ROUSSEAU. 173 



sentimental, sometimes of a declamatory kind ; and 

 it abounds in remarks, the result of personal expe- 

 rience or actual observation, and so entitled to much 

 attention. The religious portion, the ' Profession de 

 Foi d'un Vicaire Savoyard,' is that which naturally 

 excited most attention at the time of its publication, 

 and which still possesses the most interest. His long 

 letter in the 'Nouvelle Heloise' (Liv. v., Let. 3) contains 

 his thoughts on the subject of education, powerfully 

 though more concisely given ; but nothing of an infidel 

 cast was given before the ' Emile.' It is true Wolmar, 

 a perfect character, is made first an atheist, and then a 

 sceptic, owing to his contempt for the ceremonies of the 

 Greek and Romish churches ; and that Julie's religion 

 is rather pure, exalted, impassioned theism, than Christ- 

 ianity (Liv. vi., Let. 5; Liv. xvi., Let. 7, 8), yet the 

 Scriptures are spoken of with Christian reverence 

 (CEuv., ii., p. 622) ; and both Julie dies a Christian 

 death, and Wolmar is, in consequence, about to be con- 

 verted when the curtain falls. But the ' Emile' at once 

 declares against Revelation ; it does not indeed substi- 



o 



tute, for the Christian scheme dogmatically rejected, a 

 dogmatical theism, but it denies the credibility of the 

 Gospel dispensation as recorded in the Scriptures, and 

 it substitutes a moderate but humble scepticism. There 

 is no sarcasm, no dogmatism, no ribaldry, no abuse ; 

 the feelings of the Christian reader are consulted, and 

 not outraged ; the weapons of attack are reasoning and 

 sentiment, not ridicule ; the author's errors are to every 

 candid reader his misfortune, not his fault ; and he gives 

 the impression to a charitable mind of having wished 

 to be a believer, and failed. 



