Before proceeding, then, to speak of the true method
of theological study, and of its great and noble influ-
ences, it will be needful to discuss more at large the
real spirit and character of the science itself; and for this
somewhat abstract discussion, I bespeak your forbearing
and patient attention. It is needed in order to a clear ap-
prehension of the enlarging and elevating influence of the
science. Par am I from recommending to the educated
man, the pursuit of those seemingly religious studies
which never cany hira out of the sphere of natural the-
ology, and which cannot awaken enthusiasm of feeling
or produce profundity of thought. I am pleading for
those really theological studies, which by means of their
svpernatural element and character give nerve to the in-
tellect and life to the heart

Theology is the sciejice of the supernatural. That we
may obtain a clear knowledge of its essential character,
let us for a moment consider the distinction between the
natural and the supernatural.
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OF THEOLOGICAL

That which makes these different from each other in
kind, so that the line which divides thera divides the
universe into two distinct worlds, is this fact: — the
natural has no religious element in it, while the super-
natural is entirely composed of this element There ia
and there can be in mere nature nothing religious.
There is and there can be in that which is supernatural
nothing that is not religious.* "When we have said this,
we have given the essential difference between the nat-
ural and supernatural.
