Symbolism, or Exposition of the Doctrinal Differences Between Catholics and Protestants, as Evidence by Their Symbolical Writings. E-book. Formato PDF - 9780259707301

During my researches into the authorities required by the subject of my lectures, I thought I had further occasion to observe, that the terri tory I had begun to explore, had not by any means received a sufii ciently careful cultivation, and that it was yet capable of offering much useful and desirable produce. This holds good even when we regard the matter from the mere historical point of view. But it cannot fail to occur, that by bringing to light data not suficiently used, because they were not thoroughly understood, or had been consigned again to oblivion the higher scientific judgment, on the mutual relations of the Christian communities, will be rendered more matiire and c1rcumspect. Whether my inquiries, in either respect, have been attended with any success, it is for competent judges to decide. Thus much, at least, I believe] may assert, that my labours will offer to Catholic theologians especially, many a hint, that their industry would not be unrepaid, if in this department they were to devote themselves to solid researches. For several decades, the most splendid talents spend their leisure, nay, give up their lives, to inquiries into the primitive religions and mythologies, so remote from us both as to space and time but the efforts to make us better acquainted with ourselves, have evidently been more rare and less perseverant, in proportion as this problem is a matter of nearer con cern than the former. There are not, indeed, wanting a countless multitude of writings, that dilate in prolix dissertations on the relations between the different Churches. But alas l their authors too often poaess scarcely the most superficial knowledge of the real state of facts; and hereby it not unfrequently comes to pass, that treatises, which would even perhaps merit the epithet of ingenious, tend only to render the age more superficial, and to cause the most important ques tions that can engage the human mind and heart, to be most frivolously overlooked. Such sort of writings are entitled Considerations.