Ill SCIENCE AND PSEUDO-SCIENCE 109 



acting as a cause in a way quite in accordance 

 with the Duke of Argyll's conception of ifc. In 

 fact, in the mind of the author of the " Vestiges," 

 " laws " are existences intermediate between the 

 Creator and His works, like the " ideas " of the 

 Platonisers or the Logos of the Alexandrians. 1 

 I may cite a passage which is quite in the vein of 

 Philo : 



We have seen powerful evidences that the construction of this 

 globe and its associates ; and, inferentially, that of all the other 

 globes in space, was the result, not of any immediate or personal 

 exertion on the part of the Deity, but of natural laws which are 

 the expression of His will. What is to hinder our supposing 

 that the organic creation is also a result of natural laws 

 which are in like manner an expression of His will ? (p. 154, 1st 

 edition). 



And creation " operating by law " is constantly 

 cited as relieving the Creator from trouble about 

 insignificant details. 



I am perplexed to picture to myself the state of 

 mind which accepts these verbal juggleries. It is 

 intelligible that the Creator should operate 

 according to such rules as he might think fit to 

 lay down for himself (and therefore according to 

 law) ; but that would leave the operation of his 

 will just as much a direct personal act as it would 

 be under any other circumstances. I can also 

 understand that (as in Leibnitz's caricature of 

 Newton's views) the Creator might have made 



1 The author recognises this in his Explanations. 



