RATIONALISM AND SCIENCE 59 



launched on his career by the voice of the Apollo 

 of Delphi. And through all the Middle Ages, 

 the great Reformers and the Founders of Monas- 

 tic Societies were fully convinced that they had 

 a special mandate from above, which they dared 

 not disobey. I need mention but three of the 

 most conspicuous names, St. Francis, Luther, 

 Wesley, all of whom were consciously the 

 vehicles of a divine command. 



This answer to the demands of the human intel- 

 lect, the direct appeal to a divine inspiration, can- 

 not be called a form of rationalism. What we 

 know as rationalism is rather the very opposite. 

 Rationalism arises as the belief in direct inspira- 

 tion grows weaker. It is a reply to scepticism. 

 When a prophet is asked by what authority he 

 commands, he answers by a manifestation of 

 spiritual force. But this reply does not satisfy 

 the doubters of a sceptical age. 



I am speaking, it must be remembered, of great 

 ethical movements, proposals that we should 

 modify our way of conduct, in regard to some of 

 the great and important matters of life. A 

 movement in such and such a direction, we sup- 

 pose, is springing up in the consciousness of men. 

 It will scarcely in our days be accepted on the 

 authority of a prophet claiming a direct mandate 

 from heaven. It meets with enthusiastic appro- 

 bation and with determined opposition. We have 

 as best we may to reason out its goodness or bad- 

 ness in discussion. This may be done either in 



