16 THE LIGHT OF DAY 



need to which they administer. They are like the 

 constellations of the astronomical maps, wherein the 

 only things that are true and real are the stars ; all 

 the rest — Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Orion, etc. — are 

 the invention of the astronomers. The eternal 

 truths of man's religious nature have lent themselves 

 to many figures of polytheism as well as of Christian- 

 ity ; these figures pass away or become discredited, 

 but the truths themselves — the' recognition of a 

 Power greater and wiser than ourselves, to the law 

 of which [it is necessary that our conduct in some 

 measure conform — never pass away. Was not 

 Egypt saved by her religion, and Greece by hers, as 

 much as England is by hers ? 



Indeed, the question which it is not safe to ask of 

 any religion is just the one we are prone to ask first, 

 namely. Is it true ? A much safer question is. Is it 

 saving ? That is, does it hold men up to a higher 

 standard of life and duty than they were otherwise 

 capable of ? Does it cheer and sustain them in their 

 journey through this world ? Could the religion of 

 Greece have faced the question, Is it true ? And 

 yet the German historian of Greece, Dr. Curtius, 

 says that the religion of Apollo " was nowhere in- 

 troduced without taking hold of and transforming 

 the whole life of the people. It liberated men from 

 dark and groveling worship of Nature ; it converted 

 the worship of a god into the duty of moral eleva- 

 tion ; it founded expiations for those oppressed with 

 guilt, and for those astray, without guidance, sacred 

 oracles." Can historical Christianity any better face 



