VII 



THE FAITH OF A NATURALIST 



I 



TO say that man is as good as God would to most 

 persons seem like blasphemy; but to say that 

 man is as good as Nature would disturb no one. 

 Man is a part of Nature, or a phase of Nature, and 

 shares in what we call her imperfections. But what 

 is Nature a part of, or a phase of? — and what or 

 who is its author? Is it not true that this earth 

 which is so familiar to us is as good as yonder morn- 

 ing or evening star and made of the same stuff? — 

 just as much in the heavens, just as truly a celestial 

 abode as it is? Venus seems to us like a great jewel 

 in the crown of night or morning. From Venus the 

 earth would seem like a still larger jewel. The heav- 

 ens seem afar off and free from all stains and im- 

 purities of earth; we lift our eyes and our hearts to 

 them as to the face of the Eternal, but our science 

 reveals no body or place there so suitable for human 

 abode and human happiness as this earth. In fact, 

 this planet is the only desirable heaven of which we 

 have any clue. Innumerable other worlds exist in 

 the abysses of space which may be the abodes of be- 

 ings superior, and of beings inferior, to ourselves. 

 We place our gods afar off so as to dehumanize 



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