The history studied (1) in its assault on the Church; as seen in Voltaire; the analysis of whose character is necessary, because his influence was mainly due to the teacher, not the doctrine taught. (pp. [169-176].) (2) in the transition to an assault on the State, in Diderot, (pp. [179], [180]); the philosophy of the Encyclopædists (p. [177]); Helvetius (p. [180]); and D'Holbach. (p. [181].) (3) in the attack on the State, in Rousseau (pp. [183-187]).—Analysis of the Emile for his views on religion, (p. [185]), and comparison with Voltaire. (p. [188].) [pg xxxvii] (4) in the Revolution, both the political movement and blasphemous irreligion (pp. [188], [189]); and the intellectual movement in Volney (Analysis of the Ruines, pp. [191], [192]).
Estimate of the period (pp. [193], [194]).
Unbelief in England, from 1760 to a date a little later than the end of the century (pp. [194]-209), continued from Lecture IV.
These later forms of it stated to differ slightly from the former, by being partially influenced by French thought. (p. [195].)
The following instances of it examined:
(1) Gibbon viewed as a writer and a critic on religion (pp. [196-199]). (2) T. Paine: account of his Age of Reason (pp. [199-201]). (3) The socialist philosophy of R. Owen (p. [202]). (4) The scepticism in the poetry of Byron and Shelley (pp. [203-207]).
The last two forms of unbelief, though occurring in the present century, really embody the spirit of the last.
Statement of the mode used to meet the doubt in England during this period. Office of the Evidences (pp. [207-209]).
Lecture VI.
Free Thought in the Theology of Germany, from 1750-1835.