THE GREAT CONFLICT. 



229 



give himself to these pursuits, and spend a large part of his life in the 

 public teaching of science, without partaking of that love of impar- 

 tiality and truth which Philosophy incites. She inspires us with a 

 desire to dedicate our days to the good of our race, so that in the fad- 

 ing light of life's evening we may not, on looking back, be forced to 

 acknowledge how unsubstantial and useless are the objects that Ave 

 have pursued. 



Though I have spared no pains in the composition of this book, I 

 am very sensible how unequal it is to the subject, to do justice to 

 which a knowledge of science, history, theology, politics, is required ; 

 every page should be alive with intelligence and glistening with facts. 

 But then I have remembered that this is only as it were the preface, 

 or forerunner, of a body of literature, which the events and wants of 

 our times will call forth. We have come to the brink of a great in- 

 tellectual change. Much of the frivolous reading of the present will 

 be supplanted by a thoughtful and austere literature, vivified by en- 

 dangered interests, and made fervid by ecclesiastical passion. 



What I have sought to do is, to present a clear and impartial state- 

 ment of the views and acts of the two contending parties. In one 

 sense I have tried to identify myself with each, so as to comprehend 

 thoroughly their motives ; but in another and higher sense I have en- 

 deavored to stand aloof, and relate with impartiality their actions. 



I therefore trust that those, who may be disposed to criticise this 

 book, will bear in mind that its object is not to advocate the views 

 and pretensions of either party, but to explain clearly, and without 

 shrinking, those of both. In the management of each chaper I have 

 usually set forth the orthodox view first, and then followed it with 

 that of its opponents. 



In thus treating the subject it has not been necessary to pay much 

 regard to more moderate or intermediate opinions, for, though they 

 may be intrinsically of great value, in conflicts of this kind it is not 

 with the moderates but with the extremists that the impartial reader 

 is mainly concerned. Their movements determine the issue. 



For this reason I have had little to say respecting the two great 

 Christian confessions, the Protestant and Greek Churches. As to the 

 latter, it has never, since the restoration of science, arrayed itself in 

 opposition to the advancement of knowledge. On the contrary, it 

 has always met it with welcome. It has observed a reverential atti- 

 tude to truth, from whatever quarter it might come. Recognizing 

 the apparent discrepancies between its interpretations of revealed 

 truth and the discoveries of science, it has always expected that satis- 

 factory explanations and reconciliations would ensue, and in this it 

 has not been disappointed. It would have been well for modern civ- 

 ilization if the Roman Church had done the same. 



In speaking of Christianity, reference is generally made to the 

 Roman Church, partly because its adherents compose the majority of 



