[77] [Romanes' line of argument in this note seems to me impossible to
maintain. The emphasis which Jesus Christ lays on diabolic agency is so
great that, if it is not a reality, He must be regarded either as
seriously misled about realities which concern the spiritual life, or
else as seriously misleading others. And in neither case could He be
even the perfect Prophet. I think I am justified in explaining my
disagreement with Romanes' argument at this point particularly.--ED.]
[78] [There is nothing in Darwin's _writings_ which seems to me to
justify Romanes in attributing this difficulty to him specially. But he
knew Darwin so intimately and reverenced him so profoundly that he is
not likely to have been in error on the subject.--ED.]
+Concluding Note by the Editor:--+
The intellectual attitude towards Christianity expressed in these notes
may be described as--(1) 'pure agnosticism' in the region of the
scientific 'reason,' coupled with (2) a vivid recognition of the
spiritual necessity of faith and of the legitimacy and value of its
intuitions; (3) a perception of the positive strength of the historical
and spiritual evidences of Christianity.
George Romanes came to recognize, as in these written notes so also in
conversation, that it was 'reasonable to be a Christian believer' before
the activity or habit of faith had been recovered. His life was cut
short very soon after this point was reached; but it will surprise no
one to learn that the writer of these 'Thoughts' returned before his
death to that full, deliberate communion with the Church of Jesus Christ
which he had for so many years been conscientiously compelled to forego.
In his case the 'pure in heart' was after a long period of darkness
allowed, in a measure before his death, to 'see God.'
_Fecisti nos ad te, Domine; et inquietum est cor nostrum donec
requiescat in te_.
OXFORD: HORACE HART
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
ADVERTISEMENTS
The Oxford Library of Practical Theology
Edited by the Rev. W.C.E. NEWBOLT, M.A., Canon and
Chancellor of St. Paul's; and the Rev. DARWELL STONE,
M.A., Librarian of the Pusey House, Oxford.
* * * * *
_Price 5s. each volume_.
+RELIGION+. By the Rev. W.C.E. NEWBOLT, M.A., Canon and Chancellor of
St. Paul's. [_Fifth Impression_.
'_The Oxford Library of Practical Theology_ makes a good beginning
with Canon Newbolt's volume on religion.... The publishers have
spared no pains in making the appearance of the volumes as
attractive as possible. The binding, type, and general "get up" of
the volume just issued leave nothing to be desired.'--_Guardian_.
+HOLY BAPTISM+. By the Rev. DARWELL STONE, M.A., Librarian of the Pusey
House, Oxford. [_Third Edition_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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