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"Hold thou the good: define it well:

For fear divine Philosophy

Should push beyond her mark, and be

Procuress to the Lords of Hell."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Tholuck, Herzog's Real-Encyclopædie. Art. Rationalismus.

[2] Trench, Study of Words, p. 147.

[3] As a fair specimen of the extent to which philological criticism is often carried by some of our German friends, when advocating a doubtful cause, we quote a paragraph in point from Dr. Rückert's work, Der Rationalismus, one of the latest and feeblest apologies for neological thought:

"What is Rationalism? We must try to get the meaning from the term itself. And what sort of a term is it? Barbarous enough! Its root is ratio, but it is directly from rationalis that the word in question is derived. Now this word is good enough in itself, for it signifies what is conformable to reason, that which possesses the attributes and methods of reason. Man is a rational animal, and it is his rationality that distinguishes him from all other animals. So much for this part of the word Rationalism. Now for the barbarous part of it, the -ism. This termination belongs to another language, the Greek -ισμὁς and is derived from a verbal ending which cannot be expressed in Latin, namely—ἱζειν. Now if we examine certain intransitive verbs, such as μηδἱζειν, λακωνἱζειν, ῥωμαἱζειν, ἀττικἱζειν, we shall find their common peculiarity is that the persons meant are not the real persons which the words seem to signify, but only act in their capacity. Not a real Mede μηδἱζει; no true Spartan λακωνἱζει; and so of all the rest. But those Greeks who would rather belong to the Medes than be freemen, act like Medes, would prefer to be under Median rule—μηδιζουσιν. This -ισμος is a termination from this class of verbs, and is employed in reproach and not in praise. Hence Rationalist is a term of contempt, and means not one who is really reasonable, but would like to pass for such." Of course the Doctor concludes that the word is a most flagrant and unrighteous misnomer; but we accept his philology and return him our thanks for his etymological study.

[4] Geschichte des Rationalismus und Supernaturalismus, pp. 3–4.

[5] De Rationalismi: A Disputation at Leipzig.

[6] State of Protestantism in Germany. pp. XXII-XXVI.

[7] Thoughts on Rationalism. pp. 23–32.

[8] Histoire du Rationalisme. pp. 1–6.

[9] History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe. By W. E. H. Lecky, M. A. 2 vols. Longmans, London, 1865.

[10] History of the Rise and Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, vol. I., pp. 183–185.

History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology

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