FAITH AND OKEDULITT • 85 



reason about it. In the order of historical develop- 

 ment religion is not a matter of belief, of creeds and 

 dogmas, but of observances. The early nations had 

 certain religious rites and practices, but no belief, 

 in our sense of the word ; that is, as a conscious 

 intellectual act. A man cannot reason himself into 

 religion, though he can reason himself into religious 

 opinions. Eeligion is a sentiment just as much as 

 poetry is, and does not wait upon the logical facul- 

 ties any more than poetry does. The demonstra- 

 tions of science no competent mind can resist, but 

 the demonstrations of religion, its proofs, evidences, 

 etc., only impress such minds as are already con- 

 vinced, as have already taken the leap which faith 

 requires. 



Keligious faith is losing ground in our day be- 

 cause the light which fills the world, begotten by 

 science, education, industry, democracy, is more and 

 more the light of broad noonday, clear, strong, mer- 

 ciless. Our fathers stood much nearer the twilight, 

 the region of sentiment, of emotion, of enticing but 

 delusive lights and shades. The morning of the 

 world is past : what the completed day wUl show 

 forth does not yet appear. 



