i8 74 -75-] 8 9 



propagators for enduring martyrdom in testimony to its truth. 

 With what consistency or merit, in his view, it is for Professor 

 Tyndall to explain; and yet this is followed by a covert but most 

 real assault on Christianity itself, as an obstacle to the spread of 

 scientific truth, for if the passage in question means anything, in its 

 connexion, it can have no other meaning. 



The truth of the charge thus, by implication, made against 

 Christianity I entirely repudiate. There is, indeed, a mistiness in 

 the language employed, as well as an utter confusion of dates and 

 persons, which present a great difficulty to any specific reply. Of 

 whom, for example, is the author speaking when he tells us that 

 " the Scriptures which ministered to their spiritual needs were also 

 the measure of their science ?" Does he make the statement of 

 those early Christians, whom he so eloquently describes in the very 

 language of Scripture, in the passage preceding? The "noble 

 army of martyrs" had, I rather think, other employment than the 

 discussion of scientific subjects. I am aware that some laches in 

 the matter of natural history, such as belief in the existence of the 

 fabulous Phoenix, are to be found in the very early uninspired 

 Christian writings, but these are easily accounted for, and may be 

 readily condoned. But Professor Tyndall's charge appears to be 

 made against Christianity as a whole, and I deny that it has ever 

 appeared, whether as identified with the revelation which it con- 

 tains or viewed as a community, in the character of an opponent 

 to really philosophical truth and progress, or as "reining in 

 science." 



Professor Tyndall goes on to add to his charge against Chris- 

 tianity in this respect by instancing the theological strife between 

 the Church and civil governments. In what manner, however, 

 this strife has acted in opposition to scientific progress he fails to 

 demonstrate. His charges, then, in their integrity, I repeat, fall to 

 the ground. 



It is, I may remark, wholly unnecessary, speaking where I 

 now speak, to give the opposite side in this really momentous 



