Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE

CRITICAL REVIEW;

OR,

ANNALS OF LITERATURE.

1

[blocks in formation]

PRINTED BY AND FOR S. HAMILTON, FALCON COURT,

FLEET-STREET.

1800.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CRITICAL REVIEW.

SEPTEMBER, 1800.

Outlines of a Philofophy of the Hiftory of Man; tranflated from the German of John Godfrey Herder, by T. Churchill. 4:2. 1. 11s. 6d. Boards. Johnfon. 1800.

IN an age of fcepticifin, it is not easy to ascertain what is understood by philofophy, especially when it is applied as in the prefent work. The hiftory of man comprifes a feries of facts. which, we may fuppofe, are to be explained by philofophic induction; but this is a tafk which would require centuries of farther investigation, and probably new, and more exalted, mental powers. If, as in our author's own and fomewhat obfcure intimation, the plan and defigns of the Omnipotent be the fubject of the work, the boldeft mind, on examining the picture clofely, must thrink from the attempt. Let us attend, however, to the author himself.

I have imperceptibly wandered too far from the defign with which I fet out, and which was, to give an account of the manner of my falling upon this fubject, and returning to it again among other occupations and duties of a very different nature. At an early age, when the dawn of science appeared to my fight in all that beauty which is greatly diminished at the noon of life, the thought frequently occurred to me, whether, as every thing in the world has its philofophy and fcience, there muft not alfo be a phi lofophy and fcience of what concerns us moft nearly, of the hiftory of mankind at large. Every thing enforced this upon my mind; metaphyfics and morals, phyfics and natural hiftory, and laftly religion above all the reft. Shall he, who has ordered every thing in nature, faid I to myfelf, by number, weight, and measure; who has fo regulated according to these the effence of things, their forms and relations, their courfe and fubfiftence, that only one wifdom, goodnefs, and power prevail, from the fyftem of the universe to the grain of fand, from the power that fupports worlds and funs to the texture of a fpider's web; who has fo wonderfully and divinely weighed every thing in our body, and in the faculties of our mind, that, when we attempt to reflect on the only-wife ever fo remotely, we CRIT. REV. VOL. XXX. September, 1800.

B

« AnteriorContinuar »