THE MINISTRY OF NATURE. 251 



freed from error, and false interpretations of the 

 Scriptures be superseded. The history of science 

 records the overthrow of many a false and anti- 

 religious notion as the result of continued and more 

 accurate examination. An instance of this sort is 

 presented by the theory of spontaneous generation. 

 Haeckel, one of the most laborious of scientific men, 

 albeit somewhat speculative, bent his strength to 

 the task of demonstrating that the non-living 

 became by its own inherent qualities a living 

 organism ; and Professor Huxley went so far as 

 to suggest that the ooze dredged up from the deep 

 sea-bottom was the identical protoplasm on its way 

 from death to life, calling the substance, in honour 

 of his continental collaborates, Bathybius Haeckelii. 

 Strauss at once took hold of these speculations and 

 used them against the Christian faith. Recent ex- 

 periments, however, have shown that the theory of 

 spontaneous generation has not a single fact to rest 

 upon, and Professor Huxley now laughs at his 

 former error, while even Haeckel has materially 

 modified his opinions. This shows the value both 

 to religion and science of earnest, serious efforts to 

 discover truth in every direction. 



There are other theories before the world just 

 now which have provoked the opposition of a large 

 number of intelligent Christians on the ground that 

 they militate against the teaching of the Bible. 

 Some of these hypotheses bear upon the develop- 

 ment of living things and the origin of man. We 

 may be sure, however, that the same course will be 

 pursued in these cases as in those already referred 



