IN MODERN SCIENCE. 



1%. 



of external nature. Science proceeds, by com- 

 parison of these facts and by inductive rea- 

 soning, to arrange them under certain general 

 expressions or laws. So far all is merely phys- 

 ical, and need have i>o connection with our 

 origin or destiny or relation to higher powers. 

 But we ourselves are a part of the nature 

 which we study ; and we cannot study it with- 

 out more or less thinking our own thoughts 

 into it. Thus we naturally begin to inquire 

 as to origins and first causes, and as to the 

 source of the energy and order which we per- 

 ceive ; and to these questions the human mind 

 demands some answer, either actual or specu- 

 lativ(3. But here we enter into the domain of 

 religiv-^us thought, or that which relates to a 

 power or powers beyond and above nature. 

 Whatever forms our thoughts on such subjects 

 may take, these depend, not directly on the facts 

 of science, but on the reaction of our minds on 

 these facts. They are truly anthropomorphic, 

 it has been well said that it is as idle to inquire 

 as to the origin of such religious ideas as to 

 inquire as to the origin of hunger and thirst 

 Given the man, they must necessarily exist 

 Now, whatever form these philosophical or 

 religious ideas may take — whether that of Ag- 



