$6 EVOLUTION AND NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



show that this or that portion of his views 

 is untenable, but if they reject his theory, to 

 substitute another which will furnish a better 

 explanation of the facts which he attempted to 

 explain by it. 



Dr. Bree also assumes (p. 60) that there must 

 have been a beginning. How does he know 

 this ? He is speaking of absolute beginning, 

 not relative beginning, and has overlooked the 

 difference between the two. Again lie says, 

 " the special creation hypothesis is simply a 

 belief." So is the hypothesis of the creation of 

 the world in six days, which no scientific man 

 can any longer profess to believe literally. The 

 theories of Evolution and Special Creation are 

 simply theories of the mode of operation of 

 God's work in the universe and by no means in- 

 volve the alternatives of Theism or Atheism. 

 Which theory is true, must ultimately be decided 

 by facts, and which is most consistent with 

 God's general mode of operation, by observation 

 and analogy. 



We may even ask how a man who speaks of 

 the necessity of a beginning, can logically 

 believe in the eternity of God. Is it not con- 

 ceivable that the universe may even be a 



