124 



which these bold thinkers have arrived, let us not reject the 

 positive facts which science is continually bringing to light, 

 nor its theories, when based on facts for which the most 

 indisputable evidence can be adduced. The simple question 

 for us to determine is, are they true ? If we are not able, 

 from insufficient Icnowledge of the subject, to answer this 

 question for ourselves, we must lean on the authority of those 

 qualified to be judges. It then becomes a matter of faith ; 

 faith not only to believe what is told us respecting things we 

 have not ourselves attended to, but to believe that the 

 truths we receive from others in this way, if they be truths, 

 can never prejudice or affect any other truths, even of the 

 highest kind. We need not for a moment fear such a result 

 — it is simply impossible. We may be led to think differently 

 of these last truths, differently in respect of the witnesses we 

 had called in to speak to their character, to look at them 

 from a different point of view, or to separate from them what 

 does not essentially belong to them ; but the truths them- 

 selves will remain what they always were. For truth is one, 

 and immoveable as a rock. 



We may even be brought, by the aid of science, by the 

 light of inductive philosophy, to a better understanding of 

 some portions of Scripture, the great source of Divine truth 

 itself All must allow the clearer insight it has already given 

 us into some questions connected with the early history of 

 man, and of this earth his dwelling place, as well as the 

 assistance it has afforded in the right interpretation of many 

 of the ancient records contained in the Bible. Nor can we 

 doubt that science wiU do yet more for that inestimable 

 volume, helping us to explain much that is obscure, yet 

 leaving utterly intact all that concerns the highest interests 

 of man, all that bears upon his moral and religious advance- 

 ment, and his hopes of an hereafter. 



Gentlemen, I know that these are solemn thoughts, not per- 



