Finally, it occurs to me that, such being my feeling about the matter, it may be useful to all of us if I ask you, “What is yours?  Do you think that the Christianity of the seventeenth century looks nobler and more attractive for such treatment of such a man?” You will hardly reply that it does.  But if it does not, may it not be well if all of you do what lies within your power to prevent the Christianity of the nineteenth century from repeating the scandal?

There are one or two living men, who, a couple of centuries hence, will be remembered as Descartes is now, because they have produced great thoughts which will live and grow as long as mankind lasts.

If the twenty-first century studies their history, it will find that the Christianity of the middle of the nineteenth century recognised them only as objects of vilification.  It is for you and such as you, Christian young men, to say whether this shall be as true of the Christianity of the future as it is of that of the present.  I appeal to you to say “No,” in your own interest, and in that of the Christianity you profess.

In the interest of Science, no appeal is needful; as Dante sings of Fortune—­

     “Quest’ e colei, ch’e tanto posta in croce
       Pur da color, che le dovrian dar lode
     Dandole biasmo a torto e mala voce. 
       Ma ella s’ e beata, e cio non ode: 
     Con l’ altre prime creature lieta
       Volve sua spera, e beata si gode:"[78]

so, whatever evil voices may rage, Science, secure among the powers that are eternal, will do her work and be blessed.

FOOTNOTES: 

[68] I forget who it was said of him:  “Il a plus que personne l’esprit que tout le monde a.”

[69] “Discours de la Methode pour bien conduire sa Raison et chercher la Verite dans les Sciences.”

[70] “Eine thaetige Skepsis ist die, welche unablaessig bemueht ist sich selbst zu ueberwinden, und durch geregelte Erfahrung zu einer Art von bedingtrer Zuverlaessigkeit zu gelangen.”—­Maximen und Reflexionen, 7 Abtheilung.

[71] “Au milieu de toutes ses erreurs, il ne faut pas meconnaitre une grande idee, qui consiste a avoir tente pour la premiere fois de ramener tous les phenomenes naturels a n’etre qu’un simple develloppement des lois de la mecanique,” is the weighty judgment of Biot, cited by Bouillier (Histoire de la Philosophie Cartesienne, t. i. p. 196).

[72] “Traite de l’Homme” (Cousin’s Edition), p. 347.

[73] Descartes pretends that he does not apply his views to the human body, but only to an imaginary machine which, if it could be constructed, would do all that the human body does; throwing a sop to Cerberus unworthily; and uselessly, because Cerberus was by no means stupid enough to swallow it.

[74] “Traite de l’Homme,” p. 427.

[75] Compare “Traite des Passions,” Art.  XIII. and XVI.