Introductory. 35 



to be the further effect of this revived pagan spirit, and 

 is it likely henceforward to advance or to recede ? 



It is manifest at once that no one should venture to 

 apply himself to the solution of this problem without 

 great diffidence and an exceptionally earnest desire and 

 determination to render scrupulous justice to views which 

 he does not share, and to assign full weight to forces 

 and tendencies, the actions of which conflict with his own 

 personal desires and inspirations. 



Certain classes of persons also are plainly disqualified 

 from forming in this matter an opinion deserving any 

 serious attention. 



Thus no one can estimate the action of the opposing 

 forces who has not entered into and more or less sym- 

 pathetically made his own the spirit which animates 

 each. 



For example, no one is qualified who does not really 

 understand Christianity, who does not comprehend what 

 developments are really congruous with it, or accepts 

 the crude and shallow views so widely prevalent on the 

 subject. 



Similarly, no one is qualified who does not possess, 

 not only a certain scientific culture, but also a mind cap- 

 able of feeling sympathy with, and pleasure at, every ad- 

 vance of physical discovery. 



Such an inquirer should have both the theological 

 and the anti-theological bias reduced to a minimum de- 



