41 



It is only right to observe at the outset, that it is not always 

 easy to define the exact border-line of any science, or depart- 

 ment of knowledge. Not unfrequently departments of Science, 

 in themselves distinct, have some things in common. The 

 fields of investigation over-lap ; but the method of in- 

 vestigation in each department is different. The scientist 

 examines natural objects through the medium of his senses ; 

 his mind, under the guidance of its intuitions, interprets the 

 nature and bearing of the observations, compares and classifies 

 them. Then he frames generalisations to which he gives the 

 name of laws ; and these, when thoroughly tested and proved, 

 are accepted as facts of science. In the department of psych- 

 ology aiid natural theology a different method is followed, 

 because the subjects with which they are concerned are, for the 

 most part, presented directly to the mind, and not to the 

 senses or the logical faculty. They can only be grasped and 

 comprehended in their entirety by abstract thought and 

 reflection — quickened and guided in the case of theology by 

 Divine illumination. It consequently happens, not un- 

 frequently, that minds trained to scientific research alone, and 

 habitually occupied with the severe and exact demonstrations 

 of geometry, or with the palpable forms of matter, encounter 

 an almost insuperable difficulty when they attempt to enter 

 the field of abstract thought. They cannot place the problems 

 of metaphysics and theology under the microscope, nor can 

 they apply to them the test of pure mathematical demonstra- 

 tion, and, therefore, they cannot always comprehend, and will 

 not receive them. And yet, to those who are intellectually 

 fitted for this higher department of knowledge, and thoroughly 

 trained in it, the sublime truths which it embraces become as 

 definite and as convincing as the truths of physical science. 

 It is a well-known fact that " each man is strong in that he 

 is trained in, weak in other regions — so much so, that often 

 the objects there seem to him non-existent.^^ * 



AUthis shows the necessity of confining Science and Theology 

 each to its own proper sphere. Scientific men often complain, 

 even in this age and this country of freedom, that theologians 

 are despots, that they would fetter free thought, that they 

 would i-ivet the shackles of ecclesiastical authority upon the 

 mind of each daring inquirer. I would, therefore, take the 

 liberty of warning earnest Christians not to offer, or even 

 give the appearance of offering, any opposition to the fullest 

 scientific investigation. Let us look upon the sphere of Science 



Shairp, Culture ami Religion, p. 80. 



