LECTURE I. IN WHAT SENSE IS CHRISTIANITY THE WORK OF ROME? Ir gave me both pride and pleasure to receive from the Trustees of this noble Institution an invitation to continue in this place a course of instruction begun by my illustrious brother and friend, Max Müller, a course the usefulness of which will become more manifest from day to day. A broad and honest idea always bears fruit. It is now more than thirty years since the venerable Robert Hibbert left behind him a legacy, intended to promote the progress of enlightened Christianity, which in his view was inseparable from the progress of science and reason. Wisely interpreted, this foundation has become, in the hands of intelligent administrators, the occasion of Lectures upon all the chief epochs of the religious history of humanity. Why-the promoters of this reform have rightly said—why should not the method which has approved itself in all other departments of intellectual culture, be applicable in the domain of religion also? Why should the pursuit of truth, without care of consequences, be dangerous in theology, when it is accepted by all in the domain of the social and natural sciences? You have believed in truth, and you are right. There is but one truth; and it is to show ourselves something less than respectful to revelation, to confess that, in regard to it, criticism is compelled to modify the severity of its methods. No; truth can dispense with politeness. I have been happy to respond to your invitation, for I understand duty to the truth exactly as you do. Like you, I should think that I was insulting truth if I allowed that it was necessary to treat it with a certain indulgence. I believe, as you do, that the worship which man owes to the ideal is research,— scientific, independent, indifferent to results; and |