232 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



subordinate controversy arose respecting the age of the world the 

 Church insisting that it is only about six thousand years old. In this 

 she was again overthrown. 



The light of history and of science had been gradually spreading 

 over Europe. In the sixteenth century the prestige of Roman Chris- 

 tianity was greatly diminished by the intellectual reverses it had ex- 

 perienced, and also by its political and moral condition. It was clear- 

 ly seen by many pious men that Religion was not accountable for the 

 false position in which she was found, but that the misfortune was 

 directly traceable to the alliance she had of old contracted with Ro- 

 man paganism. The obvious remedy, therefore, was a return to primi- 

 tive purity. Thus arose the fourth conflict, known to us as the Refor- 

 mationthe second or Northern Reformation. The special form it 

 assumed was a contest respecting the standard or criterion of truth, 

 whether it is to be found in the Church or in the Bible. The deter- 

 mination of this involved a settlement of the rights of reason, or intel- 

 lectual freedom. Luther, who is the conspicuous man of the epoch, 

 carried into effect his intention with no inconsiderable success ; and 

 at the close of the struggle it was found that Northern Europe was 

 lost to Roman Christianity. 



We are now in the midst of a controversy respecting the mode of 

 government of the world, whether it be by incessant divine interven- 

 tion, or by the operation of primordial and unchangeable law. The 

 intellectual movement of Christendom has reached that point which 

 Arabism had attained to in the tenth and eleventh centuries ; and 

 doctrines which were then discussed are presenting themselves again 

 for review ; such are those of Evolution, Creation, Development. 



Offered under these general titles, I think it will be found that all 

 the essential points of this great controversy are included. By group- 

 ing under these comprehensive heads the facts to be considered, and 

 dealing with each group separately, we shall doubtless acquire clear 

 views of their inter-connection and their historical succession. I have 

 treated of these conflicts as nearly as I conveniently could in their 

 proper chronological order, and, for the sake of completeness, have 

 added chapters on An examination of what Latin Christianity has 

 done for modern civilization ; a corresponding examination of what 

 Science has done; the attitude of Roman Christianity in the impend- 

 ing conflict, as defined by the Vatican Council. 



The attention of many truth-seeking persons has been so exclu- 

 sively given to the details of sectarian dissensions, that the long strife, 

 to the history of which these pages are devoted, is popularly but little 

 known. Having tried to keep steadfastly in view the determination 

 to write this work in an impartial spirit, to speak with respect of the 

 contending parties, but never to conceal the truth, I commit it to the 

 considerate judgment of the thoughtful reader. 



