THEORY OF DIRECT CREATION. 17 



elevation, and even were this possible, we may 

 believe that the exceptionally great minds who 

 would then arise amongst us, would be propor- 

 tionably in advance of the masses. But with 

 science, by which we may understand chiefly our 

 knowledge of Nature and natural phenomena, 

 the case is somewhat different. Although 

 the influence of men of great original genius 

 is occasionally necessary to give science an 

 impetus in a fresh direction, or to enforce the 

 acceptance of new truths, which in science as in 

 other things, are always unpopular, yet men of 

 ordinary abilities can carry the work forward by 

 concentrating their studies within a sufficiently 

 limited compass, and taking up the work of 

 their predecessors where they had laid it down. 

 Physical science is, however, of modern 

 growth, and was comparatively little studied 

 by the ancients, although it is probable that 

 they were far better acquainted than ourselves 

 with certain branches of science more suited 

 to the spirit of that day than to this.* Nevcr- 



* To estimate the ancient psychological sciences by the modern 



physical sciences, is to attempt to square the circle, or to add together 



ounces and inches. The mistake of ancient science lay in undervaluing 



Physics ; that of modern science lies in undervaluing, or rather in 



gnoring Psychology. The reason for this will be explained presently. 



r 



