第6部分(第2/7 頁)

t　a

rigorous　thraldom　of　our　mon　nature　—　of　the　Human。　The　German　nations；　under　the

influence　of　Christianity；　were　the　first　to　attain　the　consciousness；　that　man；　as　man；　is　free：　that　it

is　the　freedom　of　Spirit　which　constitutes　its　essence。　This　consciousness　arose　first　in　religion；　the

inmost　region　of　Spirit；　but　to　introduce　the　principle　into　the　various　relations　of　the　actual　world；

involves　a　more　extensive　problem　than　its　simple　implantation；　a　problem　whose　solution　and

application　require　a　severe　and　lengthened　process　of　culture。　In　proof　of　this；　we　may　note　that

slavery　did　not　cease　immediately　on　the　reception　of　Christianity。　Still　less　did　liberty　predominate

in　States；　or　Governments　and　Constitutions　adopt　a　rational　organisation；　or　recognise　freedom

as　their　basis。　That　application　of　the　principle　to　political　relations；　the　thorough　moulding　and

interperation　of　the　constitution　of　society　by　it；　is　a　process　identical　with　history　itself。　I　have

already　directed　attention　to　the　distinction　here　involved；　between　a　principle　as　such；　and

its…application；　i。e。　its　introduction　and　carrying　out　in　the　actual　phenomena　of　Spirit　and　Life。

This　is　a　point　of　fundamental　importance　in　our　science；　and　one　which　must　be　constantly

respected　as　essential。　And　in　the　same　way　as　this　distinction　has　attracted　attention　in　view　of　the

Christian　principle　of　self…consciousness　—　Freedom；　it　also　shows　itself　as　an　essential　one；　in

view　of　the　principle　of　Freedom　generally。　The　History　of　the　world　is　none　other　than　the

progress　of　the　consciousness　of　Freedom；　a　progress　whose　development　according　to　the

necessity　of　i