

V/ 



THE NATURAL THEOLOGY OF THE 

 FUTURE. 



Bead at Sion College, January 10th, 1871. 



WHEN I accepted the unexpected and undeserved 

 honour of being allowed to lecture here, the first 

 subject which suggested itself to me was Natural 

 Theology. 



It is one which has taken up much of my thought for 

 some years past,* which seems to me more and more 



* Novalis, I think, says that one's own thought gains quite 

 infinitely in value as soon as one finds it shared by even one other 

 human being. The saying has proved true, at least, to me. The 

 morning after this paper was read, I received a book, "The Genesis 

 of Species, by St. George Mivart, F.R.S." The name of the author 

 demanded all attention and respect ; and as I read on, I found him, 

 to my exceeding pleasure, advocating views which I had long held, 

 with a learning and ability to which I have no pretensions. The 

 book will, doubtless, excite much useful criticism and discussion in 

 the scientific world. I hope that it may do the same in the clerical 

 world ; and I earnestly beg those clergymen who heard me with 

 so much patience and courtesy at Sion College, to ponder well 

 Mr. Mivart's last chapter, on " Theology and Evolution." 



