1879.] ^5 rChase. 



the created universe is the best possible, when considered with due regard 

 to all the purposes of creation ; 2, that our world is the worst possible, in 

 view of the evil which has resulted from the intentional interference of 

 human liberty ; 3, that no certainty can be reached by a reason which starts 

 with the assumption of its own independence, and refuses the guidance 

 which is offered by its Creator. 



Aristotle says, "philosophy began in wonder."* Wonder leads naturally 

 to admiration, admiration to investigation. Through wonder we learn, and 

 the facts which we thus acquire constitute the largest, as well as the most im- 

 portant portion of our knowledge. Through admiration we become attentive, 

 attention giving distinctness and thoroughness to knowledge. Through in- 

 vestigation we unfold the truths which we have already ascertained, and 

 although we are not directly led to new truths, we discover new relations, 

 which may excite new wonder and admiration, thus leading indirectly to 

 the knowledge of new facts. Wonder, admiration and investigation all 

 aim at the highest conceivable ends. Each of them finds special ends of 

 its own, which are so important that they are sometimes looked upon as 

 all-embracing. But the partial can never be so comprehensive as the gen- 

 eral ; the satisfaction of one want is inferior to the satisfaction of all. The 

 fondness for study and investigation is implanted in us for the formation of 

 character, and no better test can be given, of the importance of any belief 

 or pursuit, than the influence which it is likely to exert, either in eleva- 

 ting or in degrading the soul. The order in which the fundamental ques- 

 tions of philosophy naturally arise, tends to lead the mind from effect to 

 cause, and from cause to final cause or purpose ; from creation to creative 

 power, from creative power to creative design ; from manifestation, and 

 power, and purpose to the Source of all things, the only true God, wdio is 

 at once Upholder, Creator and Designer. Physical science very properly 

 recognizes the fact that the investigation of final causes and of other meta- 

 physical problems is out of its province, but for that very reason it should 

 not reject the help which theology and philosophy are always ready to 

 give it. 



There is no field of natural science which is not full of pointings, backward 

 to the unconscious, and forward to the conscious. Matter is manifested in 

 various forms which are known as chemical elements ; elements combine to 

 make compounds of various properties ; both elements and compounds 

 often occur in crystaline forms, each crystal being built upon a definite 

 plan ; through the 1113 stery of life inorganic matter becomes organic, the 

 simplest manifestations of organizing force transforming the mineral into the 

 vegetable, and higher manifestations making vegetable life tributary to ani- 

 mal life ; both in the vegetable kingdom and in the animal kingdom there 

 are many gradations, from lower to higher species and genera and orders 

 and classes ; the visible creation culminates in man, who boasts his pre- 

 eminence mainly on the ground of his superiority in intelligence. 



Throughout tins ascending scale of being, in which, at every step there 



* Cited by Krauth. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XVIII. 103. S. PRINTED FEB. 25, 1879. 



