method that will look
at facts from more than one point of view. A truly historical method
will look at facts from above, as well as from each side, and so the
deductive process may be popularly described as vertical. The historical
method falsely so called errs in confining its view to what can be seen
immediately around it, and so its process is exclusively horizontal.
Deduction begins vertically, and makes that which comes from above to be
its guide and standard in all inductive work. Induction begins
horizontally, and tends to become self-sufficient, until all light from
above seems untrustworthy and useless. For example, take the study of
nature. If one begins, inductively and horizontally, with mere physical
and material order, instead of beginning, deductively and vertically,
with man's higher powers of conscience and will, he will end by finding
only impersonal force in the universe, and by practically deifying it,
as the Hindus deified Brahma. Begin rightly, and, with due care in the
application of the deductive principle, he will come to right
conclusions. There are certain truths which cannot be reached by
induction. They are known by intuition, long before induction begins.
The most fundamental of these truths is the truth of God's existence. A
Power above us, which has moral perfection, and which claims our
obedience, is revealed to every man by conscience. Begin with this
knowledge, and to the obedient spirit the physical world seems ablaze
with evidences of wisdom and love; the regularities of nature are
recognized as God's methods of ordinary operation; evolution is only
his usual plan of growth and progress; in other words, God's
transcendence is manifest as well as his immanence, his personality as
well as his revelation in the forces of the universe.

Man is a theist, before he becomes a Christian. Theism is a universal
intuition, ready to assert itself in practice wherever it is not
prevented by an evil will from its normal manifestation. But, because
man is in an abnormal condition, this normal action of his powers can be
restored only by the Holy Spirit. "When he is come," says our Lord, "he
will convince the world of sin, because they believe not on me," and "of
righteousness, because I go unto the Father." Only when the prodigal
repented, did he "come to himself," and begin to act normally. Under the
influence of the Spirit, God's holiness reveals to man his sin, and
God's love leads him to the f