CREDULITY OF SCEPTICS. 383 



Some of those who differ from me will possibly contend 

 that many of the observations in this book are such as 

 might have been dictated by prejudice, or have resulted 

 from belief in metaphysical speculations by which I have 

 been hampered, and the religious prejudices of childhood 

 from which I am as yet unable to free myself. Any one who 

 argues, as I have felt it right to do, against the tendencies of 

 modern thought must, however, submit to having such 

 charges preferred against him, however able he may be to 

 prove that reason is on his side, and notwithstanding that it 

 may be shown that in credulity, it is not easy to exceed the 

 modern sceptic. If some influential materialist were to affirm 

 that those who wrote against the sceptical view of things were 

 in the pay of religious bodies in general, I have little doubt 



the superficial appearance of things might easily become a still greater 

 danger to human society than even those stronger evil passions them- 

 selves of which there is such a wholesome fear, and which it is justly 

 said that only a deep religious faith can adequately restrain. Doubtless 

 in a world without faith, if such could be imagined, there would be a 

 superabundance of lawless passion ; but there could also, we should fear, 

 be a still greater superabundance of dreary and passionless ennui such 

 as seems to have been the destruction of Samuel Howard. For our own 

 parts, we should dread the latter more than the former. Even evil pas- 

 sion is a powerful interest ; it stirs up all the force of better life against 

 it, and the struggle is one in which the noblest natures live most vividly. 

 But simple inability to endure the commonness of life, a result to which 

 loss of spiritual faith and hope is exceedingly likely to lead, an over- 

 powering illusion making the world seem blanker than it is, spreading 

 a false veil of pallor and poorness over existence, would rot society far 

 sooner. It will not come, because in the long run reality always asserts 

 itself against illusion of any kind ; but we can conceive no illusion more 

 dangerous and paralyzing, if it were ever to spread far, especially in the 

 more miserable layers of society, than that which resolves human 

 society into its loose visible show, and melts away the cohesive power 

 of trust in God." From the "Spectator," October 28, 1871. 



