INTRODUCTION.

ON THE CHARACTER OF MODERN DEISM.

THE history of man, for nearly six thousand years, presents us with the phenomenon of a slowly-advancing civilization, which forms a stern antithesis to those visions and hopes of the future, which Philanthropists often entertain. This tardy progress of human society is not to be accounted for by vainglorious imputations on the intelligence of former times. They who ascribe so much to modern illumination, and speculate largely on the possible extension of knowledge and happiness, are not therefore the wisest or most thoughtful of their generation. In their bold calculations of the glories of a coming era, they take but little notice of the obstacles which always arise to thwart the operation of the noblest schemes, and render abortive the strongest efforts for promoting human good. Above all, they forget that mighty counteracting cause-the original depravity of the hearts of men-which (unchecked, as the majority always are, by a sense of religion) bursts forth, overpoweringly, from time to time, bearing down the

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virtue of the good, and defying the sagacity of the wise. Thus, it would seem that "vain philosophy" delights to build faëry palaces on the ridges of a volcano, beneath which, evermore, the pent-up lava boils and flames.

The Moral Eras in the history of our race are but few, and have generally been accomplished by the operation of unobserved causes. Nature loves not to usher in her great events with pomp and ostentatious noise. We pass from the old year to the new, and hear no announcement of the change; and thus when man is passing from one stage of civilization to another-when one moral cycle is completed, and another is about to begin-no trumpet's voice is heard proclaiming it to the Universe.

But the transition is not the less real, because thus silently performed, and unmarked by the multitude. -When the obscure shepherds of Judea hastened to the villages of Palestine, telling that they had seen at midnight a sudden glory, and had heard mysterious music from a choir of the descended Seraphim-the great, and wise, and noble of the earth knew nothing of THE ERA that then began to dawn on mankind. The few who listened to the wonderful story might smile at what they deemed a rustic reverie. But it was then, in very truth, that AN ERA commenced, of all Eras the greatest, the influence whereof shall be felt and seen in all future time! HE who then "came to visit us in all humility" made known to man "the mystery hid from ages and

generations

lowly individual of a despised

people, HE revealed a religion which, by the native might of goodness and of truth, was destined, ere long, to shake (that citadel of falsehood) the massy fabric of Heathen superstition; and which finally overthrew the most gigantic confederacy of priestly jealousy, political hatred, and imperial power, that had been ever known among mankind. He sent forth his unarmed messengers to proclaim war with the opinions of all men-bidding them to spare no prejudices, but trample on the idols, and set at nought the philosophy of the world. And the spiritual kingdom which they founded (however its advances to universal dominion may be checked for a time) shall eventually prevail against all opposition; for the decree which once went forth will not be revoked-"The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall perish, yea those nations shall be utterly wasted!”

But no Era, no moral revolution in the history of man, ought to come upon us unawares. There are unerring signs whereby the change may be foreseen. Though the nations be keeping high festival-like the Chaldean monarch of old-a solitary hand coming forth from the obscure" may be tracing words of omen, which seem to have no meaning to the ungifted gaze of the careless passer-by! Or it may happen that the minds of all men are possessed with vague and general apprehension of what is about to be-and they will stand in expectation, like

the inhabitants of a city who have heard the rumbling of an earthquake, and are waiting for the shock. And, when this is not the case, there will be fore-runners-philosophers or prophets- the harbingers of future times. They may be scorned or martyred for (in the language of the German

poet)

"These have been always crucified and burned !"1

but they leave their testimony behind them. An Era is at hand!

Oftentimes before that Era may arrive, the external aspect of things may be such as to lead the superficial to conclude, that all change must be far distant. There may be a strong revulsion in the general feeling a sudden check to the onward progress of events, and even a recurrence to the abandoned opinions and maxims of a former time. The superficial will be deceived, and conclude, that now the advancing tide of human things has ebbed once more, therefore it will never return; while the next flowing of the waters may sweep away some huge promontory that seemed eternal !

Even now, while I write, an ERA may be at hand! Whoever will look steadily at the moral aspect of Christendom, at the present moment, may find abundant reason for anxious thought and perplexed anticipation.

1 From a MS. translation of Goethe's Faust-by a Gentleman formerly of Queen's College, Oxford.

Romish Christianity, and a liberal Deism possess the continent of Europe. The advocates of a maximum and a minimum of Faith dwell strangely together, in perfect amity, mutually tolerating each other. Not the Romanism of the 16th century, nor the Deism of the 18th,-for these could never coexist. The experiment was tried in France a hundred years ago, and after short lapse of time the hostile principles came into actual contact, and in their explosion shattered even the iron frame-work of Feudal society! The Romanist and the Infidel have alike learned wisdom; both have moderated their pretensions. But their natures are not changed, though their characters be modified. The modern liberal Deism is by its very nature aggressive; and the best terms which Romanism can obtain of her ancient enemy only provide, that the aggression shall be made by a gradual process, which may postpone, for a while, all serious danger. The two parties appear, with mutual concession, to meet each other half-way. An Abbé may now preach the doctrines of Neology without provoking the thunders of the Vatican; while, on the other hand, the "Enlightened" acquiesce in the miracles of the mendicant priests, deeming some superstition necessary, at present, for the vulgar.

And can we doubt of the tendency of this state of things?—The present generation in France' have not

1 More than half the children born in Paris are illegitimate. More than half the poor die in Hospitals!-See Alison's Hist. of the French Revolution: