XI 



to science itself. The more brief and compact and 

 popular is the argument which he is to refute, the 

 more feasible is the task of exposure and reply. 

 Only let this be a cardinal maxim with the defender 

 of the truth, that whatever is scientifically defended 

 and maintained must be scientifically refuted and 

 overthrown. The great Master of our faith never 

 uttered a more comprehensive or a grander maxim 

 than the memorable words, " To this end was I born 

 and for this cdns e came I into the world, that I should 

 bear witness imto the truth. Everyone that is of the 

 truth heareth my voice" It would be easy to show 

 that the belief in moral and religious truth and the 

 freedom in searching for and defending it which was 

 inspired by these words have been most efficient in 

 training the human mind to that faith in the results 

 of scientific investigation which characterize the 

 modern scientist. That Christian believer must 

 either have a very imperfect view of the spirit of 

 his own faith, or a very narrow conception of the 

 evidences and the effect of its teachings, who im- 

 agines that the freest spirit of scientific inquiry, or 

 the most penetrating insight into the secrets of 

 matter or of spirit can have any other consequence 

 than to strengthen and brighten the evidence for 

 Christian truth. 



N. P. 

 YALE COLLEGE, May, 1872, 



