300 LAY SERMONS, ESSAYS, AND REVIEWS. [xiv. 



such a man ? &quot; You will hardly reply that it does. But if it 

 does not, may it not be well if all of you do what lies within 

 your power to prevent the Christianity of the nineteenth century 

 from repeating the scandal ? 



There are one or two living men, who, a couple of centuries 

 hence, will be remembered as Descartes is now, 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 &quot; No,&quot; 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 



&quot; Quest e colei, cli e tanto posta in croce 

 Pur da color, che le dovrian dar lode 

 Dandole biasmo a torto e mala voce. 

 Ma ella s e beata, e cio non ode : 

 Con 1 altre prime creature lieta 

 Volve sua spera, e beata si gode : &quot; l 



so, whatever evil voices may rage, Science, secure among the 

 powers that are eternal, will do her work and be blessed. 



1 u 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.&quot; 



Inferno, vii. 9095 (W. M. Rossetti s Translation). 



THE END. 



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