20 RELIGION AND SCIENCE. 



pudiating even that lowest intelligence which we possess in 

 common with brutes. 



To ask the question which more immediately concerns 

 our arguments- whether Science is substantially true? — is 

 much like asking whether the sun gives light. And it is be- 

 cause they are conscious how undeniably valid are most of 

 its propositions, that the theological party regard Science 

 with so much secret alarm. They know that during the two 

 thousand years of its growth, some of its larger divisions — 

 mathematics, physics, astronomy — have been subject to the 

 rigorous criticism of successive generations; and have not- 

 withstanding become ever more firmly established. They 

 know that, unlike many of their own doctrines, which were 

 once universally received but have age by age been more 

 frequently called in question, the doctrines of Science, at 

 first confined to a few scattered inquirers, have been slowly 

 growing into general acceptance, and are now in great part 

 admitted as beyond dispute. They know that men of sci- 

 ence throughout the world subject each other's results to the 

 most searching examination; and that error is mercilessly 

 exposed and rejected as soon as discovered. And, finally, 

 they know that still more conclusive testimony is to be 

 found in the daily verification of scientific predictions, and 

 in the never-ceasing triumphs of those arts which Science 

 guides. 



To regard with alienation that which has such high 

 credentials is a folly. Though in the tone which many of 

 the scientific adopt towards them, the defenders of Religion 

 may find some excuse for this alienation ; yet the excuse is a 

 very insufficient one. On the side of Science, as on their 

 own side, they must admit that short-comings in the advo- 

 cates do not tell essentially against that which is advocated. 

 Science must be judged by itself: and so judged, only the 

 most perverted intellect can fail to see that it is worthy of all 

 reverence. Be there or be there not any other revelation, 

 w T e have a veritable revelation in Science — a continuous dis- 



