The only two parties who have had any interest in commenting on it have been the very parties least able to understand, and most certain to distort it.

They have been either the professed champions of theism, or else the visionary optimists of positivism; the former of whom have had no sympathy with positive principles, and the latter no discernment of their results.

The class of men we are considering are equally at variance with both of these; they agree with each in one respect, and in another they agree with neither.

They agree with the one that religious belief is false; they agree with the other that unbelief is miserable.

What wonder then that they should have kept their condition to themselves?
Nearly all public dealing with it has been left to men who can praise the only doctrines that they can preach as true, or who else can condemn as false the doctrines that they deplore as mischievous.