AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 19 



Brewstei-a In that educational course througli which, in 

 this country, candidates for the ministry pass, in preparation 

 for their office, I find every group of great minds which has 

 in. turn influenced and directed the mind of Europe for the 

 last three centuries, represented, more or less adequately, 

 save the last. It is an epitome of all kinds of learning, with 

 the exception of the kind most imperatively required, because 

 most in accordance with the genius of the time. The restor- 

 ers of classic literature, — the Buchanans and Erasmuses, — we 

 see represented in our Universities by the Greek and what 

 are termed the Humanity courses ; the Galileos, Boyles, 

 and Newtons, by the Mathematical and Natural Philosophy 

 courses ; and the Lockes, Kants, Humes, and Berkeleys, by 

 the Metaphysical course. But the Cuviers, the Huttons, 

 the Cavendishes, and the Watts, with their successors, the 

 practical philosophers of the present age, — men whose achieve- 

 ments in physical science we find marked on the surface of 

 the country in characters which might be read from the 

 moon, — are not adequately represented ; — it would be per- 

 haps more correct to say, that they are not represented at 

 all ; * and the clergy, as a class, suffer themselves to linger 

 far in the rear of an intelligent and accomplished laity, — a 

 full age behind the requirements of the time. Let them 

 not shut their eyes to the danger which is obviously coming. 

 The battle of the Evidences will have as certainly to be fought 

 on the field of physical science, as it was contested in the last 

 age on that of the metaphysics. And on this new arena the 



* I trust that at least by and by there may De an exception claimed, 

 from the general, but, I am sure, well-meant, censure of this passage, 

 in favour of the Free Church of Scotland. It has got as its Professor of 

 Physical Science, — thanks to the sagacity of Chalmers,— Dr John Flem- 

 ing, a man of European reputation ; and all that seems further neces- 

 sary, in order to secure the benefits contemplated in the appointment, is, 

 that attendance on his course should be rendered imperative on all Free 

 Church candidates for the ministrv. 



