s upon every subject. This class is on the increase at a
rapid rate. It does no good to set ourselves against reason, and oppose
the current of thought with our emotional nature. In that way we may
succeed with those who are governed by their emotional nature, but the
work, when it is done, is a work upon the passions, and will soon pass
away, unless the intellect was at the same time enlisted. The men who stir
the world with thought, and give intellectual cast to the age in which we
live, are to be met with thought, met with reason, met with truths tried
in the crucible.

Christianity has nothing to fear in the great struggle that is being
carried on for the truth's sake. But it has lost much for want of
investigation. Our free school and Sunday-school systems are making the
rising generation better acquainted with both science and the Bible, and a
thorough acquaintance with both is the one thing most needed in order to a
better future in religion, as well as in every other human interest. The
time is come when men will no longer be content to listen to grave errors
and keep silence. Every truth is being put to the test of logic, as well
as fact. It is natural to abhor a contradiction, and it is right. All
truth is harmonious. I am glad that harmony is demanded in religious
teaching; I often think of pulpit teaching away back thirty and forty
years ago. It used to be very popular in some parts to tell people that
they could do nothing to better their condition in a future state, and, at
the same time, exhort them to do better.

I heard of three brothers, George, William and James. George and William
were "Hard-shell Baptist" preachers; James made no profession. His wife
was a member of George's congregation. She was a great "scold." One day
James failed to do just as she wished him, and, as a matter of course, he
received quite a lecture; finally the woman told him that it was a great
pity that he could not be a good man, like his brother George or brother
William, and fell to exhorting him to do better. He finally became
impatient and said, "Yes! George and William were too lazy to work, and I
called them to preach. They both stood it until the third call, and then
put on their hats and went. You belong to George's church, and I go there
with you to hear him preach. He tells me that I can do nothing, and you
tell me that I can do nothing; and, now, what in the h--l do you want me to
do?" Such inconsistent teaching was