The second, and subsequent editions, of _Vestiges_ were "Greatly Amended by the Author," as the title page gave notice, and the changes were partly to incorporate new scientific data, but more to make clear the fact that the author's theory did not remove God from his universe, as some critics had asserted, but like Butler's _Analogy_ had shown that God is in His world, working through the processes of nature. In 1846 appeared _Explanations: A Sequel to Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation_, a thin volume added to carry still further this double purpose, and doing it with marked success. The sixth edition combined the two in one volume. It is interesting to learn that Lincoln, having read the first edition, later procured and read the sixth, in which the religious spirit of the author was made still more apparent. This was the book which gave to Lincoln his theory of creation, of "miracles under law," and with one divine mind and purpose working through it all. Lincoln read little of natural science and cared practically nothing for philosophy, but he found in this book what he needed of both; and he found them in a system whose soul and center was the will of a righteous God. CHAPTER XV OTHER FORMATIVE BOOKS WE do not know of any other books which deserve to be classed with the two we have been considering in their relation to the formation of Mr. Lincoln's religious ideas; but our inquiry is at a point where it will be instructive to learn of any collateral influence which at this period, the period of the 50's, after the death of Eddie, and before his election as President, helped to give shape to his convictions. Mr. Lincoln did not unite with Dr. Smith's church. It is difficult to think that it would have been possible for him to have done so. Old-school Calvinism had its permanent influence upon him through his Baptist antecedents, but while that of Dr. Smith came to him most opportunely, it did not wholly meet his spiritual requirements. For many years Herndon was in regular correspondence with Theodore Parker. They agreed in their view of the slavery question, and had much in common in their religion. Herndon had Parker's theological books, and Lincoln read them, not very thoroughly, perhaps, but with interest. About the same time, Mr. Jesse W. Fell, for whom he wrote the first sketch of his life, presented him with the works of William E. Channing. When Herndon was gathering material to confute Dr. Reed, he assembled very nearly everything that seemed to prove that Lincoln was not orthodox, however far short it fell of proving him an infidel. Among the rest he interviewed Fell, and from his statements made up this report, which appeared in Lamon's book, and subsequently in Herndon's: "Mr. Jesse W. Fell of Illinois, who had the best opportunities of knowing Mr. Lincoln intimately, makes the following statement of his religious opinions, derived from repeated conversations with him on the subject: