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fact, admits with all modern physiologists, that the brain is the organ, or material instrument, of the mind; and he is at issue with such only as would make it a mere function

of that organ.

"Mind," says a learned modern physician, "is the functional power of the human brain. As I cannot conceive life, any more than the power of attraction, unless possessed by matter, so I cannot conceive mind, unless possessed by a brain, or by some nervous organ, whatever name we may choose to give it, endowed with life. I speak of terrestrial or animal mind; with angelic and divine nature we have nothing to do, and of them we know, in the same respects, nothing. To call the human mind positively a ray of the divinity, (Divine particula auræ) appears to me absolute nonsense. Brutes are as really endowed with mind,—with a consciousness of personality,

prayers which every pious person offers up daily to his Maker, are mere cerebral functions or secretions, can the same be affirmed of that which determines their utterance? which says, I will pray every hour, every day, or once only every year? or that I will write annually, at the appropriate season, a Christmas Carol? a determination, nevertheless, which must always be subject to the proviso that the brain retains its healthy state. Otherwise it would be as impossible to compose a copy of verses, as it would be to play correctly a piece of music on an instrument out of tune. And must not this argument, whilst it establishes the integrity and unity of the mind, throw great light on the diversity of the human character, indicating, as it does, that we may be physically so constructed, as to be fitted for performing different parts in life, as well as at different periods of life; and that, whilst the minds of men are essentially the same, their talents, upon the right use of which their moral responsibility rests, may be extremely different? Thus conforming with what the Scriptures tell us, that "to whom much is given, of him shall much be required.".

with feelings, desires, and will,-as man. Every child is conscious that it thinks with its head, and common language designates this part as the seat of mind. Observation shows that superiority of mind in the animal creation is exactly commensurate with superiority of brain; that activity of mind and of brain are co-equal; and that, as long as the brain is endowed with life, and remains uninjured, it, like all other organs, can perform its functions, and mind continues; but, as in all other organs, when its life ceases, its power to perform its functions ceases, and the mind ceases; when disease, or mechanical injury, affects it, the mind is affected,-inflammation of the stomach causes vomiting; of the brain, delirium; a blow upon the loins affects the bladder, a blow upon the head stuns ; if originally constituted defective, the mind is defective; if fully developed, and properly acted on, the mind is vigorous; accordingly as it varies with age, in quality and bulk, is the mind also varied,-the mind of the child is weak and very excitable; of the adult, vigorous and firm, and of the old man, weak and dull, exactly like the body; *

"how

* Abernethy, on the contrary, contends for the opinion that the mind, ever its processes and evidences may be enfeebled or disturbed by corresponding states of the nervous system," is nevertheless the same. "Youth," he observes, "is the season for acquiring knowledge; reflection would but retard its attainment, and would be unavailing from deficiency of facts and experience. In proof of the fact, that mental power may be exhibited in childhood equally as at any other period of life, he relates the following instances :-"When I first attended St. Bartholomew's Hospital, one of the old surgeons was a most benevolent man, whom all the patients loved. There was a little boy of five years old, whom this surgeon was to cut for the stone. The boy complained loudly, and struggled much during the introduction of an instrument, which was but a pre

and the character of the mind of an individual agrees with the character of his body, being equally excitable, languid, or torpid, evidently because the brain is of the same character as the rest of the body to which it belongs. The female mind exceeds the male in excitability, as much as her body; the qualities of the mind are also hereditary, which they could not be, unless they were, like our other

paratory step to the operation. The old man patted the child on the cheek, and said "You know, my good little boy, that I would not hurt you if I could help it." "I know it, sir," said the child, "and I will cry no more." He underwent a severe and tedious operation. His teeth were clinched, his lips were working, yet no sound was heard.-A few weeks ago, an emaciated and very sickly child of seven years old, was sent into the hospital to have a diseased knee removed. The case was, indeed, hopeless. When the little patient had become familiar with his new abode and attendants, and certain circumstances known with respect to his health, which it was proper should be ascertained, I said to the child, for I knew not whether he had been apprized of his doom, "I suppose, my little fellow, that you would not mind having this knee removed which has pained you so much, and made you so very ill." "Oh, no," replied he, "for mammy has told me that I ought." At the time of the operation he manifested neither hesitation nor opposition, nor did the voice of complaint issue from his lips."-Hunterian Oration, 1819.

In a religious point of view, it is not to be doubted that the minds of children are often imbued with the clearest perceptions of religion. For, however Coleridge's beautiful lines

"E'er sin could blight, or sorrow fade,

Death came with friendly care;
The op'ning bud to heav'n convey'd,

And bade it blossom there:"

may seem to apply to the mere state of infancy, I can truly say, that in children far beyond that period, but strangers as yet to the allurements of the world, and brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, I have witnessed such blessed effects of faith and hope in their approach to the grave, such meek simplicity in their anticipations of heaven, that never have I been so forcibly impressed, as upon these occasions, with the solemn consideration, that it is only through the atoning blood of Christ that any adult can be made like a little child.

qualities, corporeal conditions; and the mind is often disordered upon the disappearance of a bodily complaint, just as other organs, besides the brain, are affected under similar circumstances; the retrocession of an eruption may affect the lungs, causing asthma-the bowels, causing enteritis or the brain, causing insanity; phthisis and insanity sometimes alternate with each other, just like affections of other organs; the laws of the mind are precisely those of the functions of all other organs,-a certain degree of excitement strengthens it; too much exhausts it; physical agents affect it, and some specifically, as is the case with other functions. The argument of Bishop Butler, that the soul is immortal, and independent of matter, because in fatal diseases the mind often remains vigorous to the last, is perfectly groundless; for any function will remain vigorous to the last, if the organ which performs it is not the seat of the disease, nor much connected by sympathy, or in other modes, with the organ which is the seat of the disease-the stomach often calls regularly for food, and digests it vigorously, while the lungs are almost completely consumed by ulceration. All the cases that are adduced to prove the little dependence of the mind upon the brain, are adduced in opposition to the myriads of others that daily occur in the usual course of nature, and are evidently regarded as extraordinary, by those who bring them forward. An exact parallel to each may be found in the affections of every other organ, and each

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admits of so easy an explanation, that it may be always truly said, "Exceptio probat regulam."

It is impossible to read the above extract, without perceiving the wide difference between the views it presents and those of my friend Abernethy. "Mind, we are told, is the functional power of the brain;" and "I cannot conceive mind unless possessed by a brain, or by some nervous organ endowed with life." What can be the meaning of these words? I can readily comprehend that the same individual, who could so express himself, would be likely to add as follows:-"To call the human mind positively a ray of the divinity (Divinæ particula auræ; ex ipso Deo decerptus; ex universa mente delibatus,) appears to me absolute nonsense." Yet Dr. Elliotson is, I have no doubt, sincere, when he professes respect for the Christian religion; for that very religion which discourses of the spirits of just men made perfect; which tells us, in the words of an inspired Apostle, that "the first man Adam was made a living soul;" and which is one in essence and authority with that primary revelation which informs us, that God made man in his own likeness. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." "What more," Bishop Horne has justly remarked, "can be said of a creature than that he is made after the similitude of his Creator ?" What less, let me add, can be said of him whom God has thus honoured, than

* Elliotson's "Human Physiology," p. 37.

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