90 
Christianity with respect to the virtue of almsgiving ; or to 
answer the objection that it favours indiscriminate charity. 
Even if space were not a difficulty, the determination of the 
question would involve me in discussions of a theological 
character, which I wish carefully to avoid in the present paper. 
I shall only observe that in my opinion the teaching of 
Christianity fairly interpreted on principles of a sound 
exegesis, are not liable to the objection ; and that the 
principle which I have already laid down as to the character 
of moral teaching generally, and that of Christianity in par- 
ticular, are quite adequate for the solution of any other 
difficulty with which the subject may be attended. Want of 
space also utterly precludes the attempt to deal with any other 
difficulty which has been alleged to exist in special details of 
its moral teaching. I would only emphatically draw attention 
to one fact which I have already noticed, that the moral 
precepts which we find in the New Testament are always 
given without qualification, and that this alone furnishes a 
distinct proof that they were never intended to occupy the 
position of separate precepts of a moral code, applicable to 
all times and circumstances. 
96. In conclusion, therefore, I would very briefly review 
results. As far as the philosophers by their utmost efforts 
succeeded in exploring the depths of the moral and spiritual 
being of man, the authors of Christianity, by the use of 
methods wholly different, and without coming into contact 
with them or their discussions, arrived at the same conclu- 
sions. Where the one saw a half-truth, the other discovered a 
complete one. While the moral principles of the one are 
obviously incomplete, those evolved by the other recognize 
everything which was really true in the speculations of the 
former, and give them a completeness which they evidently 
wanted. The philosopher saw the need of additional moral 
forces to act on man’s inmost being, but could not find them ; 
the authors of Christianity recognized and created them. The 
convictions which philosophy could create were weak and 
vague; those generated by Christianity were powerful and 
definite. Philosophy destroyed religious belief; Christianity 
created a new one, founded on the most powerful convictions. 
Philosophy destroyed the connection between religion and 
morality; Christianity imparted to religion a moral force, 
which penetrated to the depths of man as a spiritual being. 
The philosophers contemplated the improvement of the masses 
of mankind with despair; the authors of Christianity brought 
to bear on them a mighty power exactly suited to their needs. 
Philosophy saw in dimmest outline and the faintest shadow 
