324 EVOLUTION AND MAN S PLACE IN NATURE 



inferiority to Him of all His followers in all ages. The 

 Christ of history cannot be regarded as the product 

 of his age. His influence in the earth has not been 

 that belonging to worldly dominion, or to political 

 power ; it has been a spiritual influence, extending by 

 the force of ideas, and by the agency of a moral and 

 religious inspiration. Christ has received, at once, 

 the most intelligent, and the most devout homage of 

 men, of which history bears record. Around His name 

 and life have gathered the most searching, uncompro 

 mising, and antagonistic criticisms that have ever risen 

 against any leader of men. Such criticism has been 

 hailed by a large constituency. Even now, when 

 Christianity has powerful sway in society, we must 

 admit the truth of J. S. Mill s statement, The world 

 would be astonished if it knew how great a propor 

 tion of its brightest ornaments of those most dis 

 tinguished even in popular estimation for wisdom and 

 virtue, are complete sceptics in religion. l The state 

 ment is true in both particulars, as to the scepticism 

 which exists, and as to the astonishment which would 

 be aAvakened were it fully known. The one is the 

 counterpoise of the other, presenting a remarkable 

 antithesis in human opinion as to the value of religion. 

 This testimony as to prevailing unbelief comes from 

 an author who says of himself, I am one of the very 

 few examples, in this country, of one who has not 

 thrown off religious belief, but never had it : I grew 

 up in a negative state with regard to it. 2 Many 

 more than the sceptical have shared in sympathy 

 with adverse criticism of Christianity. Conflicting 

 sentiments beating against each other at the foot of 



1 Autobiography, p. 45. 2 Ibid. p. 43. 



