own, from the abuse to
which it is obviously exposed: and my answer is easy. Of course, had
I had any idea that I should have been exposed to such hostile
misrepresentations, as it has been my lot to undergo on the subject,
I should have made more direct avowals than I have done of my sense
of the gravity and the danger of that abuse. Since I could not
foresee when I wrote, that I should have been wantonly slandered, I
only wonder that I have anticipated the charge as fully as will be
seen in the following extracts.

For instance, speaking of the Disciplina Arcani, I say:--(1) "The
elementary information given to the heathen or catechumen was _in no
sense undone_ by the subsequent secret teaching, which was in fact
but the _filling up of a bare but correct outline_," p. 58, and I
contrast this with the conduct of the Manichaeans "who represented the
initiatory discipline as founded on a _fiction_ or hypothesis, which
was to be forgotten by the learner as he made progress in the _real_
doctrine of the Gospel." (2) As to allegorising, I say that the
Alexandrians erred, whenever and as far as they proceeded "to
_obscure_ the primary meaning of Scripture, and to _weaken the force
of historical facts_ and express declarations," p. 69. (3) And that
they were "more open to _censure_," when, on being "_urged by
objections_ to various passages in the history of the Old Testament,
as derogatory to the divine perfections or to the Jewish Saints, they
had _recourse to an allegorical explanation by way of answer_," p.
71. (4) I add, "_It is impossible to defend such a procedure_, which
seems to imply a _want of faith_ in those who had recourse to it;"
for "God has given us _rules of right and wrong_," _ibid_. (5) Again,
I say--"The _abuse of the Economy_ in _the hands of unscrupulous
reasoners_, is obvious. _Even the honest_ controversialist or teacher
will find it very difficult to represent, _without misrepresenting_,
what it is yet his duty to present to his hearers with caution or
reserve. Here the obvious rule to guide our practice is, to be
careful ever to maintain _substantial truth_ in our use of the
economical method," pp. 79, 80. (6) And so far from concurring at all
hazards with Justin, Gregory, or Athanasius, I say, "It _is plain_
[they] _were justified or not_ in their Economy, _according_ as they
did or did not _practically mislead their opponents_," p. 80. (7) I
proceed, "It is so difficult to hit the mark in these