EELIGIOUS TRUTH 147 



just as keen and active in the presence of false gods 

 as in the presence of true ; our sesthetic perceptions 

 or attractions do not have to do with the truth or 

 falsity of things, but only with their beauty. A 

 fable pleases more than a history. The conscience 

 is no guide in detecting truth from falsehood, but in 

 detecting right from wrong — in separating what is 

 good from what is bad, and it may be trained or 

 warped so as to mistake one for the other. What 

 the conscience of one man approves that of another 

 may disapprove. It is our reason and knowing 

 faculties alone that have to do with the truth of 

 things, and the verdict of these faculties can never 

 change or be reversed like those of the taste or the 

 conscience. There can be no fashion in science. 



A theory or a proposition or an alleged fact may 

 be morally sound and good, while yet it is not logi- 

 cally sound and good. A sentiment is true as 

 sentiment but not true as science. There is no moral 

 objection to ^SIsop's fables, but if put forth as 

 sound natural history, there would be objections to 

 them. The New Testament records, which more 

 and more people in our day find difficulty in accept- 

 ing as history, are for the most part, morally and 

 spiritually, beautiful and elevating, and to certain 

 natures this is enough. But the man of science asks. 

 Are they true, not as poetry or fable, but as history ? 

 That feeling or mental disposition that responds to 

 fables and allegories is as genuine as that which en- 

 ables us to detect truth from falsehood, only it can- 

 not take its place ; it belongs to a different sphere. 



