and who, because he has, in former years, felt the same temptation, is now able the better to sympathise with, and to appreciate their position. But while, on the one hand, we lay it down as a preliminary point, that religious doubt may possibly be consecrated by a spirit of honest search after truth, and, therefore, is not to be always rebuked as the offspring of a proud, self-righteous heart; on the other hand, there is such a thing as doubt of the latter kind: a spirit of sceptical inquiry, too often indulged in because considered a mark of intellectual superiority; a spirit which not only doubts, but loves to go on doubting, under the idea that it argues a high-toned mind, and reflects the culture of modern thought. With that kind of flippancy this book has nothing to do. I would not enter into controversy with such persons; for of all the most unpracticable and unreasonable men in the world, those are the most helpless and hopeless whose scepticism is founded upon conceit, and whose minds would rather petulantly vil than patiently and reverently meditate. I ire to speak rather, in the following pages, as e friend and helper of all those earnest and axious and conscientious Doubters, who, while roubled with difficulties, nevertheless desire to get rid of them; and whose only wish is to gain and grasp the truth, whatever it may cost them. For this purpose I shall assume that the Doubters whom I address have not yet settled themselves down into stereotyped infidelity; but that, harassed and perplexed by doubts, and in danger of drifting into the vortex, they are ready to welcome the kindly message of a brother who offers them some cautionary suggestions relative to their peculiar difficulties cautions such as, by God's blessing, may help to guide them in their mental entanglements, and restore them to an enlightened faith. CAUTIONS FOR DOUBTERS. I. CAUTIONS FOR DOUBTERS IN THE BELIEF OF A PERSONAL CREATOR. THE remarks in this chapter are not written with any idea of converting the professed disciples of Atheism or Pantheism; for, as a rule, whenever those theories are openly avowed, men have become too encrusted with unbelief to admit of new convictions. My thoughts will be directed rather to those whose minds have been distressed and perplexed, either by the writings of certain modern philosophers or by the conversation of sceptical friends; and who, finding the old grounds of their belief slipping away from them, are on the point of taking their last step in the march of unbelief, by denying the existence of a Personal Creator. In dealing with their doubts upon this subject, I shall assume that those doubts have not B |