Section 15.—0n Vain Science, False Science, and True Science.
All science is vain when it is either exercised on vain and frivolous objects, which have no tendency to promote the well-being of man, or, when being exercised on interesting and important objects, it is not suffered to direct its possessor to the attainment of them. For instance, all science conversant in the arts of luxury and excessive refinement of manners, or in the more seducing, but not less frivolous discoveries of an abstruse and useless philosophy, may be called vain science, because it is employed on trifling objects; as, on the other hand, all science conversant about the great objects of religion, the true worship of God, and the attainment of ever lasting happiness, may be equally vain, if it does not conduct man to the acquisition of those objects.
False science differs from vain science in this—that it is not only not conducive to the well-being of man, but it is also destructive of it, by opposing the eternal truth, and whatsoever opposes the eternal truth, is called false. Under the head of false science may be ranked all heterodox opinions and sentiments of religion which are grounded in misinterpretation of the Word of God; likewise all philos0phical principles of the knowledge of nature which are contrary to true philosophy; together with all moral and political principles which are opposed to sound morality and civil policy.
True science is that which is founded in truth, and
