288 THE EEV. CHANCELLOR LIAS^ M.A., ON 



Professor E. Hull, LL.D., F.R.S. — I think we may regard 

 miracles as direct interpositions of Almiglity power ; that is, 

 outside the ordinary course of nature. One great fact is the pro- 

 duction of life upon the globe. We know, as geologists, thab there 

 must have been a period in our globe's history when organic life 

 could not have existed on its surface, and, therefore, there must 

 have been a time when, after the surface of the crust had cooled 

 sufficiently, the germs of life were implanted on its surface and 

 endued with those laws of development which have been im- 

 planted in organic life ever since, both in the animal and vegetable 

 world. 



Now I say it is impossible by any reasonable hypothesis to 

 account for the origin of life on the globe without calling in 

 the interposition of an Almighty outside power. 



I might add as another clear instance of Almighty power, 

 gravitation. I might ask, as the author of the paper has asked — 

 what do we know about that wonderful force of gravitation by 

 whicli the whole planetary system is held together ? What do 

 we know about it ? — Absolutely nothing, except the law which, 

 governs its operation ; but of its origin or source we really know 

 nothing whatever, and that has always appeared to be one of those 

 great facts, the physical history of the universe, on which we may 

 fall back for evidence of an extraneous Almighty power. 



I do not wish to add to this. I consider, for myself, that the 

 whole physical universe is a standing continuous miracle. I do 

 not consider that these two or three great prominent effects in the 

 history of the physical universe are at all exceptional. They are 

 merely portions of one great physical system, or, as has been well 



said — 



" All are but parts of one stupendous whole, 

 Whcse body Nature is, and God the Soul." 



The Author. — I shall not occupy the time of the meeting 

 very long. One thing strikes me in looking back, and that is, 

 every time I come here I see a greater earnestness to find out 

 the truth, and a less desire to merely criticise. When I first 

 joined the Institute and took part in these debates I used to be in 

 doubt whetlier the Victoria Institute would do any good — there 

 was so much, hypercriticism and desire to show that one man was 

 cleverer than the one before him that I hesitated to continue my 

 subscription ; but every time I have come lately I have seen a 



