344 THE STORY OP THE EARTH AND MAN. 



witli reference to His real essence, not at all ; since, 

 even if we admit this, it is no more than can be said 

 of matter and force. 



I am not about here to repeat any of the ordinary- 

 arguments for the existence of a spiritual First Cause, 

 and Creator of all things, but it may be proper to 

 show that this assumption is not inconsistent with 

 experience, or with the facts and principles of modern 

 science. The statement which I would make on this 

 point shall be in the words of a very old writer, not so 

 well known as he should be to many who talk volubly 

 enough about antagonisms between science and Chris- 

 tianity^: " That which is known of God is manifest in 

 them (in men), for God manifested it unto them. For 

 since the creation of the world His invisible things, 

 even His eternal power and divinity are plainly seen, 

 being perceived by means of things that are made/''* 

 The statement here is very precise. Certain things 

 relating to God are manifest within men's minds, and 

 are proved by the evidence of His works; these pro- 

 perties of God thus manifested being specially His 

 power or control of all forces, and His divinity or 

 possession of a nature higher than ours. The argu- 

 ment of the writer is that all heathens know this ; 

 and, as a matter of fact, I believe it must be admitted 

 even by those most sceptical on such points, that some 

 notion of a divinity has been derived from nature by 

 men of all nations and tribes, if we except, perhaps, a 

 few enlightened positivists of this nineteenth century, 

  Paul's Epistle to the Romans, chap. i. 



