Of the Bdation of Tradition to Palcetiology, 27 1 



then goes on to say, that he wishes, in his Dialogue^ to show 

 that the subject had been fully examined at Rome. Here the 

 irony is quite transparent, and the sarcasm glaringly obvious. 

 I think we may venture to say that this is not the temper in 

 which scientific questions should be treated ; although by some, 

 perhaps, the prohibition of public discussion may be con- 

 sidered as justifying any evasion which is likely to pass un- 

 punished. 



12 Duty of Mutual Forbearance. — We may add, as a further 

 reason for mutual forbearance in such cases, that the true in- 

 terests of both parties are the same. The man of science is 

 concerned, no less than any other person, in the truth and im- 

 port of the divine dispensation ; the religious man, no less than 

 the man of science, is, by the nature of his intellect, incapable 

 of believing two contradictory declarations. Hence they have 

 both alike a need for understanding the Scripture in some way 

 in which it shall be consistent with their understanding of na- 

 ture. It is for their common advantage to conciliate, as Kep- 

 ler says, the finger and the tongue of God, his works and his 

 word. And they may find abundant reason to bear with each 

 other, even if they should adopt for this purpose different in- 

 terpretations, each finding one satisfactory to himself; or if 

 any one should decline employing his thoughts on such subjects 

 at all. I have elsewhere* quoted a passage from Keplert 

 which appears to me written in a most suitable spirit : " I be- 

 seech my reader that, not unmindful of the Divine goodness 

 bestowed upon man, he do with me praise and celebrate the 

 wisdom of the Greater, which I open to him from a more in- 

 ward explication of the form of the world, from a searching of 

 causes, from a detection of the errors of vision ; and that thus 

 not only in the firmness and stability of the earth may we per- 

 ceive with gratitude the preservation of all living things in na- 

 ture as the gift of God : but also that in its motion, so recon- 

 dite, so admirable, we may acknowledge the wisdom of the 

 Creator. But whoever is too dull to receive this science, or too 



* Bridffeivaffr Tr., h. 314. f CWi. &tfJEU Mart,, Introd* 



