RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY. 37 



It hardly seems credible that such opposition could have been 

 seriously entertained by grave and learned dignitaries, when the 

 proofs were so abundant to the contrary. Yet at a later day, we 

 find the Jesuit Fathers, P. P. Le Seur.and Jacques declaring 

 in the preface of their edition of Newton's Principia : 



" Newton in this third book, has assumed the hypothesis of the 

 earth's motion. The author's propositions are not to he explained 

 but by making the same hypothesis also. Hence we are obliged to 

 proceed under a feigned character ; but in other respects, we 

 profess ourselves obsequious to the decrees of the Popes made 

 against the motion of the earth." 



Such was the strong hold which ignorance had upon the minds 

 of men, that like Sizzi, who refused to look through Galileo's 

 telescope for fear he might be obliged to acknowledge the actual 

 existence of Jupiter's satellites, they would not receive the truth 

 when it was absolutely forced upon them. Even in the present 

 enlightened state of the world, there are many who object to the 

 science of Geology, because some of its teachings, they imagine, 

 are contrary to the word of God. 



Religion and Philosophy can never conflict, if hoth are based 

 upon the Truth. We may be well assured, that the rapid ad- 

 vancement of science and art, will, so far from being injurious 

 to the cause of Religion, tend but to illustrate, and exhibit, in clear- 

 er characters, the wisdom and goodness of the Creator. Nothing 

 can be more unwise, or of greater injury to the cause of Religion, 

 than the foolish opposition which is sometimes made to the recent 

 developments, if they may be so termed, of natural science. 

 Religion points us to another sphere of action ; it opens before 

 us another world; and bids us aim for higher and nobler ends than 

 we strive for here. The questions, whether the Heavens are 

 eternal, or our own earth a million, or six thousand years old, are 

 of little moment compared with the question of the immortality 

 of the soul. Science elucidates the former, Religion the latter. 

 Since, then, their aim is so very different, and since we believe 

 both to be based upon Truth, and therefore immutable, why 

 perplex ourselves with questions which can never be answered ? 





