Excerpt from Fanaticism
Strict propriety seldom allows an author to obtrude upon the public the circumstances that may have attended and controlled his literary labours. Yet the rule may give way to special reasons; and in the present instance the reader~is requested courteously to admit an exception.
More than twelve years ago the Author projected a work which should at one view exhibit the several principal forms of spurious or corrupted religion. But discouraged by the magnitude and difficulty of such a task, he after a while, yet not without much reluctance, abandoned the undertaking. Nevertheless the subject continually pressed upon his mind. At length he selected a single portion of the general theme, and adventured-Natural History of Enthusiasm.|
Emboldened to proceed, the Author almost immediately entered upon the nearly connected and sequent subject which fills the present volume. Yet fearing lest, by an unskilful or unadvised treatment of certain arduous matters which it involves, he might create embarrassment where most he desired to do good, he laid aside his materials.
But in the interval, by extending his researches concerning the rise and progress of the fatal errors that have obscured our holy religion, the Author greatly enhanced his wish to achieve his first purpose. He therefore resumed Fanaticism which is now oftered to the candour of the Reader. He next proposes, in advancing towards the completion of his original design, to take in hand Superstition, V and its attendant Credulity.
A natural transition leads from Superstition and Credulity to Spiritual Despotism. The principal perversions of Religion having thus been reviewed, it would be proper to describe that Corp.uption of Mop.als which, in difierent modes, has resulted from the overthrow of genuine piety. There would then only remain to be considered Scepticism,*or Philosophic Irreligion and the series will embrace all that the Author deems indispensable to the undertaking he has so long meditated.
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