222 PROP. G. MACLOSKIEj D.SC, LL.D., ON 



sought for tlie horoscopes of then- patrons, \vith fcxalted faith 

 as to the superiority of the heavenly bodies above everything 

 terrestrial. But to the surprise and disgust of some of tliem, 

 their labours proved that the planets are not very different 

 from the earth, and that celestial movements are mechanical; 

 and they were compelled to settle down to observations and 

 mathematics, as commonplace astronomers. When Newton 

 investigated the forces that drive the macliine, and Laplace 

 finished off his Mecanique Celeste with his nebular theory, 

 regarding the early development of the solar system as 

 through a kind of physico-chemical embryology, and when 

 their successors ascertained that gravitation-bonds and spec- 

 troscopic lines annex the movements and matter of distant 

 stars to our system, the conquest of mechanism over the 

 heavens was complete. At the same time the dreams of the 

 alchemists by a singular metamorphosis grew into the science 

 of chemistry. And chemistry has reduced all terrestrial 

 things, living and dead, to the sway of its molecular and 

 atomic sovereignty. 



The stimukis given to inductive research by the Avritings 

 of Francis Bacon, and by the establishment of the Philoso- 

 phical Society in the time of the Enghsh Commonwealth, 

 sent many inquirers to examine the minerals and rocks and 

 ihe old puzzle of the fossils. There Avas a good deal of 

 groping in the dark, and many theories arose to stir up con- 

 troversy and at length to rock the cradle of infant geology. 

 The sharp discussions attracted the public, who always enjoy 

 seeing learned men set by the ears; the young science that 

 excited so much controversy and feeling grew in favour, 

 thriving on its difficulties ; and when Lyell worked it out 

 on the mechanical plan, discovering as VVhewell has aptly 

 said, " a new set of physical powers which we may call 

 geological dynamics," men came to see that God's way of form- 

 ing the stratified and other rocks of the earth's crust was by 

 the employment of nature's machinery. 



If for the moment we regard our Avorld as devoid of living 

 things, it is presented to us as mechanical throughout ; its 

 rocks, minerals, and chemical processes; its waters and 

 meteorology ; and the skies overhead with planets and suns. 

 This starts the question whether such a world can bear testi- 

 mony to God. Is the Psalmist justified when he declares 

 that the heavens declare His glory ? May we not suppose the 

 order to be merely a result ? What need is there of final causes 

 where the efficient causes suffice ? Recent writers on Theism 



