d[3].' This language
sounds violent; but I doubt if many thinking men could now be found
{199} to doubt that the way opened by the 'foolishness of the gospel
preaching' was a way of light for the world compared to which the way
of the contemporary philosophers was darkness and delusion. The
arrogant wisdom of the contemporary 'Heracleitus' would have provided
no real light at all for the Ephesians whom he denounced. A fresh
start was wanted for man, and the fresh start was primarily in the life
of the conscience and heart. On the other hand neither St. Paul, nor
any of the New Testament writers, can be accused of the sort of
obscurantism to which the later Church has often fallen a victim. One
cannot even conceive St. Paul denouncing free inquiry, or cloaking up
from free investigation the title-deeds of Christianity. His love of
the light--even with all the dangers that the light has--like his love
of freedom, is frank and real.

If we come down to our own time, there is no doubt a great deal of
contemporary 'enlightenment' that St. Paul would have pronounced
spurious. He would never surely have disparaged intellectual inquiry
or free scientific research: but he would have continually emphasized
that no one was really enlightened whose will and heart was not right
with God. {200} To have a scientific knowledge of facts is by
comparison superficial; and worse than superficial is the sharpness and
worldly cleverness which continually boasts of being 'wide awake' and
'up to date.' It is possible to be awake and enlightened in the
speculative and practical intelligence: to be awake and enlightened in
the region of the senses: and yet to be asleep and in the dark in the
region of the will and conscience towards God. And there lies the true
heart of manhood. It is possible even to be enlightened about evil and
in the dark as regards goodness. But St. Paul hates curiosity about
the ways and methods of sin. 'I would,' he says, 'have you wise unto
that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil[4].' Take heed
that the light that is in thee be not darkness. This curiosity about
sin is a delusion which has sometimes a strange hold on some who would
serve God. But they must recognize that the only Christian method of
'convicting the world of sin' is by 'convicting it of righteousness.'
Innocence has a power which sometimes is strangely underrated.

We may pause for a moment longer to dwell on the beauty of