Beyond that point, English religion has hardly gone.

For in spite of all that has since been done in Germany for the true and accurate _exposition_ of the Bible, and for the scientific establishment of the history of its component books, we still remain deplorably ignorant here of these subjects.

In consequence, English Christians do not know that they are unjust and utterly unreasonable, in expecting thoughtful men to abide by the creed of their ancestors.

Nor, indeed, is there any more stereotyped and approved calumny, than the declaration so often emphatically enunciated from the pulpit, that _unbelief in the Christian miracles is the fruit of a wicked heart and of a soul enslaved to sin_.

Thus do estimable and well-meaning men, deceived and deceiving one another, utter base slander in open church, where it is indecorous to reply to them,--and think that they are bravely delivering a religions testimony.
No difficulty is encountered, so long as the _inward_ and the _outward_ rule of religion agree,--by whatever names men call them,--the Spirit and the Word--or Reason and the Church,--or Conscience and Authority.