[Transcriber's note: This production is based onhttps://archive.org/details/meditationsonact00guiz/page/n6.]
Meditations
On the Actual State Of Christianity,
And On The Attacks
Which Are Now Being Made On It.
By M. Guizot.
Translated Under The Superintendence Of The Author
New York:
Charles Scribner & Co.,
654 Broadway.
Preface.
When I published, two years ago, the first series of theseMeditations, the series which had for its object theessence of Christianity, "that is to say, the natural problems towhich Christianity is the answer, the fundamental dogmas by whichit solves those problems, and the supernatural facts upon whichthose dogmas repose," I indicated the general plan of the workwhich I so commenced, and the order into which its differentparts would be distributed.
"Next to the essence of the Christian Religion," I said in myPreface, "comes its history; and this will be the subject of asecond series of Meditations, in which I shall examine theauthenticity of the Scriptures; the primary causes of thefoundation of Christianity;{4}Christian faith, as it has always existed throughout itsdifferent ages and in spite of all its vicissitudes; the greatreligious crisis in the sixteenth century, which divided theChurch and Europe between Romanism and Protestantism; finally,those antichristian crises which, at different epochs and indifferent countries, have set in question and imperiledChristianity itself, but which dangers it has ever surmounted.The third series of Meditations will be consecrated to thestudy of the actual state of the Christian religion, its internaland external condition. I shall retrace the regeneration ofChristianity which occurred among us at the commencement of thenineteenth century, both in the Church of Rome and in theProtestant Churches; the impulse imparted to it at the same epochby the Spiritualistic Philosophy that then began again toflourish, and the movement in the contrary direction which showeditself very remarkably soon afterward in the resurrection ofMaterialism, of Pantheism, of Skepticism, and in works ofhistorical criticism.{5}I shall attempt to determine the idea, and consequently, in myopinion, the fundamental error of these different systems, theavowed and active enemies of Christianity. Finally, in the fourthseries of these Meditations, I shall endeavor todiscriminate and to characterize the future destiny of theChristian religion, and to indicate by what course it is calledupon to conquer completely, and to sway morally, this littlecorner of the universe, termed by us our earth, in which unfoldthemselves the designs and power of God, just as, doubtless, theydo in an infinity of worlds unknown to us."
Still adhering in its entirety to the plan which I thus proposed,I nevertheless now invert the order. I publish theMeditations concerning the actual state of Christianitybefore those which propose for their object its history. I amstruck by two circumstances in the actual state of opinions uponreligious questions. On the one side, the sentiments contrary toor favorable to Christianity are defining themselves each daywith greater precision.{6}Beliefs become firmer beliefs; opinions hostile to them receivefuller developments. On t