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ever done more to instruct the world；to enable men to rise not in
fortune merely； but in virtue and patriotism； in those things which
are of themselves the only reward？ We should consider these
labors； as well as the new method he taught to arrive at knowledge；
in our estimate of the sage as well as of the man。 He was a moral
philosopher； like Socrates。 He even soared into the realm of
supposititious truth； like Plato。 He observed Nature； like
Aristotle。 He took away the syllogism from Thomas Aquinas；not to
throw contempt on metaphysical inquiry or dialectical reasoning；
but to arrive by a better method at the knowledge of first
principles； which once established； he allowed deductions to be
drawn from them； leading to other truths as certainly as induction
itself。 Yea； he was also a Moses on the mount of Pisgah； from
which with prophetic eye he could survey the promised land of
indefinite wealth and boundless material prosperity； which he was
not permitted to enter； but which he had bequeathed to
civilization。 This may have been his greatest gift in the view of
scientific men；this inductive process of reasoning； by which
great discoveries have been made after he was dead。 But this was
not his only legacy； for other things which he taught were as
valuable； not merely in his sight； but to the eye of enlightened
reason。 There are other truths besides those of physical science；
there is greatness in deduction as well as in induction。 Geometry
whose successive and progressive revelations are so inspiring； and
which have come down to us from a remote antiquity； which are even
now taught in our modern schools as Euclid demonstrated them； since
they cannot be improvedis a purely deductive science。 The
scholastic philosophy； even if it was barren and unfruitful in
leading to new truths； yet confirmed what was valuable in the old
systems； and by the severity of its logic and its dialectical
subtleties trained the European mind for the reception of the
message of Luther and Bacon； and this was based on deductions；
never wrong unless the premises are unsound。 Theology is deductive
reasoning from truths assumed to be fundamental； and is inductive
only so far as it collates Scripture declarations； and interprets
their meaning by the aid which learning brings。 Is not this
science worthy of some regard？ Will it not live when all the
speculations of evolutionists are forgotten； and occupy the
thoughts of the greatest and profoundest minds so long as anything
shall be studied； so long as the Bible shall be the guide of life？
Is it not by deduction that we ascend from Nature herself to the
God of Nature？ What is more certain than deduction when the
principles from which it reasons are indisputably established？
Is induction； great as it is； especially in the explorations of
Nature and science； always certain？ Are not most of the sciences
which are based upon it progressive？ Have we yet learned the
ultimate principles of political economy； or of geology； or of
government； or even of art？ The theory of induction； though
supposed by Dr。 Whewell to lead to certain results； is regarded by
Professor Jevons as leading to results only 〃almost certain。〃 〃All
inductive inference is merely probable；〃 says the present professor
of logic； Thomas Fowler； in the University of Oxford。
And although it is supposed that the inductive method of Bacon has
led to the noblest discoveries of modern times； is this strictly
true？ Galileo made his discoveries in the heavens before Bacon
died。 Physical improvements must need follow such inventions as
gunpowder and the mariners' compass； and printing and the pictures
of Italy； and the discovery of mines and the revived arts of the
Romans and Greeks； and the glorious emancipation which the
Reformation produced。 Why should not the modern races follow in
the track of Carthage and Alexandria and Rome； with the progress of
wealth； and carry out inventions as those cities did； and all other
civilized peoples since Babel towered above the plains of Babylon？
Physical developments arise from the developments of man； whatever
method may be recommended by philosophers。 What philosophical
teachings led to the machinery of the mines of California； or to
that of the mills of Lowell？ Some think that our modern
improvements would have come whether Bacon had lived or not。 But I
would not disparage the labors of Bacon in pointing out the method
which leads to scientific discoveries。 Granting that he sought
merely utility； an improvement in the outward condition of society；
which is the view that Macaulay takes； I would not underrate his
legacy。 And even supposing that the blessings of material life
〃the acre of Middlesex〃are as much to be desired as Macaulay；
with the complacency of an eminently practical and prosperous man；
seems to argue； I would not sneer at them。 Who does not value
them？ Who will not value them so long as our mortal bodies are to
be cared for？ It is a pleasant thing to ride in 〃cars without
horses；〃 to feel in winter the genial warmth of grates and
furnaces； to receive messages from distant friends in a moment of
time； to cross the ocean without discomfort； with the 〃almost
certainty〃 of safety； and save our wives and daughters from the
ancient drudgeries of the loom and the knitting…needle。 Who ever
tires in gazing at a locomotive as it whirls along with the power
of destiny？ Who is not astonished at the triumphs of the engineer；
the wonders of an ocean…steamer； the marvellous tunnels under lofty
mountains？ We feel that Titans have been sent to ease us of our
burdens。
But great and beneficent as are these blessings； they are not the
only certitudes； nor are they the greatest。 An outward life of
ease and comfort is not the chief end of man。 The interests of the
soul are more important than any comforts of the body。 The higher
life is only reached by lofty contemplation on the true； the
beautiful； and the good。 Subjective wisdom is worth more than
objective knowledge。 What are the great realities；machinery； new
breeds of horses； carpets； diamonds； mirrors； gas？ or are they
affections； friendships； generous impulses； inspiring thoughts？
Look to Socrates： what raised that barefooted； ugly…looking；
impecunious； persecuted； cross…questioning； self…constituted
teacher； without pay； to the loftiest pedestal of Athenian fame？
What was the spirit of the truths HE taught？ Was it objective or
subjective truth； the way to become rich and comfortable； or the
search for the indefinite； the infinite； the eternal；Utopia； not
Middlesex；that which fed the wants of the immaterial soul； and
enabled it to rise above temptation and vulgar rewards？ What
raised Plato to the highest pinnacle of intellectual life？ Was it
definite and practical knowledge of outward phenomena； or was it 〃a
longing after love； in the contemplation of which the mortal soul
sustains itself； and becomes participant in the glories of
immortality〃？ What were realities to Anselm； Bernard； and
Bonaventura？ What gave beauty and placidity to Descartes and
Leibnitz and Kant？ It may be very dignified for a modern savant to
sit serenely on his tower of observation； indifferent to all the
lofty speculations of the great men of bygone ages； yet those
profound questions pertaining to the ＇Greek text omitted＇ and the
＇Greek text omitted＇； which had such attractions for Augustine and
Pascal and Calvin； did have as real bearing on human life and on
what is best worth knowing； as the scales of a leuciscus cephalus
or the limbs of a magnified animalculus； or any of the facts of
which physical science can boast。 The wonders of science are
great； but so also are the secrets of the soul； the mysteries of
the spiritual life； the truths which come from divine revelation。
Whatever most dignifies humanity； and makes our labors sweet； and
causes us to forget our pains； and kindles us to lofty
contemplations； and prompts us to heroic sacrifice； is the most
real and the most useful。 Even the leaves of a barren and
neglected philosophy may be in some important respects of more
value than all the boasted fruit of utilitarian science。 Is that
which is most useful always the most valuable；that； I mean； which
gives the highest pleasure？ Do we not plant our grounds with the
acacia； the oak； the cedar； the elm； as well as with the apple； the
pear； and the cherry？ Are not flowers and shrubs which beautify
the lawn as desirable as beans and turnips and cabbages？ Is not
the rose or tulip as great an addition to even a poor man's cottage
as his bed of onions or patch of potatoes？ What is the scale to
measure even mortal happiness？ What is the marketable value of
friendship or of love？ What makes the dinner of herbs sometimes
more refreshing than the stalled ox？ What is the material profit
of a first love？ What is the value in tangible dollars and