THE CONTROVERSIALIST 2IO, 



men of the first century, as divinely revealed truth, or 

 to reject it, as degrading falsity. 1 



Yet, complete as is the discomfiture of the current 

 theology in its conflict with historical criticism of its 

 documents, the Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture re- 

 mains in demand, and Dr. Wace is, we suppose, still 

 a power in the pulpit. The chains of custom and 

 tradition still bind, and indifference still paralyses, the 

 souls of men. In this, and not in active and deep 

 conviction of the truth of its creeds, the strength of 

 orthodoxy lies. It has made unto itself a more sure 

 habitation in yielding to " the form and pressure " of 

 the time ; its official representatives have never aban- 

 doned that defence of privilege which is of greater 

 moment than defence of what is left of the faith, and 

 the roots of ecclesiastical institutions have become 

 more closely intertwined with those of the body 

 politic, so that attack upon the one is menace to the 

 other. 



Nevertheless, " wisdom is justified of her children." 

 " Much water has flowed under the bridges " since 

 1864, when a number of clergymen, consistently 

 enough, formulated a declaration of faith that Jesus 

 taught the doctrine of everlasting punishment, and 

 begged their brethren to sign it " for the love of 



1 Coll. Essays, v. p. 414. 



