MATTER AND FOKCE. t3 



alike powerful as an instrument of intellectual culture 

 and as a ministrant to the material wants of men ; if 

 you ask me whether it has solved, or is likely in our 

 day to solve, the problem of this universe, I must shake 

 my head in doubt. You remember the first Napoleon's 

 question, when the savans who accompanied him to 

 Egypt discussed in his presence the origin of the 

 universe, and solved it to their own apparent satis- 

 faction. He looked aloft to the starry heavens, and 

 said, 'It is all very well, gentlemen; but who made 

 these?' That question still remains unanswered, and 

 science makes no attempt to answer it. As far as I can 

 see, there is no quality in the human intellect which is 

 fit to be applied to the solution of the problem. It 

 entirely transcends us. The mind of man may be com- 

 pared to a musical instrument with a certain range of 

 notes, beyond which in both directions we have an infi- 

 nitude of silence. The phenomena of matter and force 

 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 Siloarn the anger of the Lord against 

 those who were crushed. Doubt equally those who pre- 

 tend to see in cholera, cattle-plague, and bad harvests, 

 evidences of Divine anger. Doubt those spiritual guides 



