I.] INTRODUCTORY. 21 



phenomena, though by no means actually foreseen, has yet 

 been fully provided for in the old philosophy centuries 

 before Darwin, or even centuries before Bacon, and that 

 their place in the system can be at once assigned them 

 without even disturbing its order or marring its harmony. 



Moreover, the old tradition in this respect has never 

 been abandoned, however much it may have been ignored 

 or neglected by some modern writers. In proof of this 

 it may be observed that perhaps no post- mediaeval theo- 

 logian has a wider reception amongst Christians throughout 

 the world than Suarez, who has a separate section l in 

 opposition to those who maintain the distinct creation of 

 the various kinds or substantial forms of organic life. 



But the consideration of this matter must be deferred 

 for the present, and the question of evolution, whether 

 Darwinian or other, be first gone into. It is proposed, 

 after that has been done, to return to this subject (here 

 merely referred to), and to consider at some length the 

 bearing of " Evolution," whether Darwinian or non- 

 Darwinian, upon " Creation and Theism." 



Now we will revert simply to the consideration of the 

 theory of " Natural Selection " itself. 



Whatever may have hitherto been the amount of accept- 

 ance that this theory has met with, all, I think, anticipated 

 that the appearance of Mr. Darwin's large and careful 

 work on " Animals and Plants under Domestication " 

 could but further increase that acceptance. It is, however, 

 somewhat problematical how far such anticipations will be 

 realized. The newer book seems to add but very little 

 in support of the theory, and to leave most, if not all, its 



Suarez, Metaphysica. Edition Vives. Paris, 1868. Vol. I. Dis- 

 li.u.t xv. 2. 



