Faith and Reason: OR, THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM. BY THE ABBÉ MARTINET. Translated from the French. "Is it not time for the Divine Philosophy of Faith to supersede Faith LONDON: BURNS AND LAMBERT, 17 & 18 PORTMAN STREET, AND 63 PATERNOSTER ROW. TO THE READER. A COMPARISON of the following pages with the original will discover the omission of one long and of several short passages. The author, who wrote at the rise of that revolutionary excitement which still agitates Europe, had introduced some political reflections, which it appeared to the Translator would now be better omitted. These suppressions, however, do not at all interfere with the value of the work. The chief aim of the Translator has been to present the Author's ideas in pure and simple English, and, avoiding technicalities as far as practicable, to preserve the ease and perspicuity of the original. The Translator feels deeply grateful to the learned Author and to the zealous Bishop of Annecy, both of whom have most kindly condescended to sanction and encourage this attempt. It is the Translator's earnest prayer that these pages may prove widely useful: but if in the hands of Divine Providence they become the means of converting or of preserving from error but one soul, the labour bestowed on them will be amply rewarded. THE TRANSLATOR. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM. PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. QUESTION THE FIRST. WHETHER THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM POSSESSES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE PHILOSOPHY. Ques. What connection can there be between Philosophy and the Catholic Catechism? Ans. The aim of Philosophy has always been to bestow upon man true wisdom, or universal knowledge. In fact, a truly wise man would be one who, soaring above our ordinary prejudices and weaknesses, should regulate his conduct solely by the pure light of truth and justice. We are also promised the same boon by the Catholic Catechism; for these two words, Catholic Catechism, which are derived from the Greek, signify universal instruction. To enlighten man upon every useful subject is, therefore, the aim both of Philosophy and of the Catholic Catechism. In the result, there is some difference. Although Philosophy began its work some centuries before the appearance of the Catholic Catechism, and has enlisted in its service many highly gifted men, it does not seem to have as yet made war upon human ignorance with much success. From the days of Thales of Miletus, and Pythagoras of Samos, who founded our earliest schools of Philosophy more than two thousand years ago, how many schools of Philosophy have existed and died away in Europe! They have all in turn risen and prospered; and have all produced eminent teachers, who have filled innumerable bulky folios with their lucubrations. Nevertheless, when we examine what errors philosophers have eradicated, and what truths they have discovered, it becomes B |