manifestations, prevents its growth, and finally impairs its vitality. Prejudice mainly depends upon that property of imagination, by which it estimates the qualities of things, not as they really are, but as it would have them to be, in order to concur with some preconceived views and feelings.

It is again the principal prop of superstition in every shape; for this arises from some fancied images of fear, the nature of which the mind will not be at the trouble of investigating and comparing with what it actually knows of the revealed will of Heaven. Thus ignorant people

are generally superstitious; every hamlet has its legend of fear every glade is peopled with genii of different and imaginative properties; the crying of the coming storm, the lurid glare of the lightnings, and the rolling thunder are shriekings of the spirit of the tempest, and indications of its anger. To the same cause are to be ascribed the histories of the several varieties of fairies, and their supposed influence on human actions,

as well as the thousand superstitious observances to appease their anger, or conciliate their good offices. And it is curious to remark, that these firm beliefs of superstition are peculiar to a state of ignorance, and gradually vanish before the diffusion of knowledge, and of the light of christianity; because these at once develop and inform the understanding, and subjugate the fancy to its government; while by shewing the only real objects for fear, they teach man to blush for his weakness and his folly. Ignorance, and the absence of real religion, will always foster a principle of superstition, which will as certainly give way to the opposite sources of thought and action.

A lively imagination is more particularly the attribute of the female mind, arising partly from that mobility and susceptibility of the nervous system with which nature has endowed it, and partly from the influence of female education which is often admirably calculated to develop this faculty to the exclusion of those which ought to be its counter agents. While we have been compelled to say much against its uncontrouled influence, we must also add, that imagination is the source of many pleasing manifestations; and intimately connected with the performance of many important duties. It is highly embellished by that genuine feeling by which the female mind is so eminently characterized; it is the incentive to many an office of real self-denying benevolence; it gives an astonishing interest to

the duties of the several relations; it communicates a zest to the finer feelings of humanity; it proves a harmless source of gratification when indulged within proper limits; it diversifies existence with a variety of new and pleasing changes and modifications, which really add to the satisfaction of its possessor, while they augment her own happiness, and enlarge the sphere of her usefulness.

It is then one of the good gifts of God; which admits of being usefully engaged, but which is liable to abuse, and partakes of the general proneness of human nature to that which is evil. We have no quarrel with the faculty itself, but with its perversion; and it is commonly so readily developed, of such rapid growth, so eager of pursuit, and engrosses the attention so greatly, that the principal object of the parent's attention will unquestionably be, not to stimulate its influence, but to repress its wild luxuriance; and to furnish a barrier to its wanderings, in the increase and constant appeal from its allurements, to the decisions of reason and religion. There may be cases in which it will be desirable to cultivate the imagination; but in general, the object of care is to prune its vagrant shoots. In order to be safely exercised, it must in every case be regulated by the judgment; this alone can ensure its useful application; this alone can save its possessor from the dangers which have been pointed out, and from falling headlong over the precipice upon whose very brink he is conducted.

In conclusion, it is evident from what has been written above, that it is most important when the imagination is lively, to attend to the development of abstracted and connected reasoning, in order to subdue the growth of fancy; and that for this purpose, mathematical pursuits, an acquaintance with the fixed sciences, and all that will permanently attract the mind to the substantial realities of life will be invaluable. It will be also most clearly demonstrable, with how sparing a hand the young should be supplied with works of fiction and imagination generally, whether in prose or verse; since they all come under the ban of exciting this faculty and its attendant evils; not that we would entirely exclude their employment, but we would most sedulously guard against their frequent perusal, and against that greedy devouring of such works. which is the common failing of the young and inexperienced. Especially do we object to that common form of imaginative reading, the religious novel, by whatever title it may be dignified or disguised; and we object to it as a bad vehicle for serious truth; and as calculated to produce an erroneous impression the more certainly, from its professed object, lulling suspicion, and disarming caution. This however, is not the place for entering at large upon a subject, which will hereafter come to be fully considered.

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CHAP. XI.

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ON CONSCIENCE-IT IS NOT A SIMPLE PRODUCT OF THE UNDERSTANDING - ITS NATURE - ITS OFFICES — IT FORMS A MORAL JUDGMENT OF ACTIONS, AND IS GOVERNED AND INSTRUCTED BY THE LAW OF GODIT DIRECTS THE CONDUCT, AND IS A GUIDE IN DIFFICULTIES- ITS DECISIONS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME, WITH THOSE WHO POSSESS A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE-AN EVIL CONSCIENCE-A GOOD CONSCIENCE-A TENDER CONSCIENCE-CONVICTION ITS RESULT - CONSCIENCE IMPROVED BY KNOWLEDGE AND EXERCISE-HOW THIS IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AND PRESERVED-ITS SENSIBILITIES ARE TO BE ENCOURAGED, AND ITS SLIGHTER ADMONITIONS LISTENED TO EVIL OF INATTENTION-GENERAL RE

SULTS-CONCLUSION.

VIII. Conscience.

THIS powerful principle, in common with those already considered, forms one of the manifestations of mind, which have been given to man by his Maker, and which are developed by time, reason, instruction, and religion. It is not a simple product of the understanding, since it cannot be acquired by study, and exists independently of it, and anterior to it. The first glow of shame, the earliest consciousness of having done wrong, may be traced almost as soon as the