344 LAY SERMONS, ADDRESSES, AND REVIEWS. [xiv. 



because they have produced great thoughts which will 

 live and grow as long as mankind lasts. 



If the twenty-first century studies their history, it will 

 find that the Christianity of the middle of the nineteenth 

 century recognised them only as objects of vilification. 

 It is for you and such as you, Christian young men, to 

 say whether this shall be as true of the Christianity of 

 the future as it is of that of the present. I appeal to you 

 to say " No," in your own interest, and in that of the 

 Christianity you profess. 



In the interest of Science, no appeal is needful ; as 

 Dante sings of Fortune — 



o 



" Quest' e colei, ch'e tanto posta in eroco 

 Pur da color, che le dovrian dar lode 

 Dandole biasmo a torto e mala voce. 

 Ma ell a s' e beata, e cio non ode : 

 Con 1' altre prime creature lieta 



Volve sua spera, e beata si gode : ' n 



bo, whatever evil voices may rage, Science, secure among 

 the powers that are eternal, will do her work and be 

 blessed. 



1 "And this is she who's put on cross so much, 

 Even by them who ought to give her praise, 

 Giving her wrongly ill repute and blame. 

 But she is blessed, and she hears not this : 

 She, with the other primal creatures, glad 

 .Revolves her sphere, and blessed joys herself." 



Inferno, vii. 90 — 95 (W. M, Itosscttis Translation). 



