THE INTRODUCTION.
The history of the world shows clearly that Religion is
the highest of all human concerns. Yet the greatest good
is often subject to the worst abuse. The doctrines and
ceremonies that represent the popular religion at this time,
offer a strange mingling of truth and error. Theology is
often confounded with Religion; men exhaust their strength
in believing, and so have little Reason to inquire with, or
solid Piety to live by. It requires no prophet to see that
what is popularly taught and accepted as Religion is no
very divine thing; not fitted to make the world purer,
and men more worthy to live in it. In the popular belief
of the present, as of all time, there is something mutable
and fleeting; something also which is eternally the same.
The former, lies on the surface, and all can see it; the latter
lies deep, and often escapes observation. Our popular
theology is mainly based on the superficial and transient
element. It stands by the forbearance of the sceptic.
They who rely on it, are always in danger and always in
dread. A doubt strongly put, shakes the pulpits of New
England, and wakens the thunder of the churches; the
more reasonable the doubt the greater the alarm. Do men
fear lest the mountains fall: Tradition is always uncertain.
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no,” is all we can say of it. Yet it
is made the basis of Religion. Authority is taken for
Truth, and not Truth for Authority. Belief is made the
Substance of Religion, as Authority its Sanction and
Tradition its Ground. The name of Infidel is applied to the
best of men; the wisest, the most spiritual and heavenly
