CHAPTER lit 



COSMIC THEISM. 



The conclusions reached in the foregoing ctapter were 

 purely negative, and would therefore be very unsatisfactory 

 if we were obliged to rest in them as final. Upon the 

 religious side of philosophy as well as upon its scientific 

 side, the mind needs some fundamental theorem with refer- 

 ence to which it may occupy a positive attitude. According 

 to the theory of life and intelligence expounded in previous 

 chapters, mere scepticism can discharge but a provisional 

 and temporary function. To the frivolously-minded the 

 mere negation of belief may be in no wise distressing ; but 

 to the earnest inquirer the state of scepticism is accompanied 

 by pain, which, here as elsewhere, is only subserving its 

 proper function when it stimulates him to renewed search 

 after a positive result. In the present transcendental inquiry 

 it may indeed at first sight seem impossible to arrive at any 

 positive result whatever, without ignoring the relativity of 

 knowledge and proving recreant to the rigorous requirements 

 of the objective method. Nevertheless, as was hinted at the 

 close of the preceding chapter, this is not the case. Although 

 the construction of a theology, or science of Deity, is a task 

 which exceeds the powers of human intelligence, there is 

 nevertheless one supremely important theorem in which science 



