or 



Conditions Necessary. \i* 3$ 



so far beyond their fellows to bring out ttra^dis- 



covcries and place them where they belong in 

 science, and then others can judge as well as they 

 of the simple question of the bearing of such dis- 

 coveries upon the proof of the being and attributes 

 of God, and upon the destiny of man. And the 

 pretence that is sometimes made, that no one can 

 judge of the bearings of a science upon these ques- 

 tions, who is not in a position to undertake original 

 research in such sciences, is unsound in argument, 

 to apply no harsher term to it. We simply say 

 that there is enough within the reach of all to prove 

 every point we wish to make, and we challenge 

 those who have entered the very arcana of the 

 sciences to bring opposing testimony, 



We shall occupy the remainder of this lecture in" 

 a consideration of the conditions necessary for the 

 fair discussion of this subject, and of the difficulties 

 likely to be encountered in the presentation and 

 judging of the proof. 



It is a maxim of common law and of common- 

 sense, that it is useless to try a case and present 

 proof before one whose mind is already made up. 

 To be fitted for a juror, one must be free from per- 

 sonal bias, and competent to weigh the proof. In 

 all that relates to Natural Religion, we may have 

 decided opinions now ; but from the very nature of 

 the proof from the impossibility of our having ex- 

 amined and weighed it all, we can, if we choose, put 

 ourselves into the condition of honest and compe- 



