the fact of some being true, from the number of the false; and in the same way argue, that the multitude of false religious systems prove the existence of one that is true. The difficulties arising from the species of religions found among savage tribes, is answered by the fact of certain traditions having reached them, such as the deluge, circumcision, &c. The mind of man, having thus received a certain measure of truth, has become accessible to a multitude of false impressions of this . .

*The word, "espèce," is doubtless here to be added, although wanting in the MS. This, like the preceding paragraph, is in the handwriting of Madame Perier, and both are written on the reverse of a letter addressed to Pascal. In the corner is the date 19th February, 1660.

EDITORIAL NOTICE.

IN one of the notes collected at the end of this volume, under the title of "Order," Pascal mentions the Chapter on "Figures" in these terms:-"In the chapter on Fundamentals should be introduced that part of the one on Figures which assigns the cause of figurative language."

As in the MS. there is no other reference to the chapter on "Fundamentals," we have thought it best to reject that title, and have abandoned the subdivision which seems to have been contemplated by the writer of the subject-matter into two separate chapters.

As to the order of placing the Chapter on "Figures," it is indicated in the narrative of the conversation in which Pascal laid down the plan of his proposed Work; it there appears, that after descanting upon the Jewish people, he addressed himself to the discussion of Miracles, and afterwards of Figures. (French Editor.)

* ΟΝ FIGURES.

I. + Reasons for their use.

+ Ir was a carnal people that was addressed; and they were made the depositary of spiritual communications. (Erased.)

In order that faith should be yielded to the Messiah, it was necessary that his coming should be preceded by prophecies, and that those prophecies should be preserved by a people not obnoxious to suspicion, endued with extraordinary diligence, fidelity, and zeal, and known throughout the whole world.

To accomplish these ends, God made choice of this carnally-minded people, and made them the depositaries of the prophecies, which predicted the Messiah under the character of the Liberator, and the dispenser of those temporal benefits which were the objects of this nation's attachment. They were by this means endued with a signal zeal on behalf of their prophets; cherishing, in the sight of all the world, those writings in which the Messiah was foretold, and proclaiming to all nations, that he was hereafter to come, and that his appearance was to be in the manner described in those archives of theirs, which were open to the whole world. It was thus, that this nation, deceived by the ignominious and sordid circumstances of the Messiah's advent, became,

from his ardent expectants, his most cruel foes. Thus, they constitute a people, of all others the least to be suspected of bias or partiality; the most exact and zealous in supporting their law and their prophecies, and the most sedulous to transmit them uncorrupted to future times.

It is for these reasons, that the prophecies carry within them a hidden and spiritual sense (to which this people were opposed) under the cover of carnal objects, which were conformable to their taste. Had the spiritual meaning been revealed to them, they would have been incapable of appreciating it; and would thus have lost their ardour for the preservation of their writings, and the enforcement of their ceremonials. And, on the contrary, if they had been rendered capable of entering into these spiritual promises, and had preserved them unalloyed to the coming of their Messiah, their testimony, being that of friends and partisans, would have been stripped of its force. It was, therefore, an advantage, that the spiritual meanings were veiled from their perception. But, on the other hand, if the interpretation of these writings had been entirely concealed, and in no degree apparent, then they could not have served the purpose of testifying to the Messiah. What, then, was really the case? In the greater portion of the passages the meaning was concealed under temporal images; while in some others it was manifested so plainly,-exclusive of the various predictions as to time, and the state of the world, that the interpretation stands out as clearly as the sun in the noon-day heavens. And the spiritual sense is further, in some parts, so apparent, that nothing but that blindness which the influence of the flesh