He selects, as a title-page motto, an axiom from
Butler's "Analogy,"--"There are two courses of Nature: the ordinary and
the extraordinary." By the supernatural he does not mean phenomena out
of the course of Nature, but such comparatively rare phenomena as are
governed by laws with which we are unacquainted, and as are, therefore,
to us something extraordinary, something to be wondered at,--miracles.
The author travels over a vast extent of ground,--more, we think, than
can be properly explored in the compass of two duodecimo volumes. All
ages, all countries, all faiths, furnish their quota towards his
collection. It is curious, interesting, suggestive, rather than
conclusive. It exhibits more industry than logic. It consists rather of
abundant materials for others to use, than of materials worked up by the
collector. It gives evidence of learning, research, and a comprehensive
study of the subject. It is a _thesaurus_ of pneumatological knowledge,
collected with German assiduity.
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