Nature and the Supernatural. 69 



rically known, i. e., known only in and through our senses, inner 

 and outer. 



(2) Laws of nature are rules for us, the discoveries of our under- 

 standing that there is such harmony among the facts as we view 

 them, that they can be classified. These laws are, objectively, 

 incomplete registers, extending only to as many facts as have come 

 under our notice ; but experience finds them serviceable in antici- 

 pating facts of a similar kind. And the rational principle of the 

 uniformity of nature, which is given by our reason, and not merely 

 by empirical observation, and which is rationally grounded on 

 the one unchanging nature of the cause which, or the being who, 

 produces the phenomena, and which is confirmed by experience, 

 leads us to expect similar facts in the future. Our confidence 

 being justified, the rule is verified. 



But there is room for more, possibly for higher, i. e., more gen- 

 eral laws in nature, which may or may not be discovered hereafter. 

 These cannot contradict those already discovered, though in par- 

 ticular application they may appear to contravene the laws already 

 known, by counteracting their results. 



(3) It is our viind, then, which discovers an underlying unity, 

 an " order of nature," and presumes it where it is not yet proved. 

 This, also, must be deemed to be objectively rational, or the pro- 

 duct of intelligence. For what reason discovers is itself rational ; 

 our reason connects the phenomena, not arbitrarily, but because 

 of a rational order in them. 



(4) Furthermore, such unity, such order, such connection of 

 antecedent and consequent, such mechanical conjunction of parts, 

 such continuity of force (whatever that may be), seen to be al- 

 ways changing in application, but so far as we can discover, 

 always equal in amount ; these, on which are based the highest 

 laws of physics, are so invariable that the mind cannot conceive 

 them to be otherwise. We must assume them to be established 

 principles in the existing order of facts. One in old times who 

 believed the facts to proceed from a spiritual source, without any 

 scientific theory of the conservation of energy, said: " With Him is 

 no variableness, neither shadow of turning." And another said: 

 " He hath given them a law which cannot be broken." 



