252 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1870-1874 



radical. But the real merit of the school is just that its 

 radicalism is openly avowed. There is no pretence of 

 absolute impartiality in the discussion of theological 

 topics. The criticism, in particular, of the biblical 

 records, to which a great part of the strength of the 

 school is directed, has for its avowed end the explanation 

 of the religious ideas and progress of the Old and New 

 Testament, in accordance with a theory of the philo 

 sophy of religion that refuses to see a difference in kind 

 between Christianity and the other religions of the world. 

 We are not disposed to find fault with this departure 

 from the standpoint of absolute impartiality which is so 

 often urged as the necessary quality of a critic. We, 

 too, are of opinion that the &quot; objectivity &quot; which science 

 calls for is not really perilled, though we approach in 

 dividual problems with strong convictions as to what 

 Christianity is in itself and must be to us. But for this 

 very reason we decline to believe that we and the men 

 of the Theologisch Tijdschrift are really fellow-workers on 

 one scientific edifice. It is absurd to ask for scientific 

 fellowship where there are radically opposite aims. We 

 are antagonists, but we, at least, can afford to be 

 honourable antagonists, believing that our opponents 

 are honestly seeking the truth ; that, like all truth-seekers, 

 they must in some measure be truth-finders ; and that 

 our theology can only gain in firmness of foundation and 

 accuracy of construction by being confronted with a 

 bold and consistent development of opposing principles. 



