Auckland Institute. 443 
deductions or theories. Theories are often, indeed, of the greatest service; but they are 
not to be made into dogmas. We may avail ourselves even of an erroneous theory (as, 
for instance, that of two opposite kinds of fluid in electricity) without suffering any great 
we hold ourselves ready to abandon it when found to be erroneous. A theory is 
not an object of faith, but a subject for discussion. In every part of the domain of science 
the facts which have been ascertained are of the first importance, and form the basis of 
all true teaching. But a knowledge of the general laws deduced from these facts, and 
established, as we may say, by consent of all who are capable of forming a correct judg- 
ment concerning them, must necessarily be communicated to the learner, and the more 
our knowledge of facts is increased and extended, the wider will our view become, and the 
better shall we be able to grasp the general law by which the phenomena may be compre- 
hended. The student may be compared to a traveller exploring an island having a moun- 
tain in the centre, from the top of which a full general view can be obtained of the whole, 
and a correct idea can be formed of its shape and features. The higher he climbs the 
more he can see; and though with much labour he may gain the summit, his view will 
still be limited by the horizon, and even within the narrow bounds of his domain = 
will be a multitude of objects with which he can inted b; 
examination of each distinct locality. The theory i Fa if it could be ptem 
proved to be true, would give us such a general view of the progressive work of creation. 
But the proof has not yet been given, and perhaps may be unattainable; therefore, no 
one agi a right to insist upon the acceptance of the theory, much less to make it (as 
and his friends would force mankind to do) a sort of new religion, or, rather, a 
sued for all religion. It may be that this theory is true. It certainly appears to be 
supported by a large number of facts of very great interest, collected from nearly every 
part of the field of observation ; and, if proved to be true, it is to be welcomed by everyone 
who loves the truth. But, like the view of our island explorer, the range is still bounded 
by the inevitable horizon. Our theory applies only to the things of time and sense. 
Within these bounds all knowledge seems to point to continual progress and unceasing 
change. Every form of existence with which we are acquainted doubtless has a history, 
ough we may not be able to scan it. Not only each atom and molecule,—not 
only every individual of em countless myriads of living things,—but every mass of 
heterogeneous materials, from the smallest pebble of the earth or the cosmie dust of the 
heavens, to the EREA sun of the universe, has its past, present, and future, upon 
which we may exercise our powers of thought, and by means of various processes of 
observation and examination may gain some knowledge of their nature and history. The 
terms “new” and “old” apply to all material things. Even the vast masses of revolving 
matter, of which the stars consist, are subject to the apparently universal law of change 
of condition. Not only the planets—the comparatively insignificant attendant stars of 
each solar system—but the very suns themselves are growing old ;—no new truth, as you 
will justly say, since it was familiar to an ancient poet, who thus addressed the Creator of 
all: * Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work 
of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old 
like a garment. i But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have 
no end."* Of this leid, 80 ree ago pereeived and acknowledged by man, a striking 
illustration has been afforded by the results of recent investigations in a new branch of 
science, which has been called ‘stellar chemistry." A few years only have elapsed since 
the invention of the spectroscope, but marvellous, indeed, are the revelations obtained by 
* Psalm cii., 25-27. 
