Introductory. 



earth revolves round the sun, or the sun round the 

 earth ; whether the visible universe has been shaped 

 by gradual solidification from a gaseous mass or had 

 its origin in solid orbs; whether the divisions of 

 animal and vegetable life arose as perfect and distinct 

 species or have been differentiated through processes 

 of change questions like these do not in the least 

 impinge on man's belief in the existence of a personal 

 God, the Maker of heaven and earth, or on the 

 assurance with which faith receives the testimony of 

 Scripture as to the person and mission of Jesus Christ. 

 It is when generalizations are lifted out of their place 

 in the realm of experimental knowledge, and are 

 invested with the authority of universal truths, that 

 the teaching of science conflicts with the doctrines of 

 the Church. The progress of truth is slow. The 

 discussion of the order of the cosmos is not closed. 

 Science has as yet advanced but a little way in de- 

 ciphering the vast records. Faith can afford to wait : 

 nullum tempus ecclesiae. The Church of God will 1 , 

 be dealing with the great questions of life and duty 

 when the thunders of these conflicts shall have been 

 long silenced, and the smoke of the battlefield shall 

 have cleared away, revealing the brightness of an 

 unclouded heaven encompassing the little world of 

 human thought. 



The dominance of the new system of philosophy 

 would prove as great a peril to scientific as to spiritual 

 truth. If every fact is* to be studied in the light of 



