Preface ix 



the subject matter of all the essays, and consequently 

 there must be a measure of repetition, and still more of 

 discussion of the same questions from somewhat different 

 stand-points. It seemed preferable, for many reasons, 

 to retain the original structure instead of recasting 

 the whole in such a way as to give a greater sense of 

 unity. I could see no near prospect of finding time to 

 re-write the book. Some years' delay at least would 

 have been inevitable; and the need of restatement of 

 fundamentals is so urgent, in view of the awakened 

 interest of all classes in matters of religion and the wide- 

 spread vagueness of religious thought, that it seemed 

 undesirable to hold back anything, however unworthy 

 of its subject, that might hasten the appearance of 

 fuller and more competent treatises. Being, professedly, 

 no more than a preliminary study, there seemed to be 

 a certain advantage in issuing it in a form which left 

 the framework visible. A builder's plan is less satisfying 

 than a picture of a completed building, but it has its 

 uses. 



Again, the original form of any thought on ultimate 

 things must necessarily be technical, if it is to give a 

 true idea of the foundation of the arguments on which 

 the theory is based. When, and if, the theory has been 

 approved, it can be put out in more general form, but 

 not before. Since, then, the present volume was bound 

 to be technical in parts, it seemed best to omit all more 

 general discussion, including such vitally important 

 questions as the relation of Trinitarian doctrine to the 

 Christian life and experience, reserving them, possibly, 

 for treatment in a more general book, if such a book 

 should later seem to be desirable as meeting a need. 

 Finally, the fact that one had come to a standstill on 

 the side of pure reasoning seemed to indicate the need 

 of criticism. For all these reasons I decided to let my 

 essay stand or fall in its present guise. 



