286 NATURAL THEOLOGY NO TRUE 



although the two propositions are alike insusceptible 

 both of faithless demonstration and sincere denial. 

 The first writer of note, who stated the argument of 

 design as a formal proof, was the Dutch mathematician 

 Nieuentytt, in whose ' Religious Philosopher ' is to be 

 found the original of that classical analogy of a watch, 

 which was afterwards expounded by Howe, and then 

 illustrated and enforced with so much perspicacity and 

 elegance by Dr. Paley. The last was the first to urge 

 it with such effect as to secure it a standing in the 

 world. His 'Natural Theology' is read by every- 

 body, and is a text-book at the universities. It has 

 gone through many editions, even a cheap one for the 

 people, and is a standard work. It has lately been 

 presented anew, under the united auspices of Lord 

 Brougham and Sir Charles Bell. Lastly, the late Earl 

 of Bridgewater has bequeathed the world eight well- 

 paid treatises, all emulous ( of demonstrating Him 'who 

 is past finding out.' I would not drive counter to such 

 authorities, if I were not convinced that the cause of 

 Christianity has suffered from these attempts to afford 

 it external aid. Their direct tendency is to rob the 

 religion of faith of its essential character ; and this of 

 'design ' encourages those who reject our most holy faith 

 in the implied conclusion that either God must be to 

 be found in nature by research, or not exist at all. 

 Hence come insincere Atheism, idolatrous scientific 

 theism, and worthless half belief in God. These are 

 my motives and defence. . . . Faith and analysis have 

 to work together on this momentous theme as on every 

 other ; the former to give assurance of divinity, and 

 the latter to show what Godhead cannot be, and even, 

 in some little degree, what Jehovah must at least be. 



