THEOLOGY UNDER ITS CHANGED CONDITIONS. 183 



single power or energy. They will show the traces of order, mind, 

 and purpose which the world presents, and will cautiously draw from 

 the processes of human life as that which is highest in the moral scale 

 their inferences as to the nature of the Supreme Power. They will 

 not merely be careful not to contravene the laws of Nature, but will 

 consider essential a knowledge of them as manifestations of the Su- 

 preme Will, to which men must reverently submit themselves. They 

 will not spend time in questions which admit of no solution, such as 

 the eternity of matter or the origin of the world, or the possibilities of 

 other spheres of life than those known to us by experience. They will 

 trace the divine as working through Nature and man ; or, if they en- 

 deavor to think of a transcendental God, they will take care not to 

 represent him as a demiurge standing outside his work and putting in 

 his hand here and there, a conception which has turned so many physi- 

 cists into atheists. But they will feel able to speak of God as just and 

 loving, since the Supreme Power ex hypothesi includes mankind, the 

 leading portion of the world, with all its noblest ideals. They need 

 not quarrel with those who think of the Supreme Power rather after 

 the analogy of force or law than according to the strict idea of per- 

 sonality, provided that the moral nature of man be held fast and its 

 supremacy acknowledged. 



2. As regards the Scriptures. The theologian of our new epoch 

 will start without any theory of inspiration. He will be ready to 

 admit that God has revealed himself in part in other systems, ancient 

 and modern. He will not pretend that the Scriptures are absolutely 

 perfect in any part, but will take them for what they are really worth, 

 and as constituting a history and a literature in which the development 

 of religion is to be studied. But the fact that the Bible can not be 

 used as the infallible mine of ready-made statements concerning his- 

 tory and morals, will throw him back from the letter to the spirit, from 

 the external proof to the truth which is gained by thought and prayer ; 

 while the development of religion described in Scripture, which even 

 now stands forth in clear outline, will be found to be unique in its 

 variety and completeness, and at the same time a type of the develop- 

 ment of religion generally. The beauty and harmony of the whole, 

 and the moral elevation of special parts, will gain by this natural treat- 

 ment, as well as by comparison with other sacred books ; and the study 

 will become more attractive, more inspiring, and more capable of giv- 

 ing; strength and consolation. 



3. As to the nature of Christ. Putting aside the long controver- 

 sies which began in the third century, the theologian will be content 

 to exhibit him as he really was, and then to trace and estimate the 

 power which his life and spirit have exerted over mankind. The fact 

 that he takes human nature as the chief guide to the divine, and does 

 not pretend to an absolute knowledge of God, will give a new and 

 peculiar interest to the study of the life and influence of Christ. It 



