16 



is the religion held up to scorn through it. It divides itself 

 into five heads : — 



1. The carpenter-theory of creation. 



2. Love of adulation on the part of the Deity. 



3. Eternal vengeance. 



4. Good actions intrinsically sinful. 



6. Other-worldliness the motive of faith. 



Firstj then, as to the carpenter- theory of creation. 



If by this expression be meant simply a belief that God 

 created the universe and all that it contains, what can be the 

 object of calling it the carpenter-theory? The only con- 

 ceivable object, in that case, is to make it sound absurd, by 

 giving it an anthropomorphic twang which does not in reality 

 belong to it. It is like the Puritans creating a prejudice 

 against church organs, by calling them ''whistle-pipes,^' or 

 '' skirl-pipes.'' I am not aware of having ever seen the belief 

 in creation called a carpenter-theory by any Theist, whether 

 the form of his religion be Christianity or any other. It is, 

 in fact, a nichiame, most unjustly conferred upon that belief 

 by those who reject it. It is true, we occasionally find the 

 Creator of the universe spoken of as " the great Artificer." 

 But it is evident to all who choose to see, that this word is only 

 meant to be a synonym to the word " Creator," expressing (as 

 synonyms generally do) but a part of the whole idea, and 

 used with a view to avoid wearying the ear with the same 

 word often repeated, as well as to impart a pleasing variety to 

 the language. ''Artificer" means, in its strictest sense, 

 " maker," a word which is also often applied to the Creator, 

 as witness its use in our creeds. And both these words 

 (artificer and maker), when used in speaking of men, can only 

 include in their signification the idea of forming things out of 

 materials already existing. Transferred metaphorically to the 

 Deity, they connote to believers the additional idea of creating 

 those materials. Believers, therefore, in using such words, 

 are very far from implying that God only works as a carpenter 

 does, from materials ready to his hand. But it suits the 

 object of unbelievers to ridicule them as holding this view, 

 and as associating the Deity in their imagination with a wooden 

 bench,inthe midst of planes, saws, chisels, sawdust, shavings,&c. 



If they should reply that by the carpenter-theory of creation 

 they mean the belief in creation out of nothing, then the 

 word is a complete misnomer. Believers in creation no more 

 believe in the carpenter-theory of creation than does Mr. 

 Spencer himself. They believe that God called the world into 

 existence out of nothing, the very thing which a carpenter 

 cannot do. Mr. Spencer may, therefore, spare his indignation 

 at "beinsf charsrod with irreliarion because he declines to 



