[83] Such is the testimony rendered to him by M. Aug. Conti in his work, _La Philosophie italienne_. (Paris, Joel Cherbuliez et Auguste Durand; one small vol. 18mo.) [84] _Le Rationalisme_ (in French), published with an introduction, by M. D. Bancel, Brussels, 1858, page 27. [85] The learned author appears to intimate that the distractions of the Papacy, consequent on its political struggles for temporal power, hinder the salutary influence which it might otherwise exercise in the suppression of evil doctrines. The Translator feels it due to himself to state here, once for all, that he has no sympathy whatever with such a view of the influence of the Papacy. On the contrary, he is disposed to attribute to the Church of Rome most of the evils which afflict, not Italy only, but all the countries over which she has any power. Perhaps, having "felt the weight of too much liberty" in his own Church, the excellent author, fundamentally sound in his own views of Christian doctrine, as is proved abundantly by his writings, has been led by a natural reaction to give too much weight to the opposite principle of authority. The concluding pages of his former work, _La Vie Eternelle_, indicate a mind too painfully and sensitively averse to all controversy with a corrupt Church, in consideration of the acknowledged excellences of many of her individual members,--her Pascals, Fenelons, Martin Boos, Girards, Gratrys, and Lacordaires.--_Translator_. [86] _De l'autre rive_ (in Russian). [87] _De l'autre rive_. v. Consolatio.--This chapter is a dialogue between a lady and a doctor. I have considered the doctor as expressing the thoughts of the writer. The form of dialogue, however, always allows an author to express his thoughts, while declining, if need be, the responsibility of them. [88] _Le Rationalisme_, par Ausonio Franchi, page 19.--_Force et matiere_, par le docteur Buechner, page 262.--_Paroles de philosophie positive_, par Littre, page 36.--_La Metaphysique et la Science_, par Vacherot, page xiv. (Premiere edition.) [89] Ps. xiv. 1. [90] De Natura Deorum. [91] Nil audet magnum qui putat esse Deos. [92] See Bossuet: _Sermon sur la dignite de la religion_. [93] Gen. xlvii. 9. [94] Quand tous les biens que l'homme envie Deborderaient dans un seul coeur, La mort seule au bout de la vie Fait un supplice du bonheur. [95] Pascal. [96] Reconnaissez, _Messieurs_, a ces traits eclatants, Un Dieu tel aujourd'hui qu'il fut dans tous les temps. Il sait, quand il lui plait, faire eclater sa gloire, Et son peuple est toujours present a sa memoire. LECTURE IV. _NATURE._ (At Geneva, 27th Nov. 1863.--At Lausanne, 25th Jan. 1864.) GENTLEMEN,