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borue in mind that the whole histoiy of physical science during the 

 last four centuries affords sufficient confirmation of the belief that 

 there is no just cause for the least apprehension on this ground. 

 But this is not all. It is not enough to say that any existing or 

 apparent antagonism between Science and Religion will die out : 

 this would be the truth, which we often hear : but it is wanting 

 in fairness to Science because it is not the whole truth. A re- 

 flection, in some respects even more important, may be derived 

 from looking back upon the influence which Science, — however 

 once shrunk from and dreaded for the conclusions it seemed to 

 threaten — has eventually produced, in its gradual and insensible 

 absorption within the very centre of religious thought and lan- 

 guage, enlarging and expanding the views it was once appre- 

 hended that it would overturn, and was at any rate believed to 

 invade. The history of Astronomy in the seventeenth century 

 is apt to be forgotten in this day. But it may be appealed to 

 with advantage as that of a campaign far more fierce and lasting 

 than probably advancing Science will ever witness again, and 

 compared with which our disputes are a mere mockery of warfare, 

 and an echo of the fear that once overspread Christendom. Yet 

 who, in the present day, would exchange the chart and title-deeds 

 of Christian faith for those maintained before the progressive 

 hand of Science had spread in our view the field of creative 

 wisdom and goodness as it is now understood and appreciated ? 



Had Wicliffe been asked what he thought of the progress 

 of Physical Science in reference to Eevelation, it is possible he 

 would scarcely, if at all, have recognised the pertinence of the 

 question. The very relation between them had not sufficiently 

 awakened to assume the form of antagonism. Of the storm 

 raised in the theological world by the discoveries and doctrines 

 of Copernicus and Galileo, we can scarcely, at this distance of 

 time, form a conception. In the case of Astronomy, this storm has 

 long passed away'; but it has not left a mere negative atmosphere 

 behind it. As the antagonism with theological opinion, mistaken 

 for discrepancy with religious Truth, died away, the relation 



