26 
towards, but never reaching, that point of contact which 
should inductively prove his Induction to be what it claims to 
be, the only method and the certain method of arriving at 
Truth. The fact is, that this method of yours is not of uni- 
versal applicability. There is a region in which it fails, and 
in that region lie the truths which we offer for your acceptance. 
To employ your method upon them, and to insist upon their 
being submitted to it, is just the error of the historical critic 
who should apply his method to the stoiy of Napoleon Buona- 
parte or the Wars of the Boses ; just the error we complain of 
in the critic who does apply it to the Scriptures. 
“ Further, it is necessary for a true induction that facts be 
certain and complete. Are you sure that you are in possession 
of all the facts, and that they have been accurately observed ? 
‘ Life/ Poisson said, ‘ may be represented by an equation, could 
we only be certain of the variables and constants : 3 but till 
these are all accurately ascertained, the biological X = o must 
remain a meaningless formula. Just so the scientific arguments 
against Scripture, or supposed Scripture, would be of the 
highest importance and cogency, were we sure of the com- 
pleteness of the induction, and the absolute clearness and 
correctness of the facts.” That these were not certain in the 
early days of scientific scepticism will be evident to any one 
who will compare a geological manual of 1834, or even 1844, 
with one of the present year. “ So then,” the believer in 
Bevelation went on to say, “ as you are not yet sure of your 
facts, and, indeed, cannot always be certain of your senses, till 
their report is verified ; as you have as yet examined but an 
infinitesimal part of the Great Book of Nature; and as the 
method you apply to your facts and your subject matter in 
general is not applicable to mine, I prefer to adhere to my 
opinions, and, while gladly receiving your conclusions, — so far 
as they are founded on a deliberate and complete, or at least 
wide, generalization, — within their own province, I still claim 
for myself the right, as I acknowledge and urge on you the 
duty, of moving at times in spirit within the pleasant land of 
Faith.” 
PERIOD OF ATHEISTIC POSITIVISM. 
IV. For a considerable time, indeed I may say till within 
the last decade, the scientific and historical sceptics wero 
generally Theists. They admitted, or did not deny, that there 
was, or might be, a Personal Creator and Preserver of all 
things. They admitted, or did not deny, that there wore, 
or might be, marks of design in Creation. They admitted, or 
