24 MAN : 



tendencies of modern science by men who are not 

 only ignorant of tlie rudiments of science, but who 

 have bound themselves by creeds and formulas before 

 their minds were matured enough, or their knowledge 

 sufl&cient to discriminate between the essentials and 

 non-essentials of these restrictions. And here it may 

 be remarked, once for all, that no man who has sub- 

 scribed to creeds and formulas, whether in theology 

 or philosophy, can be an unbiassed investigator of the 

 truth, or an unprejudiced judge of the opinions of 

 others. His sworn preconceptions warp his discern- 

 ment ; adherence to his sect or party engenders in- 

 tolerance to the honest convictions of other inquirers. 

 Beliefs we may and must have, but a belief to be 

 changed with new and advancing knowledge impedes 

 no progress, while a creed subscribed to as ultimate 

 truth, and sworn to be defended, not only puts a bar 

 to further research, but as a consequence throws the 

 odium of distrust on all that may seem to oppose it. 

 Even where such odium cannot deter, it annoys and 

 irritates ; hence the frequent unwillingness of men of 

 science to come prominently forward with the avowal 

 of their beUefs. It is time this delicacy were thrown 

 aside, and such theologians plainly told that the 

 scepticism and infidelity — if scepticism and infidelity 

 there be — lies all on their own side. There is no 

 scepticism so off'ensive as that which doubts the facts 



