CHAPTER II 

 ANTHROPOMORPHIC THEISM* 



THOUGH the mediaeval conception of 

 an arbitrary Providence, overruling 

 natural laws and occasionally setting 

 them aside, influenced by human petitions to 

 bring about special results by extraordinary 

 means, and singling out nations or individuals 

 as the objects of its favour or displeasure, has 

 been partially abandoned for a more refined 

 conception of theism, in which the Deity is re- 

 presented as working through natural laws ; yet 

 the survival of the doctrine of final causes shows 

 that a strong element of anthropomorphism is 

 retained even in the latter conception. The 

 doctrine of final causes ultimately reposes on 

 the assumption that God entertains intentions 

 and purposes closely resembling in kind, though 

 greatly excelling in degree of sagacity, the pur- 

 poses and intentions of man. In accordance 

 with this view, we are told that it will not do to 

 content ourselves with the discovery of Law, but 

 that we must also look about for indications of 

 Purpose ; since Law is not, relatively to our 

 1 [See Introduction, §§ 28, 29.] 

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