THEOLOGY AND MORALITY ス THE DEBTS OF THEOLOGY TO SECULAR THE destructive action of secular movements on theology is a favourite topic of eminent and popular writers. They have no difficulty in showing that theology has been profoundly affected by the advances in knowledge and the social changes which belong to the modern period. Many theological beliefs have yielded to the direct assault of these agencies, or have been undermined by them until they became manifestly no longer tenable. There is an appearance of destruction in the work thus going But theology is not necessarily destroyed, or even impaired, by undergoing change. It is evidently possible for alterations in men's beliefs to be as beneficial to theology as the alarming ravages of the pruning-knife are to the tree. Changes that correct and deepen and enlarge on. 1 The Contemporary Review, January 1871. B the prevailing conceptions about the things of God are of obvious advantage to theological science; and it will not be difficult to show what peculiar and inestimable services have thus been rendered to theology by independent secular movements. It can never be an altogether agreeable experience to religious persons to be disturbed in their inherited belief. It is natural and right that they should be apprehensive and hesitating, and should even put themselves in a posture of defence, when they find that conceptions with which earnest faith has been closely blended are likely to be taken away from them. But if we have many instances to prove that the alterations forced on theological belief by the progress of civilization have had the effect of making that belief intrinsically better than it was before, we are warranted in looking to such action with hope and thankfulness rather than with dread. Though anxious, we ought not to be despondent; and so far from shutting ourselves up in wilful ignorance, we ought, for our religion's sake, to welcome new knowledge from every quarter. The subject as a whole is a very large one, and can only be treated here under certain limitations. I propose to speak briefly of the movements which we perceive to be specially |