200 THE REV. J. H. BERNARD, D.D., ON THE 



materialism, but also in the moral and spiritual world. We see, I 

 say, design everywhere. Are we to say in contradiction to all who 

 have gone before us, — that there is no Mind above ? In the physical 

 kingdom, I contend that wherever we are able to trace the origin 

 of a force, it is always found in what we call, for want of a better 

 term, Mind. In the long run we always dissociate it from mere 

 physical processes in our thoughts. For example, what has 

 impelled me to stand up to-night ? Neither the voice of the 

 speaker, nor even the printed page, — these are mechanical or 

 physical causes — but an impression given to my mind. A force of 

 the same kind made the speaker write his Paper, and thus mind 

 operates upon mind to produce physical effects. In whatever direc- 

 tion force is manifested, whenever we can trace its origin, that origin 

 is invariably Mind — whether it be the mind of the brute beast, or 

 the mind of man. Then are we to stop short in those cases where 

 we cannot trace the origin of a force, and to say it does not 

 originate in Mind ? That would be a contradiction of common 

 sense, and I think common sense ought to have a little weight, 

 even in metaphysics. I think the last speaker is quite right in 

 saying that Biologists cannot, as Biologists, affirm the existence of 

 God. You cannot prove it in that capacity. But surely the 

 Biologist does not give up his human nature because he is a 

 Biologist. He must acknowledge the truth of the axiom of 

 Descartes which has never yet been refuted. Cogito ; ergo sum. 

 "I think; therefore I am." We all feel that we are — we all 

 feel that we think. Analyse the brain as much as you like, talk 

 about the transformation of the grey matter of the brain as much 

 as you please ; and yon have not gut to the mind yet. You have 

 only approximated to it, and the attempt to reach it, and define it 

 exactly, will be like the asymptote lines which every mathema- 

 tician knows, though for ever approaching a certain curve, yet can 

 never possibly reach it. So it is that Science, or to be exact, Physical 

 Observations, to which the name of Science is incorrectly given, 

 will never find out God. It is not the Biologist's proper aim to do 

 so, it is not his work. What could he expect ? The Modern 

 Philosopher speaks of God as The Unknowable, and the definition 

 of Scripture is that He is " past finding out." Therein comes out 

 the beautiful harmony of Scripture, even with the most advanced 

 philosophical results, which gives a credit, I might almost say a 

 merit, to faith. We must believe even when we cannot prove. I 



