Philosophic Evolution. 201 



that grossly inadequate and absurdly anthropomorphic 

 conceptions of God are far too common, while popular 

 preachers or writers, by their inaccurate language, tend 

 to spread yet farther such grossness and absurdity. Of 

 course, after all, the difference between our highest con- 

 ceptions of God and those of the rudest boor are as 

 nothing compared with the difference between such 

 highest conceptions and the Divine reality. Nevertheless, 

 although our conceptions of God cannot be appreciably 

 raised when viewed in relation to Him, yet in relation 

 to ourselves they of course can be ; and it is a very 

 great gain to us to obtain and spread abroad in any 

 way a somewhat higher and less inadequate notion of 

 the being and nature of our Almighty Creator. 



Now the controversy respecting " the Unknowable " 

 must tend in this direction, and therefore really helps 

 to promote that very theology which agnostics would 

 fain abolish. 



We may reasonably hope, with respect to many 

 of these opponents of theology, that their opposition 

 may be due rather to ignorance than to malice, and to 

 want of acquaintance with the conception of God really 

 entertained by Christian theologians. It may thus not 

 be out of place to cite here the following passage, in 

 which one of the most widely revered priests of our 

 own country now living expresses the teaching of the 

 Christian religion in this matter. 



