44 Natural Theology. 



much arrogance or so little philosophy as to ridi- 

 cule the Bible of which they are often profoundly 

 ignorant, it is to be hoped will soon be among the 

 things of the past. 



We are also met with the objection that we may 

 not be right in our physical explanations. Old theo- 

 ries in science have been thrown aside as the dreams 

 of children. Why may not ours ? Many of the theo- 

 ries now received may be modified or rejected. But 

 the facts upon which we shall in the main rely never 

 change. If we introduce theories at all, it will not 

 be as an essential part of the argument. It may not 

 be true that water contains an equal number of atoms 

 of hydrogen and oxygen, according to the commonly 

 accepted chemical theory. There may not be atoms 

 at all ; but the fact still remains, and will be un- 

 changed while the world stands, that one-ninth of 

 water by weight is hydrogen, and eight-ninths oxy- 

 gen, and that its greatest density is between seven 

 and eight degrees above the freezing point. 



And yet once more we have the unpopular side, 

 because we attempt to sustain the old belief. It is 

 more popular and more flattering to our pride to pull 

 down and build anew with startling paradoxes, than 

 to accept the old, although it may be the right. To 

 tear down is a short and exciting work that seldom 

 fails to attract a wondering crowd. Some minds can 

 never be satisfied unless the thing presented is 

 new. If new, its truth is little considered. We 

 have no new and startling theories to present. 



We reverently enter the temple of Nature, that we 



