222 



FACTS AND FANCIES 



be possibilities of the reason of man communi- 

 cating with, or receiving aid from, the Supreme 

 Intelligence?" Science undoubtedly suggests 

 this much to our reason, and the suggestion 

 has commended itself to most of the greater 

 and clearer minds that have studied nature, 

 whatever their religious beliefs or their want 

 of them. 



It may thus be allowable for us, without 

 encroaching on the domain of theology, to 

 inquire to what extent scientiiic principles and 

 scientific habits of thought agree with or di- 

 verge from the religious beliefs of men. I do 

 not propose to enter here into the inquiry as 

 to the accordance of the Bible with the earth's 

 geolpgical history, or that of its representa- 

 tions of nature with the facts as held by 

 science. These subjects I have fully discussed 

 in other works, which are sufficiently access- 

 ible,* I shall merely refer to certain general 

 relations of science to the probability of a 

 divine revelation, and to the character of such 

 revelation. 



As to what is termed natural religion, enough 

 has already been said. If nature testifies to the 



* More especially in The Origin of the World (London and New 

 York, 1877), 



