and we may be assured, to use the words of

6

a late eloquent female writer, that the days are long past when ignorance might have innocence for her companion.'

Flitton Vicarage, Bedfordshire,
June, 1825.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

Scepticism on the Continent-Indifference of many

classes to Religion at home-Erroneous opinions with

regard to Religion-Want of sufficient knowledge

and general information

CHAP. II.

The Enemies of all Religions-D'Alembert-The Jus-

tice of God-Future Punishments-Whether inflicted

upon the Ignorant-Good and Evil-Future Life,

&c. &c.

CHAP. III.

Mirabaud's System of Nature-Freewill of Man-

Foreknowledge of God

CHAP. IV.

I

24

81

Materialism—Mr. Lawrence's Arguments laid down and

considered-Atheism-Existence of God

CHAP. V.

Modern Systems of Philosophy of the Human Mind—

The Elements of the System of Kant-Humility of

Mind which ought to result from the Discoveries of

Philosophy-Reasons why the minor Philosophers

are presumptuous, in spite of the Nature of these

Discoveries.

118

. 166

CHAP. VI.

Code of Reason, or abstract Moral Code-Its Inef-

ficiency and other Evils attendant upon its Nature—

Volney's System of Morality-Effect of the Increase

of Knowledge on the Conduct of Mankind-Morality

of the Philosophers-B. Franklin-Code of Reason

ill adapted for the Wants of an uncultivated Mind-

Its Inutility from want of Feeling-Nature of an

Oath

CHAP. VII.

Existence of God known by Revelation-Code of Mo-

rality given by Revelation-The Efficacy it acquires

by engaging our Feelings-All Religions formed on

this Principle-Communication with God, an Idea

natural to Man-Argument as to the possible Design

of the Almighty-Christian Religion-Doctrine of

the Incarnation-Of the Atonement-Miracles

CHAP. VIII.

Support given to our Faith in Christianity, from Human

Science-From History-Purity of the Precepts of

the Christian Religion-Testimonies of its Adversa-

ries-Rammohun Roy-His Speculations-His Error

on the Subject of the Trinity

CHAP. IX.

Superiority of the Christian Religion-Effects of the

same in an Historical Point of View-Mahommedan

Religion-Dupuis and Volney-Hume-Paine-Fre-

ret-Boulanger-Lord Byron, &c.

CHAP. X.

Recapitulation-Practical Use of the Bible-Views of

the Philosophers as to the Perfectibility of the

Human Species-Instances of Improvement-The

Testimonies of the Philosophers themselves-Con-

clusion

205

252

286

332

. 370

THE SEMI-SCEPTIC;

OR,

THE COMMON SENSE OF RELIGION CONSIDERED.

CHAPTER I.

Scepticism on the Continent-Indifference of many classes to Religion at home-Erroneous opinions with regard to Religion-Want of sufficient knowledge and general information.

AMIDST the various changes which occur in the physical as in the moral world, we must not, even when they are favorable to us, look for blessings wholly unalloyed. A certain portion of evil is necessarily evolved in the course of their operation; it is our destined lot; and seems as if expressly so provided by nature, in order to check the extravagance and wantonness which might otherwise arise from the indulgence of our too sanguine expectations. Even

B

in the case of knowledge, that first and most valued gift to man, some ills are found always intermixed with the blessings that accompany

its progress; and the more rich the soil in which it is cultivated, the more numerous are the false and nothous plants which spring up to intercept its nourishment, and to check the promise of its fairest blossoms.

We may collect from history, that the overthrow of the errors and superstitions even of the Romish Church, was followed by many extravagancies of opinion and enthusiastic irregularities, amongst those who were the objects of the reform: and harmless as such an idea might seem in itself, and worthy to be promulgated, yet even the British discovery of the theory of the circulation of the blood, "introduced for a time," says Bell, "general doctrines, more mischievous in their consequences than that (erroneous theory) which had just vanished."*

There is, indeed, for the most part, a natural pruriency of the human mind, under the stimulus of instruction; there is a boldness of thought arising from the pride of newly-acquired See Preface to Bell's Anatomy.