This book aims to face, as straightforwardly as may be, the problem implied in its title. It seeks to speak directly, as frankly and simply as possible, and yet with some adequacy, to the fundamental religious need of men,-to the need of all who cherish ideals of any kind. The book has been written, just because this problem of the seeming unreality of the spiritual life was felt to be fundamental both for thought and life; and with the hope that considerations, that had meant much to the writer, in the solution of this problem, might not be without helpful suggestion for others. Its lines of thought might have been greatly extended, but the intention has been to treat the subject suggestively rather than exhaustively, and elaboration of thought is left to the reader.
A portion-and only a portion-of the material of the book has been given in different forms in lectures at the Harvard Summer School of Theology, at the Federate Summer School of Theology at Berkeley, California, and as the Taylor Lectures at Yale Divinity School. In the publication of these discussions it has
seemed best, however, quite to abandon the lecture form. The nature of the subject has made necessary some recurrence of considerations brought out in previous books, but the argument, as presented, is intended to form an independent whole.
My indebtedness to others I have tried to make clear in the course of the discussion.
HENRY CHURCHILL KING. Oberlin College, February, 1908.