Philosophical temperbooks were even written in a languagewhich he didnot understand,and opened to his view an account ofmanners and customs very different from those withwhich he was familiar. The writingsof the ancientswere to be collected,and their opinionsexamined ;and thus those studies which are peculiarlycalledlearned would form the principalemployment of onewho wished to be the champion of the Christianfaith. The philosopher might speculate,but thetheologianmust submit to learn.2. It cannot, then,be maintained that Christianityhas proved unfavourable to literarypursuits; yet,from the very encouragement it gives to these,anoppositeobjectionhas been drawn, as if on that veryaccount it impeded the advancement of philosophicaland scientific knowledge. It has been urged, withconsiderable plausibilittyh,at the attachment to thewritingsof the ancients which it has produced hasbeen prejudicialto the discoveryof new truths,bycreatinga jealousyand dislike of whatever was ctoran-ryto received opinions. And thus Christianityhas been representedas a system which stands inthe way of improvement, whether in politicsce,adtu-ion,or science ; as if it were adaptedto the stateof knowledge,and conducive to the happiness,of theage in which it was introduced,but a positiveevilin more enlightenedtimes; because, from its claimto infallibiliittyca,nnot itself change,and thereforemust ever be endeavouringto bend opinionto its ownantiquatedviews. Not to mention the multitude ofhalf-educated men who are avowedlyhostile to Re