WHA T IS. DAR WINISM? 277 



and curiously wrought (or embroidered) in the lower parts of 

 the earth. . . . God makes the grass to grow, and herbs for 

 the children of men.' He sends rain, frost, and snow. He 

 controls the winds and the waves. He determines the castipg 

 of the lot, the flight of an arrow, and the falling of a sparrow " 

 (pages 43, 44). 



Far be it from us. to object to this mode of con- 

 ceiving divine causation, although, like the two other 

 theistic conceptions referred to, it has its difficulties, 

 and perhaps the difficulties of both. But, if we un- 

 derstand it, it draws an unusually hard and fast line 

 between causation in organic and inorganic Nature, 

 seems to look for no manifestation of design in the 

 latter except as " God overrules and controls " second 

 causes, and, finally, refers to this overruling and con- 

 trolling (rather than to a normal action through en- 

 dowment) all embryonic development, the growth of 

 vegetables, and the like. He even adds, without 

 break or distinction, the sending of rain, frost, and 

 snow, the flight of an arrow, and the falling of a spar- 

 row. Somehow we must have misconceived the bear- 

 ing of the statement ; but so it stands as one of " the 

 three ways," and the right way, of " accounting for 

 contrivances in Nature;" the other two being 1. 

 Their reference to the blind operation of natural 

 causes ; and, 2. That they were foreseen and purposed 

 by God, who endowed matter with forces which he 

 foresaw and intended should produce such results, but 

 never interferes to guide their operation. 



In animadverting upon this latter view, Dr. Hodge 

 brings forward an argument against evolution, with 

 the examination of which our remarks must close : 



