The diverse and incoherent doctrines of the various Protestant sects, without any point of agreement among themselves except opposition to the Catholic Church, have in great measure paved the way for the propagators of the shallow materialism which, although it has no root in our intellect or affections, is now, nevertheless, the greatest obstacle to the spread of Christian truth.
The incoherence of Protestantism has lent a deceptive glare to the bold assumptions of men who, however respectable in their own domain of material science, lower themselves to the level of the merest charlatans when they deal with the great questions of religion.
It is sad to observe to what an extent belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, in the immortality of the soul, and even in a personal super-intending Providence is fast disappearing from among the young men of our day who have been brought up under Protestant influences.
Are not some of our Catholic young men in danger of being carried away by this tide of infidelity? Can they escape entirely the baleful influences that surround them? Should they not be taught all that is necessary to preserve themselves, and be so fortified that their example and teaching would tend to arrest those false principles that are fraught with so much danger to the well-being of society? To effect this, good books are certainly useful; and we know of no book better fitted for this purpose than this admirable work of l'Abbé de Ségur.
(Taken from the publisher's preface)