74 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



lie within our intellectual range, and as far as they 

 reach we will at all hazards push our enquiries. But 

 behind, and above, and around all, the real mystery of 

 this universe lies unsolved, and, as far as we are con- 

 cerned, is incapable of solution. Fashion this mystery 

 as you will, with that I have nothing to do. But let 

 your conception of it not be an unworthy one. Invest 

 that conception with your highest and holiest thought, 

 but be careful of pretending to know more about it 

 than is given to man to know. Be careful, above all 

 things, of professing to see in the phenomena of the 

 material world the evidences of Divine pleasure or dis- 

 pleasure. Doubt those who would deduce from the 

 fall of the tower of Siloam the anger of the Lord 

 against those who were crushed. Doubt equally those 

 who pretend to see in cholera, cattle-plague, and bad 

 harvests, evidences of Divine anger. Doubt those 

 spiritual guides who in Scotland have lately propounded 

 the monstrous theory that the depreciation of railway 

 scrip is a consequence of railway travelling on Sundays. 

 Let them not, as far as you are concerned, libel the 

 system of nature with their ignorant hypotheses. Look- 

 ing from the solitudes of thought into this highest of 

 questions, and seeingthe puerile attempts often made to 

 solve it, well might the mightiest of living Scotchmen 

 that strong and earnest soul, who has made every 

 soul of like nature in these islands his debtor well, 

 I say, might your noble old Carlyle scornfully retort 

 on such interpreters of the ways of God to men: 



The Builder of this universe was wise, 



He formed all souls, all systems, planets, particles ; 



The plan he formed his worlds and ^5ons by, 

 Was Heavens ! was thy small nine-and-thirty articles I 



