תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

"On a dit justement que c'est avec le sang de son cœur qu'il ecrit." (Said of Pascal.)

"So I like life and I also like righteousness; if I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go and choose righteousness."

(Mencius.)

BOOK THE FIRST.

THE KNOWABILITY OF GOD.

From the cradle full of nervous energy to the grave wrapt in deepest gloom, man's mind is strained with the perplexing questions and increasing duties of the age. The civilised world thinks upon a high platform; her views are panoramic, her actions methodical. Visionaries and sensationalists in politics are giving way to such as know that the state is, as it were, a living organism, and that it must be dealt with accordingly; and in the scientific world nothing is received unless it has withstood the fiercely heated fires of sceptical criticism. Plutarch's words:

66 Πόλεμος απαντων πατηρ

War is the father of all things,"

are especially realised to-day. In the nineteenth century we live under the reign of law. Magic, sorcery, witchcraft, miracles, have all disappeared. Even the young and ordinary intellect discusses those matters which might well strike the most cultivated and profound mind with awe, lest in attempting their solution he should miss his way, groping in the all-pervading darkness.

There are many scientists who lean on the bosom of Christ; but the great majority, though seeing in him the true out-come of man's hunger and thirst after a higher and

nobler life, do not regard the Galilean as the strong Son of God. By ignorant religionists these latter are cursed; but the true Christian scholar is ever ready to see even in them, though adversaries, pillars of virtue and earnest thought. Every day are we painfully convinced that appearances may have no reality. Men's words, professions, and protestations may have no foundation. Medicine-men, prophets, miracle-workers, and priests have so duped mankind and filled the world with sham, that thinking men universally have become suspicious and sceptical. This doubting mind so generally exhibited has been to no small extent the chief cause of the great scientific advance made during the last fifty years. Honest doubt is the noble mother who gives

birth to offspring truly great:

« Εστι δε τοις ευπορήσαι βουλουμένοις προύργου το διαπορησαι καλως -It is of the greatest importance that those who would become masters of a subject, should use honest doubt in their investigations." (Aristotle: Met. II, 1, 2). So says Montaigne :

[ocr errors]

Beaucoup savoir apporte occasion de plus doubter-
He who would learn much, must doubt much.”

The wisdom of these assertions has been fully demonstrated by the great scientific discoveries of the last century, for everywhere have scientists proceeded along the lines of doubt. This, therefore, is a mistrustful age. Not to mistrust would be to be mistrusted. Man would receive brass for gold, ignorance for wisdom, and nonsense for sound philosophy. The credulous are everywhere deceived by the shams around us; imposition is practiced on every hand. The knowledge of

« הקודםהמשך »