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in the old mode of thought, appearing all miraculous, wholly divine ; but, in 

 the modern view, just the reverse ; quite unmiraculous and undivine. 



But not materialists alone hold the opinion, that where physical law is 

 present, God is absent. A considerable section of the " religious world," 

 unconsciously adopts that proposition. And this explains the jealousy so 

 frequently displayed, of all extensions of scientific knowledge. The so-called 

 " explanations " of Science seem, from this point of view, to empty Nature of 

 everything divine. The awful voice no longer sounds in the reverberations of 

 the thunder : His dread judgments are no more announced in pestilence and 

 famine : the earth no longer trembles at His look : it is not at His toiich that 

 the volcano vomits forth its smoke and lava-torrents. With these believers, 

 as with the scientific Atheist, miracle stands as the opposite of natural law ; 

 the one divine, the other godless. With either party, to shut out miracle is to 

 banish Deity itself. Hence the passionate opposition, renewed at every fresh 

 attempt, made by contemporary science, at deeper penetration into the 

 mysteries of Nature— passion arising from the unconscious notion that Faith 

 itself depends on the continuance of scientific ignorance. 



The latest instance of this state of feeling is found in the attitude taken 

 by many theologians towards Mr. Darwin's speculations on the Origin of 

 Species in the Organic world. So long as Creation can be regarded as a 

 unique act, hidden deep in the past from scientific scrutiny, it may retain the 

 character of miracle. The new doctrine of development threatens this last 

 stronghold. In the theological view the long train of organic nature, first 

 herb and tree, then moving creature that the waters brought forth, winged 

 fowl, creeping thing and beast of the earth, lastly man himself, emerge at the 

 Divine fiat from nothingness ; each differing from each, fixed in its type, 

 perfect in its kind. On the other hand the school of Darwin is striving to 

 refer this mystery to the operation of the known laws of Organic nature. 

 Instead of detached creative acts manifesting the power and intelligence of the 

 Supreme, they see quasi-mechanical evolution from some primitive germ — 

 evolution proceeding as surely, whilst I speak, as at any former instant in the 

 world's life. 



Those who have seized the principle, which in a former lecture I have 

 endeavoured to expound and recommend, may view the controversy without 

 taking either side, and with quiet certainty that the result must be indifferent to 

 Natural Religion. Once perceive that Physical science can investigate only 

 the method of the Universe, and except in concert with higher modes of 

 thought, is incompetent to reveal its cause, and it will be plain, that Theism, 

 at least, must stand secure in every change of scientific theory. Science, alone, 

 does not, it must be granted, and cannot, reveal God ; but far less can she 

 provide a substitute. The whole question of causation lies beyond her sphere. 

 This I repeat is, on all hands, an admitted principle. Bear with me whilst I 

 endeavour to bring before you some proof of this assertion. And first as to 

 the doctrine of the school of Hume on this important topic. "When," writes 

 the great master in that beaiitifully lucid style of his, "we look about us 

 towards external objects, and consider the operation of causes, we are never 

 able, in a single instance, to discover any power or necessary connection ; any 

 quality, which binds the effect to the cause, and renders the one an infallible 

 consequence of the other. We only find, that the one does actually, in fact, 

 follow the other. The impulse of the one billiard-ball is attended with motion 

 in the second. This is the whole that appears to the outward senses. The 

 mind feels no sentiment or inward impression from this succession of objects : 

 consequently there is not in any single particular instance of cause and effect 

 anything which can suggest the idea of power or necessary connection. * * " 

 "In reality," he continues, "there is no part of matter that does ever, by its 



