The fault lies undoubtedly in the fact, that Practical Devoutness and Free Thought stand apart in unnatural schism.

But surely the age is ripe for something better;--for a religion which stall combine the tenderness, humility, and disinterestedness, that are the glory of the purest Christianity, with that activity of intellect, untiring pursuit of truth, and strict adherence to impartial principle, which the schools of modern science embody.

When a spiritual church has its senses exercised to discern good and evil, judges of right and wrong by an inward power, proves all things and holds fast that which is good, fears no truth, but rejoices in being corrected, intellectually as well as morally,--it will not be liable to be "carried to and fro" by shifting winds of doctrine.

It will indeed have movement, namely, a steady _onward_ one, as the schools of science have had, since they left off to dogmatize, and approached God's world as learners; but it will lay aside disputes of words, eternal vacillations, mutual illwill and dread of new light, and will be able without hypocrisy to proclaim "peace on earth and goodwill towards men," even towards those who reject its beliefs and sentiments concerning "God and his glory." NOTE ON PAGE 168.
The author of the "Eclipse of Faith," in his Defence (p.

168), referring to my reply in p.