puts far from it the knowledge of God； can well estimate
how much furtherance thereby accrues to its own wayward and vain strivings。 I have been
unwilling to leave out of sight the connection between our thesis … that Reason governs and has
governed the World — and the question of the possibility of a Knowledge of God； chiefly that I
might not lose the opportunity of mentioning the imputation against Philosophy of being shy of
noticing religious truths； or of having occasion to be so in which is insinuated the suspicion that it
has anything but a clear conscience in the presence of these truths。 So far from this being the case；
the fact is； that in recent times Philosophy has been obliged to defend the domain of religion
against the attacks of several theological systems。 In the Christian religion God has revealed
Himself； — that is； he has given us to understand what He is； so that He is no longer a concealed
or secret existence。 And this possibility of knowing Him； thus afforded us； renders such
knowledge a duty。 God wishes no narrow…hearted souls or empty heads for his children； but those
whose spirit is of itself indeed； poor； but rich in the knowledge of Him； and who regard this
knowledge of God as the only valuable possession。 That development of the thinking spirit； which
has resulted from the revelation of the Divine Being as its original basis； must ultimately advance to
the intellectual prehension of what was presented in the first instance； to feeling and
imagination。 The time must eventually e for understanding that rich product of active Reason；
which the History of the World offers to us。 It was for a while the fashion to profess admiratio