But the enormous influence which has thus been exerted by the Jewish and Christian Scriptures has had no necessary connection with cosmogonies, demonologies, and miraculous interferences.  Their strength lies in their appeals, not to the reason, but to the ethical sense.  I do not say that even the highest biblical ideal is exclusive of others or needs no supplement.  But I do believe that the human race is not yet, possibly may never be, in a position to dispense with it.

FOOTNOTES: 

     [8] With a few exceptions, which are duly noted when
          they amount to more than verbal corrections.

     [9] Declaration on the Truth of Holy Scripture. The
          Times, 18th December, 1891.

     [10] Declaration, Article 10.

     [11] Ego vero evangelio non crederem, nisi ecclesiae
          Catholicae me commoveret auctoritas.—­Contra Epistolam
          Manichaei, cap. v.

     [12] I employ the words “Supernature” and “Supernatural”
          in their popular senses.  For myself, I am bound to say
          that the term “Nature” covers the totality of that
          which is.  The world of psychical phenomena appears to
          me to be as much part of “Nature” as the world of
          physical phenomena; and I am unable to perceive any
          justification for cutting the Universe into two halves,
          one natural and one supernatural.

     [13] The general reader will find an admirably clear
          and concise statement of the evidence in this case, in
          Professor Flower’s recently published work The Horse: 
          a Study in Natural History.

     [14] “The School Boards:  What they Can do and what they
          May do,” 1870. Critiques and Addresses, p. 51.

II:  SCIENTIFIC AND PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC REALISM

[1887]

Next to undue precipitation in anticipating the results of pending investigations, the intellectual sin which is commonest and most hurtful to those who devote themselves to the increase of knowledge is the omission to profit by the experience of their predecessors recorded in the history of science and philosophy.  It is true that, at the present day, there is more excuse than at any former time for such neglect.  No small labour is needed to raise one’s self to the level of the acquisitions already made; and able men, who have achieved thus much, know that, if they devote themselves body and soul to the increase of their store, and avoid looking back, with as much care as if the injunction laid on Lot and his family were binding upon them, such devotion is sure to be richly repaid by the joys of the discoverer and the solace of fame, if not by rewards of a less elevated character.