Scientific Sophisms. 255 



The points involved in it are two : First, the 

 introduction of Life. Second, the manifesta- 

 tions of Mind. As to the former of these, 

 Professor Huxley himself declares that 



7. " The present state of knowledge furnishes 

 us with no link between the living and the not- 

 living." 1 Professor Haeckel admits that there 

 is nothing in chemistry that can produce life. 

 That chemistry cannot bridge the colossal 

 chasm between the living and the not-living. 

 That it cannot explain how inorganic is trans- 

 muted into organic matter. That "most na- 

 turalists, even at the present day, are inclined 

 to give up the attempt at natural explanation 

 'of the origin of life,' and to take refuge in 

 the miracle of inconceivable creation." z In the 

 words of one of them, " We have given up the 

 idea that we can make things grow." Or, to 

 take but one instance more, the final sentence 

 of Du Bois Reymond, " It is futile to attempt 

 by chemistry to bridge the chasm between the 

 living and the not-living." 



8. Futile as is the attempt however, Professor 

 Huxley has shown himself equal to it. In his 

 most deliberate utterance he tells us that 



1 Encycl. Brit., Art. " Biology." 



u History of Creation," vol. i. p. 327. 



