EVOLUTION' AND THEOLOGY. 263 



What they and we most want to know is, how these 

 serious matters are viewed hy an honest, enlightened, 

 and devout scientific man. To solve the mysteries of 

 the universe, as the French lady required a philosopher 

 to explain his new system, " dans un mot" is beyond 

 rational expectation. 



All that we have time and need to say of this lit- 

 tle book upon great subjects relates to its spirit and to 

 the view it takes of evolution. Its theology is wholly 

 orthodox ; its tone devotional, charitable, and hopeful ; 

 its confidence in religious truth, as taught both in Na- 

 ture and revelation, complete ; the illustrations often 

 happy, but often too rhetorical ; the science, as might 

 be expected from this author, unimpeachable as re- 

 gards matters of fact, discreet as to matters of opin- 

 ion. The argument from design in the first lecture 

 brings up the subject of the introduction of species. 

 Of this, considered " as a question of history, there is 

 no witness on the stand except geology." 



" The present condition of geological evidence is undoubted- 

 ly in favor of some degree of suddenness — is against infinite 

 gradations. The evidence may be meagre .... but whether 

 meagre or not, it is all the evidence we have. . . . Now, the 

 evidence of geology to-day is, that species seem to come in sud- 

 denly and in full perfection, remain substantially unchanged dur- 

 ing the term of their existence, and pass away in full perfection. 

 Other species take their place apparently by substitution, not 

 by transmutation. But you will ask me, ' Do you, then, reject the 

 doctrine of evolution? Do you accept the creation of species 

 directly and without secondary agencies and processes? ' I an- 

 swer, No ! Science knows nothing of phenomena which do not 

 take place by secondary causes and processes. She does not deny 

 such occurrence, for true Science is not dogmatic, and she knows 



