64 
our faith ? Let us review what appear to he the causes of 
these words of despondency, these tones of misgiving, and 
endeavour to judge how much there may he of reason for the 
doubts and fears of these Christian men. 
I pass over with a bare mention one source of despondency 
and misgiving, which, however, is very real and affects a con- 
siderable number of Christian people — I mean a certain 
pessimism of tendency or of theory. Some good people always 
look on the dark and dismal side. They do so in business 
and in their family affairs. Naturally, therefore, they look 
on the dark side and are full of despondency as to the affairs 
of the Christian Church and the future of Christianity. No 
other aspect would attract them ; no other expectation would 
be congenial. Others there are who hold a pessimist theory 
as to the future of Christianity. Their exegesis of Scripture, 
their interpretation of the prophecies, are settled according 
to this theory. A “ sanguine despondency ” is their habitual 
temper, gives animation to their life and inspiration to their 
eloquence. The influence of these classes of Christians is by 
no means small, and has helped more than a little to diffuse 
a tone of gloom over certain circles of earnest Christian people 
in their anticipations of the future. 
Passing, however, over such influences as these, it will 
probably bo agreed that the causes most likely, and likely 
with the most reason, to awaken foreboding as to the future 
of Christianity in this country are connected with the con- 
dition of our Universities, of our literary circles, of our schools 
of philosophy and science. It is believed by many, and not 
without some apparent ground, that the outlook for the futuro 
in the directions I have already indicated is really alarming. 
I wish to adduce some considerations which, I hope, may 
avail to mitigate, if not to remove, that alarm. 
I must, however, first make an admission. I admit, then, 
that in the independent intellectual activity of the country 
there mingle powerful tendencies towards unbelief, tendencies 
which incline men to assume an attitude of antagonism to 
Christianity. I have already in the opening paragraphs of 
this address intimated some of the reasons for this tendency. 
Anti-Christian feelings, alienation of mind from the Christian 
revelation, which in former times would have taken other 
forms of opposition, are now free to take the form of professed 
unbelief. 
Infidelity is no longer regarded by the law and society 
as a form of sedition. Persecution, secret or open, legal or 
social, is at an end. Criticism, moreover, and intellectual 
questioning, in all departments, are the passion of the age. 
