Revieics — Leifchild's Higher Ministry of Nature. 225 



evidencing Divine skill, goodness or forethought, more so than a 

 multitude of others which we either do not know or do not enume- 

 rate. On this account all such titles as the " Wonders" or the 

 " Marvels of Nature," or the " Footprints of the Creator," are inap- 

 propriate and misleading. The whole of Nature may be called mar- 

 vellous (p. 97). 



Here Paley shines forth : — " A common spectator of a grand build- 

 ing would most admire the ornamental decorations, the sculptured 

 capitals, the enriched cornices, and the scrolls (wreaths ?) of foliage 

 exhibited before him, but the more cultured student would rather 

 observe and commend the total design, the noble plan, the combina- 

 tion of parts, and the impressive grandeur of the whole building. 

 In these he would discern the master-mind, and while particular 

 details would receive his attention in due course, he would derive 

 his impressions from and pronounce his approbation of the entire 

 structure. The subordination of the smallest details to the one all- 

 embracing and grand conception of the skilful designer and executor 

 of the building would elicit his admiration, and elevate his conception 

 to a higher thinking-point than even the most perfect construction 

 and finish of particular parts. So would it be with our contempla- 

 tion of the grand Temple of Nature, could we behold it as a perfect 

 whole." (p. 99.) 



•'Function and purpose in structure" is next touched upon, and 

 Sir Charles Bell and Mr. Murphy are quoted at some length. 



We are rather surprised at the author's next topic. He says : — 

 " When we begin to inquire respecting Ultimate Purpose, that is, 

 purpose beyond the present apparent order and constitution of 

 things. Natural Science fails to give a reply. We may show, for 

 instance, how coal and metals have been stored and arranged con- 

 veniently for the use of man ; but having arrived at human ad- 

 vantage, we can proceed no further by any natural knowledge. 

 Dynamical laws, modes of formation and cosmical arrangements and 

 present benefits can be discovered and unfolded ; and this is the 

 province of Science. In considering the entire inorganic world, 

 Science cannot inform us in any degree as to the ultimate purpose of 

 such a world. Nor can Science do much more even in the organic 

 world. At the best, physiology shows to us the function of 

 structures in their mutual relations of parts to the complete organ- 

 ism. There, however, it pauses. Ultimate purpose is quite beyond 

 its province." (p. 105.) " Science," says the author, " is essential 

 at the threshold as giving us the proper means of inquiry, and as 

 afi'ording us the basis of reasoning. Having, however, enabled us 

 to lay the foundation, it has done its utmost, and must leave any 

 superstructure to other bands. At this stage the Higher Ministry of 

 Nature may be brought into exercise, and by its aid we may erect a 

 superstructure upon the scientific foundation." (p. 106.) 



Here, as it seems to us, our author leaves " tlie solid ground of 

 Nature " ; and when he urges that " we may speculate from the 

 known to the unknown, and the conditions of the former being 

 ascertained, we may warrantably conjecture some of the conditions 



VOL, X. — NO. cvii. 15 



