314 THE NATURAL THEOLOGY OF THE FUTURE, [xin. 



important, and which is just now somewhat forgotten ; 

 I therefore determined to say a few words on it to- 

 night. I do not pretend to teach but only to suggest ; 

 to point out certain problems of Natural Theology, 

 the further solution of which ought, I think, to be 

 ooii attempted. 



I wish to speak, remember, not on natural religion, 

 but on natural theology. By the first, I understand 

 what can be learned from the physical universe of 

 man's duty to God and to his neighbour ; by the latter, 

 I understand what can be learned concerning God 

 Himself. Of natural religion I shall say nothing. I 

 do not even affirm that a natural religion is possible : 

 but I do very earnestly believe that a natural theology 

 is possible; and I earnestly believe also that it is 

 most important that natural theology should, in 

 every age, keep pace with doctrinal or ecclesiastical 

 theology. 



Bishop Butler certainly held this belief. His 

 " Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the 

 Constitution and Course of Nature" a book for which 

 I entertain the most profound respect is based on a 

 belief that the God of Nature and the God of Grace 

 are one ; and that, therefore, the God who satisfies our 

 conscience ought more or less to satisfy our reason 

 also. To teach that was Butler's mission, and he 

 fulfilled it well. But it is a mission which has to be 

 re-filled again and again, as human thought changes 

 and human science develops; for if in any age or 

 country the God who seems to be revealed by Nature 

 seems different from the God who is revealed by the 

 then popular religion, then that God, and the religion 



