INTRODUCTION. liii 



Prejudices take usually so firm a hold upon 

 the bulk of any people, that to attack them 

 directly, instead of opening, closes all the 

 avenues to the heart. Even the most enlight- 

 ened in some respects, in others are often 

 under their dominion ; and, therefore, it is 

 only by imparting truth Here a little and 

 there a little, as circumstances admit, and 

 embroidering the veil, under which we are 

 obliged to soften the effulgence of her light, 

 with varied imagery, darkly shadowing out 

 her mysteries, that a way is prepared for her 

 final triumph and universal reception. She 

 is often A. light shining in a dark place, 

 gradually expelling prejudice and error, and 

 shining more and more unto the perfect day. 



It was not so much necessary for the con- 

 version and reformation of mankind to make 

 them philosophers as to make them believers. 

 The great bulk of mankind were ignorant and 

 uninstructed persons, whence in order to win 

 their attention, it was necessary to address 

 them in a language which they understood, 

 and in a phraseology, with respect to physical 

 objects, to which they were accustomed, and 

 as those objects appear to the senses. Thus 

 the moon is called a great light, because she 



VOL. i. e 



