I.] INTRODUCTORY. 



metaphorically of the theistic expressions, '*' contrivance," 

 for example, and " purpose," , has elicited, from the Duke 

 of Argyll and others, criticisms which fail to tell against 

 their opponent, solely because such expressions are, in 

 Mr. Darwin's writings, merely figurative metaphors, and 

 nothing more. 



It may be hoped, then, that a similar looseness of 

 expression will account for passages of a directly opposite 

 tendency to that of his theistic metaphors. 



Moreover, it must not be forgotten that he frequently 

 uses that absolutely theological term, "the Creator," and 

 that he has retained in all the editions of his " Origin of 

 Species " an expression which has been much criticised : 

 he speaks "of life, with its several powers, having been 

 originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms, or into 

 one. " l This is mentioned in justice to Mr. Darwin only, 

 and by no means because it is a position which this book 

 is intended to support. For, from Mr. Darwin's usual 

 mode of speaking, it appears that by such Divine action 

 he means a supernatural intervention, whereas it is here 

 contended that throughout the whole process of physical 

 evolution the first manifestation of life included super- 

 natural action is assuredly not to be looked for. 



Again, in justice to Mr. Darwin, it may be observed that 

 he is addressing the general public, and opposing the 

 ordinary and common objections of popular religionists, 

 who have inveighed against " Evolution " and " Natural 

 Selection" as atheistic, impious, and directly conflicting 

 with the dogma of creation. 



1 See Fifth Edition, 1869, p. 579. In his recent work, "The Descent 

 of Man," vol ii. p. 396, Mr. Darwin also says, "The birth both of the 

 species and of the individual are equally parts of that grand sequence uf 

 even's which our minds refuse to accept as the result of blind chance." 



C 



