vin THEISM ; EVOLUTION OF THEOLOGY 171 



Thus it may be fairly presumed that Hume ex- 

 presses his own sentiments in the words of the 

 speech with which Philo concludes the "Dialogues." 



"If the whole of natural theology, as some people seem to 

 maintain, resolves itself into one simple, though somewhat 

 ambiguous, at least undefined proposition, That the cause or 

 causes of order in the universe probably bear some remote analogy 

 to human intelligence: If this proposition be not capable of 

 extension, variation, or more particular explication : If it 

 affords no inference that affects human life or can be the 

 source of any action or forbearance : And if the analogy, 

 imperfect as it is, can be carried no further than to the human 

 intelligence, and cannot be transferred, with any appearance 

 of probability, to the other qualities of the mind ; if this really 

 be the case, what can the most inquisitive, contemplative, 

 and religious man do more than give a plain, philosophical 

 assent to the proposition, as often as it occurs, and believe 

 that the arguments on which it is established exceed the 

 objections which lie against it ? Some astonishment indeed 

 will naturally arise from the greatness of the object; some 

 melancholy from its obscurity ; some contempt of human 

 reason, that it can give no solution more satisfactory with 

 regard to so extraordinary and magnificent a question. But 

 believe me, Cleanthes, the most natural sentiment which a 

 well-disposed mind will feel on this occasion, is a longing 

 desire and expectation that Heaven would be pleased to dis- 

 sipate, at least alleviate, this profound ignorance, by affording 

 some more particular revelation to mankind, and making 

 discoveries of the nature, attributes, and operations of the 

 Divine object of our faith." 1 (II. pp. 547 8.) 



1 It is needless to quote the rest of the passage, though I cannot 

 refrain from observing that the recommendation which it contains 

 that a "man of letters " should become a philosophical sceptic as 

 "the first and most essential step towards being a sound believing 

 Christian, " though adopted and largely acted upon by many a 

 champion of orthodoxy in these days, is questionable in taste, if it 



