182 THE LIGHT OF DAT 



The antithesis of Heaven and Earth vanished from 

 the inward as well as from the outward world. 

 Human nature became interesting for its own sake." 



One of the most liberal-minded doctors of divinity 

 allowed himself the other day to speak slightingly 

 of the " vaunted scientific method," as if the scienti- 

 fic method was some new-fangled notion that had 

 recently become current, some patent process or 

 labor-saving machine for obtaining truth; as if 

 men had not always used the scientific method ; as 

 if it was not as natural to the mind as walking to 

 the body. When we sift evidence or search into the 

 truth or falsity of any objective proposition, we in- 

 evitably use the scientific method. It is the method 

 of proceeding from cause to effect, of proving all 

 things, of testing every link in the chain which 

 binds one fact to another. It has come into promi- 

 nence in our time because of the great advance of 

 physical science. Men are applying this method to 

 questions that heretofore have been considered above 

 its reach. Theological questions are brought within 

 its range, much to the disgust of the theologians. 

 Of many things that have been taken for granted 

 men are beginning to ask, Are they true ? and are 

 applying the tests of this kind of truth. All the 

 events and occurrences recorded in the Bible are 

 subject to the inquiry. Are they true ? If we apply 

 to them the scientific method, what is the result ? 

 James Martineau, for instance, makes use of the 



