It is said that the human body undergoes an entire change of matter in the course of a certain time Whether this be truth or no it may perhaps be difficult even for philosophers to determine but let a man examine his mind and make a comparison of periods between which seven or ten years have elapsed and he will find so considerable an alteration especially in youth that was it not for the important associations of his material part with the changes that have taken place in his mind he might often doubt whether he was the same creature so continually progressive is the mind in the acquirement of knowledge Our ideas our opinions our feelings and too often our principles change as the gleams of reason succeed each other It is not for Man to say here will I rest satisfied no more shall my abberrations unsettle my fixed resolves—no. when our opinions are not founded on a basis of demonstrable truth they are always liable to change like the ridges of sand on the sea shore each succeeding wave drives along that ridge formed by the last and places a fresh one beyond it till progressive motion is no more

This unsettled state of the human mind in the thoughtless gaiety of youth when the ardour of curiosity is unsatiated is the great cause of our happiness for then we think we have time enough to make decisions and the pursuit of variety engrosses our attention

The endeavour to trace the progress of our intellect from infancy and the various changes of our opinions and feelings if not an entertaining employment is certainly an instructive one it is that species of self examination which is well calculated to humble us in our present opinions and predisposes the mind to receive truth. The reflective mind will early begin to notice the weakness as well as the powers of its nature by the difference of effect which the world in its various parts makes upon it in its progress 1. There is the change which is produced by the repetition of visual objects—2 That which arises from intercourse with each other—3. That deduced from our our acquired knowledge of the consistency of the creation—4 That which is produced by our own imagination and speculations under the head of Philosophy or Theology.