MEDITATION I.

...most [finely] printed, but also furnished with the most learned commentaries and useful notes. There is no lack of men skilled in the knowledge of Oriental languages who devote all their effort and diligence to elucidating the Holy Scriptures. Critical Art original: "Ars Critica"; here referring to textual criticism, the scholarly method of determining the original wording of historical texts. has not only been reduced to certain rules, but those skilled in this art use them successfully to explain and correct all the best writers. The writings of the Fathers The "Church Fathers," early influential Christian theologians. have never been examined with such precision original: "ἀκρίβεια" (akribeia); Greek for "exactness" or "meticulous accuracy." as has been done in our age. Learned men everywhere are beginning to judge more correctly the value of these writings, and are not so easily led astray by the authority of the Fathers. In England, France, Italy, and indeed in our own Germany, the most ancient monuments and fragments of these same ecclesiastical writers—which bring much light to the understanding of the discipline and customs of the Early Church—are being rescued from neglect and decay. Philosophy, that most noble science (so these learned men continue), is cultivated with emulation, especially by our Germans. Moreover, where this flourishes, it is impossible for the remaining disciplines, especially the sacred ones, not to maintain their own honor. And to come closer to the more sacred disciplines, there is a great and immense abundance of interpreters of Holy Scripture, especially those who, having gathered the resources of philology and antiquity from all sides, pour an unusual light upon the difficult passages of both Covenants. Theology itself, or the systematic method of handing down religion, is not only bound to more accurate laws of method, but also shines forth more pure and chaste, after it has been freed and purged here and there from so many scholastic terms and petty questions of little profit. The Christian Religion, through the care of most learned, sharpest, and most pious men, has been demonstrated by so many weighty reasons, and the arguments and objections of unbelievers have been shaken by such sharpness of wit, that (unless a perverse mind stands in the way) no one can fail to perceive the admirable power and excellence of this most chaste and holy discipline. Controversies are handled with greater modesty than in the age of our fathers, and their importance is carefully considered. Everywhere, those rigid and fretful theologians are despised who extol all minute opinions as being of great importance, and who either cannot or will not make a distinction between the trivial and the momentous. Christian Ethics, once neglected or entangled in scholastic intricacies, is more skillfully taught in academies and schools; and the admirable beauty of virtue and piety itself is delineated and inculcated with great zeal by learned and pious men. To this fact, so many books published on this subject in our Germany can bear witness, to say nothing of the English and French. To the Religion of the Protestants (they continue), through the unusual conversions of the Salzburgers and Bohemians, Refers to the 1731 expulsion of Protestants from Salzburg and subsequent migrations of "Exulanten."

ON THE CAUSES OF UNBELIEF.

not only has a great addition been made, but the rays of divine light have penetrated even to the most remote nations, to the Garamantes A term often used classically for North African peoples. and the Indians, and to the coldest regions of the North; which pious minds can understand from publicly published reports, not without remarkable joy and delight. (*) Finally, they say, if we turn the eyes of the mind to the uprightness of morals and the observance of the right worship of God and piety, it must be confessed that there is no lack of pious hearts here and there, kindled with a burning zeal for the love of GOD and our Savior, who contribute whatever they can to promote the salvation of others. Hence so many Societies, especially in England, for promoting Religion among barbarous and uncultivated nations; hence so many seminaries of Piety established; and finally, so many workshops of good arts and disciplines founded everywhere. And thus indeed, certain learned men are accustomed to judge the state of our times.

Although this speech is most honorable and not everything can be denied, there are nonetheless those who think the happiness of our times is extolled beyond measure.

II. Others, however, distinguished by no less praise for wisdom and learning, think that the happiness of our times in this matter is extolled beyond measure. I gladly confess that I am also among their number. Indeed, we would be unjust toward the singular benevolence of the Great and Good God original: "O. M. Numinis"; referring to Optimi Maximi, "The Best and Greatest." toward the human race—especially the Christian Church and the assembly devoted to purer sacred rites—if we did not acknowledge with a most grateful mind the benefits conferred upon us, and publicly confess that it is not without His help that so many men distinguished by piety and learning flourish here and there in academies and schools. For since, according to Socrates, good and wise men are born only by a divine gift original: "θεία μοίρα" (theia moira); a "divine portion" or "divine lot."; or to speak more correctly with the Apostle James, since every good work and gift granted to mortals is from the Father of Lights [James 1:17]: it is manifest that the most ample causes and occasions for celebrating God are supplied to us (**), if we turn the eyes of our soul to the progress of the disciplines, especially the more sacred ones, and to the labors of so many men outstanding in wit and learning. Nor indeed...

(*) The celebrated Fabricius Johann Albert Fabricius (1668–1736), a famous classical scholar and bibliographer. of blessed memory original: "Μακαρίτης" (makaritēs); Greek for "one who has died/is blessed." diligently and learnedly collected the things that pertain to this in the book titled: The Saving Light of the Gospel Rising over the Whole World through Divine Grace: or a historico-chronological, literary, and geographical account of the propagation of Christian rites throughout the whole world. Also deserving of mention here is the most praiseworthy plan of the celebrated Callenberg Johann Heinrich Callenberg (1694–1760), known for his mission to Jews and Muslims., namely of calling back the Jews and Muslims from their errors—to say nothing of the efforts of the Count von Zinzendorf Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760), leader of the Moravian Brethren., concerning which there are diverse judgments. What I once said here concerning the efforts of Count Zinzendorf, with the modesty that befits a theologian, must be judged with a grain of salt; since it was afterwards discovered through many signs that the discipline of this assembly, of which that illustrious man is the Leader, deviates from the simplicity of Christian doctrine and inclines strongly toward enthusiasm and mysticism.
(**) Since I mention this famous passage of the Apostle James, I cannot restrain myself from bringing forward here the excellent words of Socrates about to proclaim the virtues of God. They are found in Xenophon.