180 Prof. D. Kirkwood on the Nebular Hypothesis. 
most prominent objection to the nebular hypothesis is its alleged 
atheistic tendency. It has been characterized as an attempt to ex 
one in regard to which much misapprehension app to have 
place, 
trifugal force, cohesion, and chemical combination. The 
thesis does not assume, however, that these laws were self-origit- 
ated and independent material forces. It bas no conflict with 
Divine revelation. It assumes the existence of chaotic mattet— 
erty of matter, nor an absolute cause of motion. The : 
law by which it is expressed, so far from being independent 
an All-wise and Omnipotent Author, is simply the rule by which 
sary consequence that the nebular hypothesis is utterly incom 
patible with the very system to the support of which @ false 
philosophy has attempted to pervert it. Moreover, if the power 
of the Veity is manifested in accordance with a uniform syste™—— 
a “law of nature”—in sustaining and governing the material 
universe, why should it be regarded as derogating from his per 
fections to suppose the same power to have been exerted 10 ® 
similar way in the process of its formation ? 
*#O $8 . 
' it rd oe Government, B, IL, chap, i, sec. 1. 
. 
