鬣,心、^* 影* তত্ত্বৰো their hearts and mindseby a protest against current falsehoods ; but the positive truth which alone they have to teach (even when they hold a positive Theism) is believed already by their nation. they can be animated by any great zeal for preaching it. There are two instances known to me of men who were originally Christian ministers and now are Theistic teachers; but the congregation has moved on nearly as the minister did. This was the way with Theodore Parker in America; and this is the only way in which I expect Theistic Churches. I am told that the congregation in Manchester to which Mr. John James Tayler (an eminent Unitarian) was minister, is prevalently Theistic, as a result of his teaching: and I cannot but think nearly the same is true of Mr. James Martineam’s hearers. I s/ightly know, but from what l know, I unuch esteem Mr. Chignell of Southsea. He was a Christian minister, but is now all avowed 'l'heist, with his congregation. Isis zeal, faith and ability deserve to make him celebrated; and as he does not seem to be above 36 years old, it is still possible. But he has a poor congregation, and is forced to spend unuch of his nergies in teaching, for the support of a wife and rising family. (I have just learnt that he has most reluctantly given up the task of public ministry.) England contains too great a mass of highly cultivated minds to be much influencil by any individual, whatever his goodness or his powers. No great results will be perceptible, until they are brought about from Parliament, from our Universities, or from Foreign Reforms. These seem to me likely to act in sympathy. Seveu of the most accomplished men in our Universities have lately excited scandal by a book of Essays which thoroughly abandons all that used to be regarded as the strongholds of Christianity. The bishops have signed a paper, unanimously condemning the book. A cry is now raised, demanding that they will refute it. The controversy thus raised cannot stop here. Forty years of active effort have shown that the Universities cannot sustain any consistent Christian theory. The laity are becoming scandalized at the untruthfulness mani ಕಟ್ಮtre by subscription to Articles of It is seldom therefore that thening and informing the mind. ჯრ ཀོནྟ་གྷོ་སྒོ་ Religion. How or when an explosion may take place, no one can foresee ; but the steady onward movement of mind makes it certain at last; and whenever it comes, it must give the prospect of a Theistic Church. . Before this happens, it is highly probable that a reforni of the Church of Italy will be effected. I am informed that the Italians regard fhe Unitarian Christianity of Fngland to be far too dogmatic and narrow a doctrine to be accepted by the resorming minds among them. Their "resorn, whatever its nature, is not likely to be encumbered by Articles of Religion. They have to clear off worse enormities than distressell England centuries ago: they have no wilful and bigoted king like our II enry VIIs to makethem stop short ; and the atmosphere of Europe is I expect that their movement will powerfully influence England. now widely different. Theism, sounded on pure wisdom. can only thrive as a result of general cultivation. I have freely given you my thoughts. You will see that they can only in part be called facts, and even facts are seen differently hy different minds. I proceed to explain more fully what I meant oncerning ladian culightenment, But let me first thank you for duplicate copies of 6 tracts, which arrived by the same post as your letter, and greatly interested me, I haye sent one set to my friend Miss Frances Cobbe, and am lending them to a few other persons. I trust you will not suppose that I for a moment undervalue direct religious agencies. Preaching, religious books, religious tracts. religious teaching in schools, so far as they are allowed to go on, so far as you can get books read and considered,—are the very best ways of propagating truth. But unfortunately, in the vast majority of instances, people will not hear the talk, and will not or cannot read the book: and even when they do, their minds are toe isflamed, too weak, too unprepared, to receive the truth presented. It is so in England, and I make sure it must be still more so in India. The Duropean literature of the 3 last centuries, (I mean, that which is not avowedly religious) is the great agency which has elevatod European religion,by strengThis is fully understood by the thousands of accomplished Englishmen, who are virtual but not
