320 ORGANIC EVOLUTION CONSIDERED 



mony that has been given to prove the truth of these 

 things is not answered, but is simply ignored, because 

 it is regarded as testimony advanced to prove that the 

 impossible has occurred. 



That man can comprehend the infinite no one 

 would affirm. But this does not preclude the belief 

 that the Creator might reveal truth with regard to 

 himself to a finite mind. 



Mr. Spencer, in speaking of the Ultimate Cause,. 

 says: "And may we not therefore rightly refrain 

 from assigning to it any attributes whatever, on the 

 ground that such attributes, derived as they must be 

 from our own natures, are not elevations but degra- 

 dations?" * 



Mr. Spencer here shows a due spirit of reverence 

 for his Unknown and Unknowable God, and he 

 advises us not to degrade him by assigning to him any 

 attributes. Are we to refrain because it will degrade 

 the Unknowable? or because it will degrade us? I 

 presume he means the latter. 



Our highest duty is, according to his creed, to wor- 

 ship " The Unknowable." But to worship such a 

 power would be folly, for we cannot know how to 

 worship the Unknowable. And yet we are told that 

 this worship is elevating, compared to the worship of 

 a God to whom we attribute omnipotence, omnis- 

 cience, justice, mercy and love, — that the worship of 

 a God with these attributes is degrading to human 

 nature. I think the facts of history show that the 

 belief in a God with these attributes has done more 

 to elevate the human race than all other beliefs. 



Mr. Spencer professes to have great respect for the 

 wide-spread and long-standing beliefs of mankind, 

 and for this reason he gives religion a place in his 

 philosophy. 



* Synthetic Philosophy, First Principles, p. 109. 



