I. MY YOUTHFUL CREED II. STRIVINGS AFTER A MORE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY III. CALVINISM ABANDONED IV. THE RELIGION OF THE LETTER RENOUNCED V. FAITH AT SECOND HAND FOUND TO BE VAIN VI. HISTORY DISCOVERED TO BE NO PART OF RELIGION VII. ON THE MORAL PERFECTION OF JESUS VIII. ON BIGOTRY AND PROGRESS IX. REPLY TO THE "DEFENCE OF THE ECLIPSE OF FAITH" APPENDIX I APPENDIX II PHASES OF FAITH. CHAPTER I. MY YOUTHFUL CREED. I first began to read religious books at school, and especially the Bible, when I was eleven years old; and almost immediately commenced a habit of secret prayer. But it was not until I was fourteen that I gained any definite idea of a "scheme of doctrine," or could have been called a "converted person" by one of the Evangelical School. My religion then certainly exerted a great general influence over my conduct; for I soon underwent various persecution from my schoolfellows on account of it: the worst kind consisted in their deliberate attempts to corrupt me. An Evangelical clergyman at the school gained my affections, and from him I imbibed more and more distinctly the full creed which distinguishes that body of men; a body whose bright side I shall ever appreciate, in spite of my present perception that they have a dark side also. I well remember, that one day when I said to this friend of mine, that I could not understand how the doctrine of Election was reconcilable to God's Justice, but supposed that I should know this in due time, if I waited and believed His word;--he replied with emphatic commendation, that this was the spirit which God always blessed. Such was the beginning and foundation of my faith,--an unhesitating unconditional acceptance of whatever was found in the Bible. While I am far from saying that my _whole_ moral conduct was subjugated by my creed, I must insist that it was no mere fancy resting in my intellect: it was really operative on my temper, tastes, pursuits and conduct. When I was sixteen, in 1821, I was "confirmed" by Dr. Howley, then Bishop of London, and endeavoured to take on myself with greater decision and more conscientious consistency the whole yoke of Christ. Every thing in the Service was solemn to me, except the bishop: he seemed to me a _made-up_ man and a mere pageant. I also remember that when I was examined by the clergyman for confirmation, it troubled me much that he only put questions which tested my _memory_ concerning the Catechism and other formulas, instead of trying to find out whether I had any actual faith in that about which I was to be called to profess faith: I was not then aware that his sole duty was to try my _knowledge_. But I already felt keenly the chasm that separated the High from the Low Church; and that it was impossible for me to sympathize with those who imagined that Forms could command the Spirit.