THE LIGHT OF THE FORGE. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. "Oh! though oft depress'd and lonely, If I but remember only Such as these have lived and died." LONGFELLOW. IN a foot-note appended to his first preface, the Church historian, Milner, introduces the following just remark: "A history of the perversions and abuses of religion is not properly a history of the Church." In keeping with this thought, he proposes to write a history of those who have been real, not nominal Christians. But then, when considering the difficulty of ascertaining the accounts of such persons, he subsequently adds, "Genuine godliness is fond of secrecy. Her sincerest votaries have likewise been chiefly private B |