Literature. — Besides the authors already cited, see Tholuck's Lfcttires on Encyclopedia, translated in the Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. i ; hiblical Rejwsitory, edited by Dr. Robinson, i, 013; iv, 127 ; Zyro, in Studien u.Krit- iken, 1837, p. 689 sq. ; Shedd, Essays, Essay i, on Meth- od and hrfuence of Theological Studies; Vincent, Du Protestanti.<me en France, i, 314 sq. (Paris, 1860, 12mo)j Credner, Preface to Kifto's Cyclopadia.
EncycJcpedia, French, and the Encyclope- dists. The D'ctionnah-e Encyclopklique was' a publi- cation of the 18th century, which exerted a threat influ- ence not merely on general science and litei-ature, but also on theolotry and religion. Its full title is Ency- clopedie ou Dictionnaire rainonne des Sciences, des A rfs, et des Metiers, par line sociite de gens de Lettres ; mis en ordre etpuhlie par Diderot ; et quant a la partir Mathe- matique par D'Alembkrt ("Par. and Amst. 1751-80, 35 vols. fob). This great work was projected by Diderot
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(q.v.), and carried through, in the midst of difficulties, cliiefly In' his indomitable industry and perseverance. The name of D' Alenihcrt (q. v.) added lustre to the pub- licatiou ; and these two called to their aid all the scepti- cal and free-thinking talent of France. A great aim of the Encyclopedists was to establish what the}' called philosophy instead of religion ; and the higher intellect of France seemed to become thoroughly imbued with their views, social, moral, and political. The Encyclo- pe'Iin was a product of the same causes which gener- ated tlie Revolution, but the publication itself doubt- less greatly hastened the catastrophe. It was onh- one stage in the development of that one-sided realism which commenced with Locke ; expanded into the de- ism of England ; and, crossing over to France, found a powerful advocate in Condillac. The progress of this development was verj' rapid. Among the Ency- clopedists a single lifetime produced startling changes. Diderot, the editor and leading philosophical spirit of the Enci/clopedlu, "was at first only a doubter, next Le became a deist, lastlj^ an atheist. In the first stage he only translated English works, and even condemned some of the English deists. His views seem gradually to have altered, probably under the influence of Voltaire's writings and of the infidel books smuggled into France, and he thenceforth as- sumed a tone bolder and marked by positive disbelief. Diderot's atheism is a still farther development of his unbelief. It is expressed in few of his writings, and presents no subject of interest to us, save that it seeks to invalidate the arguments for the being of God drawn from final causes" (Viirrwc, Critical History of Free Th'mrjhf, p. 179). D'Alembert, the scientific edi- tor of ths Encyclopedia, was the autlior of the cele- brated Dlscours Prliiminaire des Editeurs, which was issued in separate form, and became a text-book of infidelity not only in France, but also in England. D'Alembert's reputation in the department of science was very great over the entire continent of Europe, and he gave to the Encyclopedia its high scientilic character and value. (See Alembert, n'.) There has been much discussion as to whether tlie Encyclo- pedia proper realh' was issued in the interests of athe- ism. Manj' of the articles are entirely Christian in their tone and spirit. Others are as decidedly atheis- tic, v.hile the Dhcours Prelnninalre can hardly be call- ed doubtful as to its character and aims. The true view seems to be that the Encyclopedists endeavored clandestinely to accomplish what more honest infidels had long attempted openly. "Yhoy endeavored to un- dermine both religion and the state, while seeming to be in favor of them. Voltaire doubtless stands at the head of tlie coterie whicli furnished tlie articles for the Encyclopedia, although he wrote little for it himself. More than any other man he was the educator of the Encj'clopedists. His principles are too well known to need statement. Helvetius derived his philosoph}' from Locke. "He was the moralist of the sensational phi- losophj', one who applied the philosophy of Condillac to morals. His philosophy is expressed in two works: tlio one on the spirit, the other on man ; the former a theoretical view of human nature, the latter a prac- tical view of education and society. His primary po- sition is, that man owes all his superiorit}' over ani- mals to the superior organization of his body. Pleas- ure is the only good, and self-interest the true ground of morals, and the frame-work of individual and politi- cal rigiit" (Farrar, History of Free Thought, p. 180). Next come the authors of the Systeme de la Nature, a work issued Viy the encj-clopedists. It has been at- tributed to baron d'Holbach, his tutor Lagrange, Di- derot, Grimm, Helvetius, and Robinet. It was doubt- less a joint work, and expressed the views of all these men, or was a compromise creed to which they could all subscrilie, for they held widel}' dift'erent opinions in other respects. The great object of the System of Na- ture was to banish God from the universe. It is de-
voted to the boldest materialifm. "There is, in fact, nothing but matter and motion, says this book. Both are inseparably connected. If matter is at rest, -it is only because hindered in motion, for in its essence it is not a dead mass" (Schwegler, History of Philosophy'). The first part of this work undertakes to disprove the existence of mind ; tlie second part is directed against religion. This System of Nature was the Ijold- est achievement of infidelity, a work which even Vol- taire pronounced "illogical in its deductions, absurd in its physics, and abominable in its morality." To those already named we may add Rousseau, whose Po- litical Essiiys became the text-book of the French Rev- olution, lie did for the state what the others had done for the Church. Such, then, were the views of those who projected and carried forward the Encyclopedia. If in the Encyclopedia itself we find those views cover- ed up, or at least offset bj' thoroughly Christian ones, we ai-e justified in l)elieving that they were concealed and balanced l)y contrary opinions only to make the Encyclopedia acceptable to the unthinking masses of the French nation. The fact, as some hold, that the French nation was ripening for a revolution both in Church and State, and would have rushed into such a catastrophe at all hazards, proves nothing respecting the motives of the encyclopedists ; and the tcrrilile quickening which their great popular work gave to in- fidelity is perhaps the best test by which to judge the purposes of its authors.