4O Scientific Sophisms. 



But in his later works, the theism thus articu- 

 lately pronounced is conspicuous chiefly by its 

 absence. At the same time it is not expressly 

 excluded. And on this account the agnostic 

 and atheistic leaders take him roundly to task, 

 notwithstanding his Abrahamk dignity. Thus, 

 for instance, Professor Tyndall : 



"Diminishing gradually the number of pro- 

 genitors, Mr. Darwin comes at length to one 

 'primordial form;' but he does not say, as far 

 as I remember, how he supposes this form to 

 have been introduced. He quotes with satis- 

 faction the words of a celebrated author and 

 divine, who had ' gradually learnt to see that it 

 is just as noble a conception of the Deity to 

 believe He created a few original forms, capable 

 of self-development into other and needful 

 forms, as to believe that He required a fresh 

 act of creation to supply the voids caused by 

 the action of His laws.' What Mr. Darwin 

 thinks of this view of the introduction of life 

 I do not know. But the anthropomorphism, 

 which it seemed his object to set aside, is as 

 firmly associated with the creation of a few 

 forms as with the creation of a multitude. 

 We need clearness and thoroughness here. 

 Two courses and t\vo only are possible. Either 

 let us open our doors freely to the conception 



