CHAPTER II. 



ANTHROPOMORPHIC THEISM. 



THOUGH the mediaeval conception of an arbitrary Provi 

 dence, overruling natural laws and occasionally setting them 

 aside, influenced by human petitions to bring about special 

 results by extraordinary means, and singling out nations or 

 individuals as the objects of its favour or displeasure, has 

 been partially abandoned for a more refined conception of 

 theism, in which the Deity is represented as working through 

 natural laws ; yet the survival of the doctrine of final causes 

 shows that a strong element of anthropomorphism is retained 

 even in the latter conception. The doctrine of final causes 

 ultimately reposes on the assumption that God entertains 

 intentions and purposes closely resembling in kind, though 

 greatly excelling in degree of sagacity, the purposes and 

 intentions of man. In accordance with this view, we are 

 told that it will not do to content ourselves with the dis 

 covery of Law, but that we must also look about for indica 

 tions of Purpose ; since Law is not, relatively to our human 

 understanding, an ultimate fact, but may be recognized by us 

 as the expression of the will of a Lawgiver. Everything 

 that exists it is said has been created to subserve some 

 design, and as a means to the accomplishment of some end ; 

 and the detection of this end, the penetration of this design 



