18 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 
compare all the ideas of the universe prevalent among 
different nations at different times, we can divide them 
all into two sharply contrasted groups—a causal or me- 
chanical, and a teleological or vitalistic. The latter has pre- 
vailed generally in Biology until now, and accordingly the 
animal and vegetable kingdoms have been considered as 
the products of a creative power, acting for a definite pur- 
pose. In the contemplation of every organism the unavoid- 
able conviction seemed to press itself upon us, that such a 
wonderful machine, so complicated an apparatus for motion 
as exists in the organism, could only be produced by a 
power analogous to, but infinitely more perfect than, the 
power of man in the construction of his machines. 
However sublime the former idea of a Creator, and his 
creative power, may have been; however much it may be 
attempted to divest it of all human analogy, yet in the end 
this analogy still remains unavoidable and necessary in the 
teleological conception of nature. In reality the Creator 
must himself be conceived of as an organism, that is, as a 
being who, analogous to man, even though in an infinitely 
more perfect form, reflects on his constructive power, lays 
down a plan of his mechanisms, and then, by the application 
of suitable materials, makes them answer their purpose. 
Such conceptions necessarily suffer from the fundamental 
error of anthropomorphism, or man-likening. In such a 
view, however exalted the Creator may be imagined, we 
assign to him the human attributes of designing a plan, 
and therefrom suitably constructing the organism. This is, 
in fact, quite clearly expressed in that view which is most 
sharply opposed to Darwin’s theory, and which has found 
among naturalists its most distinguished representative in 
