412 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



That study, moreover, has other merits and recommen- 

 dations. It is, as I have said, organized and systematized 

 by long-continued use. It is an instrument wielded by 

 some of our best intellects in the education of youth; and 

 it can point to results in the achievements of our fore- 

 most men. What, then, has science to offer which is in 

 the least degree likely to compete with such a system? I 

 cannot better reply than by recurring to the grand old 

 story from which I have already quoted. Speaking of the 

 world and all that therein is, of the sky and the stars 

 around it, the ancient writer says, " And God saw all that 

 he had made, and behold it was very good." It is the body 

 of things thus described which science offers to the study 

 of man. There is a very renowned argument much prized 

 and much quoted by theologians, in which the universe is 

 compared to a watch. Let us deal practically with this 

 comparison. Supposing a watch-maker, having completed 

 his instrument, to be so satisified with his work as to call it 

 very good, what would you understand him to mean? 

 You would not suppose that he referred to the dial-plate 

 in front and the chasing of the case behind, so much as to 

 the wheels and pinions, the springs and jeweled pivots of 

 the works within to those qualities and powers, in 

 short, which enable the watch to perform its work as' 

 a keeper of time. With regard to the knowledge of 

 such a watch he would be a mere ignoramus who would 

 content himself with outward inspection. I do not 

 wish to say one severe word here to-day, but I fear that 

 many of those who are very loud in their praise of the works 

 of the Lord know them only in this outside and superficial 

 way. It is the inner works of the universe which science 

 reverently uncovers; it is the study of these that she recom- 

 mends as a discipline worthy of all acceptation. 



The ultimate problem of physics is to reduce matter by 

 analysis to its lowest condition of divisibility, and force to 

 its simplest manifestations, and then by synthesis to con- 

 struct from these elements the world as it stands. We are 

 still a long way from the final solution of this problem; and 

 when the solution comes, it will be more one of spiritual 

 insight than of actual observation. But though we are 

 still a long way from this complete intellectual mastery of 

 nature, we have conquered vast regions of it, have learned 

 their polities and the play of their powers. We live upon a 



