222 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



by Law " is founded. Let us look a little 

 nearer what this idea is, and what it involves. 

 It is an idea much vaunted by some men, much 

 feared by others. Perhaps it may be found, 

 on closer investigation, that they are fearing or 

 worshipping, as the case may be, an idol of the 

 imagination. 



It being certain that Creation exhibits an Order 

 of facts which can be so clearly denned and traced, 

 it follows, that at least in this first sense of the 

 word, Creation has been by Law. We are, there- 

 fore, led on to the farther question, whether Law 

 in any other sense can be traced or detected in 

 the work of Creation ? Is the observed Order 

 which prevails in the organic world an Order of 

 which we can even guess the physical cause ? Is 

 it an Order which contains within itself any in- 

 dications of the Force or combination of Forces 

 which have been concerned in producing it? 



In considering this question, there is one thing 

 to be observed at the outset. It is certain that 

 nothing is known, or has been even guessed at, in 

 respect to the history and Origin of Life, which 

 corresponds with Law in its strictest and most 



