CREATION 25 



rogated for its evidence, without any solicitude for 

 the fate of a preconceived theory, and without 

 asking how this evidence is to be reconciled with 

 that derived from other sources. I claim that no 

 sentiment or fact plainly contained in the Scrip- 

 tures need be refused or contradicted on account of 

 its apparent incongruity with systematic theology. 

 By this liberal interpretation only is it possible for 

 the whole amount of religious knowledge intended 

 to be imparted by the Scriptures to be gathered 

 from them. It is a deplorable fact that many 

 Christians are so accustomed to a certain creed and 

 dogma of their own that they will adhere to it 

 even at the sacrifice of the great moral laws of love 

 and of mercy. We are too liable to forget that 

 those who differ from us may be just as sincere and 

 honest in their belief and just as competent to form 

 a correct interpretation of the Scriptures as we are. 

 And it must be admitted that after all possible 

 scientific research, we can scarcely penetrate be- 

 yond the exterior movement of the material sys- 

 tem ; while the vast interior mechanism of nature 

 is concealed and is in itself strictly incomprehensi- 

 ble by human knowledge. 

 It must be granted as certain that whatever 



