1864. | Atheism and Science. 551 
* Himpirical natural science,” hoe tells us, “ has no other object than 
to find out the truth, be it according to human notions, consolatory or 
the reverse, beautiful or ugly, logical or illogical, rational or absurd, 
necessary or contingent.”—(Cotta.) * 
This statement, with which the work closes, may possibly perplex 
some of our readers. Indeed, they may be disposed to wonder what 
other “notions” an atheist, a man “ who considers transcendentalism 
an aberration of the human mind,”} can have of truth, excepting 
human notions, or how truth can be truth, if it be illogical or absurd ; 
but this arises from their not fully comprehending the wisdom of the 
acts of “ Natural Science.” They shall now be enlightened. 
“Nature is perfect in itself, being in its development governed by un- 
alterable laws.”’ (p. 88, Prof. Giebel, of Halle.) 
“We find in the constant harmony of nature a sufficient proof in favour 
of the immutability of its laws.” (p. 33, Tuttle.) 
As ‘“ Nature does not act from a conscious design, but according to an 
immanent necessary instinct, it becomes obvious that it must be guilty of 
many purposeless absurdities.” (p. 94.) 
“Nature has produced a number of beings and contrivances in which 
no designs can be detected, and which are frequently more apt to disturb 
than to promote the natural order of things.” (!) (p. 94.) 
This will convey to our readers some idea of the author’s “ nature.” 
Another word concerning his “matter and force.” 
“Matter must have existed from eternity, and must last for ever.” 
Denis) 
: “ Force is a mere property of matter.” (p. 4.) 
‘There exists a phrase, repeated ad nauseam, of mortal body and im- 
mortal spirit. A closer examination causes us with more truth to reverse 
the sentence.” (p. 13.) 
“Although the immortality of matter is now an established truth, the 
same cannot be said in regard to force.” (p. 17.) 
This seems a little contradictory ; however, let us search a little 
further, that we may be enlightened. 
“No force can arise from nothing.” (p. 2., Liebig.) t 
“Indestructible, imperishable, and immortal as matter, is also its imma- 
nent force. Intimately united to matter, force revolves in the same never- 
ending cycle, and emerges from any form in the same quantity as it 
entered.” (p. 16.) 
“No motion in nature proceeds from, or passes into, nothing.” (p. 17.) 
“ Physics show that, as there was a time when no organic life existed on 
earth, so will the time arrive—no doubt an infinite and incommensurable 
period—when the physical forces now existing will be exhausted, and all 
animated beings plunged into night and death.” (p. 105.) 
See 208; ft P. 253. 
+ The names of Liebig, Helmholtz, &e., will be found in this work, as observers 
from whom quotations are made in support of the author's views; but in justice 
to these great and honourable men, we deem it right to say that isolated expres- 
sions are perverted in their meaning, just as dishonest publishers sometimes 
revenge themselves upon critics, by snatching from their adverse reviews portions 
of sentences apparently laudatory. 
