THE TWO LIGHTS;

OR,

Reason and Revelation.

A NARRATIVE.

BY THE

REV. W. LEASK, D.D.,

WARE.

SECOND EDITION, REVISED.

LONDON:

THE BOOK SOCIETY,

19, PATERNOSTER ROW, & BAZAAR, SOHO SQUARE.

1859.

250.M. 154.

PREFACE.

THE design of this book will be so obvious to every intelligent reader, that a long preface is entirely uncalled for. Those especially who are watching the rising purposes of a proud and Godless rationality to undermine the foundations and overthrow the strongholds of revelation, will see the import of this contribution to the cause of Truth. The candid and the noble-hearted will accept the labour for what it is worth; and to such it is commended, in the belief that its circulation will be of some little service to society. If all our intelligent youths would trim the lamp of Reason in the light of Revelation the destiny of Great Britain would be inconceivably glorious.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THIS book has been honoured as the means of much good already. The writer has had many requests for a cheaper edition; and, in the hope that it may be still. further blessed to many young men who are in danger of the wiles of infidelity, he now complies with those requests, earnestly trusting that, unpretending as it is, it may lead not a few gratefully to appreciate "the LIGHT of the glorious Gospel of CHRIST," without which no man can safely find his way through an untrodden wilderness to a blessed and honourable immortality. W. L.

WARE, HERTS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

DAY DREAMS OF YOUTH.

A Summer Evening-Chance-Leonard's Opinion of Pro-
vincial Towns-Filial Love-Widow Ashby-Mr. and
Mrs. Leonard - The Rector Moss Rose Lodge-
Reveries

PAGE.

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CHAPTER II.

FATE AND FORTUNE.

Punctuality-Spitalfields-Mr. Alridge—Mr. Gregory-
A Sad Scene-A Patient Sufferer-Benevolence-A
Letter-Picture of the Barrister-Only One Thing
Wanted-A Human Chronometer-" Winding up"-
Luck, Fate, and Fortune-Neutrality - Every Man a
Preacher-English Idolaters-Upright Lawyers-The
Neological Blight

CHAPTER III.

THE ELECTION.

Reason and Faith-Piety of Scepticism-Grove Worship -Druids in the Novitiate-Several Classes of Infidels -How to Deal with them-Liberty--Reason, a beautiful Child-Subjects which it cannot reach-How to enjoy the Beauties of Nature-The Interview-Coombe Down - The Dialogue - Ashby's Argument — The Friends separate .

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CHAPTER IV.

THE TIE BROKEN.

True Friendship-The Feelings of Leonard and Ashby
respectively-Poverty-The Two Sisters-The Gracious
Father Uses of Poverty-Illness of Mrs. Ashby-
Speculations about the Unseen-A Wonderful Sight-
The Dying Mother

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