176 EVOLUTION AND NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



America, which were to arise from them within 

 a few centuries. Nevertheless Christianity 

 must be held to have triumphed, in this 

 instance at least, not so much by virtue of its 

 truths, as by its corruptions, which brought it 

 down to such a level that the Teutons were 

 able to comprehend it.* Rome has fully under- 

 stood what we have forgotten ; that children 

 and barbarians must be taught by appropriate 

 methods ; but she has forgotten that men, 

 and civilised nations, must walk by reason and 

 not by authority, or must at least be able to 

 reconcile the two. 



Our missionaries must learn to recognise that 

 the " heathens " have received religions from 

 God suited to their capacity ; and that while it 

 is their duty to instil higher views in the place 

 of degrading superstitions, yet they can effect no 

 real abiding good, unless they build on the 

 foundation of truth which these very super- 

 stitions contain, and which, once destroyed, can 



*Just as it was necessary for the pure teachings of Jesus and 

 Mohammad to be corrupted by their successors, before the world 

 could accept them. If their work could have been carried on by John 

 and Ali, instead of by Paul and Omar, both religions would have 

 remained too highly spiritualised to have done the whole work for 

 which they were sent into the world. 



