W. Winwood Reade (1838–1875)

THE VEIL OF ISIS;
OR,
THE MYSTERIES OF THE DRUIDS.

HERE is no study so saddening, and none so
sublime as that of the early religions of mankind.
To trace back the worship of God to its simple
origin, and to mark the gradual process of those
degrading superstitions, and unhallowed rites which
darkened, and finally extinguished His presence in
the ancient world.

At first men enjoyed the blessings of nature as
children do, without inquiring into causes. It was
sufficient for them that the earth gave them herbs,
that thetrees bore them fruit, thatthestream quenched
their thirst. They were happy, and every moment
though unconsciously they offered a prayer of gratitude
to Him whom as yet they did not know.

And then a system of theology arose amongst
them vagúe and indefinite, as the waters of the boundless
sea. They taught each other that the sun, and...… (más)