36 BRITISH MOSSES. 



flaws and imperfections, and, on tlie other, to make manifest its strength and its 

 immutability. And writuig, as we believe we do, chiefly for the young, we would 

 earnestly beg them to give no heed to the idea which, by well-meaning but ill- 

 informed persons, is often expressed, that religion has anything to fear from the 

 progress of scientific discovery. To say this is just to grant the opponents of our 

 faith all that they claim, that God^s Word and His works do in reality contradict 

 one another. But true science is only the exposition of the laws by which God 

 has governed the material world. A theory may be put forward with a confidence 

 sufiicient to make us suppose that its propoimders "had been present at the 

 creation, and knew exactly how everything took place," or others may imperti- 

 nently say how they think God ought to regulate the world, instead of humbly 

 seeking to know how He has regulated it ; but these theories and fancies will 

 ultimately be found as much opposed to true science as they are to true religion. 

 Of their propounders, said one of the most learned men of his age and country, 

 that, " Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." And, among un- 

 inspired men, none in point of intellect stands higher than he who wrote for 

 students the humble prayer ; — 



" This also we beg, that human things may not prejudice such as are Divine ; 

 neither that from the unlocking of the gates of sense, and the kindling of a greater 

 natural light, anything of incredulity, or intellectual night, may arise in our minds 

 towards Divine mysteries. But rather that by om-mind, thoroughly cleansed and 

 purged from fancy and vanities, and yet subject and perfectly given up to the 

 Divine oracles, there may be given imto Faith the things that are Faith's." ^ 



1 Bacon, " The Student's Prayer." 



