PREFACE 



trust. In other words this is a book of radical opti- 

 mism. It might be described as an attempt to jus- 

 tify the ways of God to man on natural grounds. 



My reader need hardly be told that theological 

 grounds do not count with me. I want nothing less 

 than a faith founded upon a rock, faith in the con- 

 stitution of things. The various man-made creeds 

 are fictitious, like the constellations — Orion, Cas- 

 siopeia's Chair, the Big Dipper; the only thing real 

 in them is the stars, and the only thing real in the 

 creeds is the soul's aspiration toward the Infinite. 

 This abides, though creeds and dogmas change or 

 vanish. 



Empedocles says: 



"O, wretched he whose care 

 Is shadowy speculation on the gods." 



But is not speculation better than indifference? 

 Curiosity about the gods may lead to a better 

 acquaintance with them. I feel that each of these 

 chapters might be called an altar to the Unknown 



God. 



John Burroughs 



