1880. ] The Critics of Evolution. 321 
shaped thereon. The mold upon which theories are formed is 
the mass of facts observed in their just relations, as far as man 
has yet discovered and determined. 
Emboldened by his success, the man of science is pursuing 
the path of discovery, convinced that though there may be many 
things beyond his comprehension, there is nothing that he should 
consider beyond his enquiries. Bacon in his “ Advancement of 
Learning,” sagely advises, “ Let no man out of a weak conceit 
of sobriety, and an ill-applied moderation, think or maintain, that 
a man can search too far, or be too well studied in the book of 
God’s word or in the book of God’s works; divinity or philosophy; 
but rather let men endeavor an endless progress or proficience in 
both.” It is in the highest degree probable that the Creator de- 
signed he should follow this path, both for the further development 
of his intellectual powers and for the promotion of the cause of 
truth and righteousness in the earth. It is evident that our en- 
larging conceptions of creative power, widen the avenue through 
which we receive impressions of the Divine glory, and that the 
views of the educated modern scientist are infinitely expanded 
beyond the narrow confined range of the ancients. His new and 
grander generalizations of knowledge are indeed so many won- 
derful revelations of the Creator, who, as it were, thus speaks 
almost face to face with man. 
Unfortunately many minds, especially those of purely theolog- 
ical bias, appear to be incapable of comprehending the value of 
the grand results that have followed scientific research. They 
hastily dismiss them, with the remark—all these researches are 
merely material—“ of the earth, earthy,” and beneath the con- 
sideration of beings living in a spiritual world and destined to an 
eternity of spiritual existence. This estimate of the importance 
of the labors of men of science, whose studies have given us al- 
most all the comforts and invaluable appliances that have lifted 
us above our semi-civilized ancestors, appear to us, to be a very 
unworthy and very superficial view. The progress of civilization 
is intimately connected with, is indeed dependent upon, advance 
in the useful arts, which are founded directly upon science, and to 
reject science and contemn its advocates, is to spurn one of the 
chief factors in the work of human elevation. 
Among the grand generalizations or results of the labors of 
naturalists of recent date, is that entitled Evolution, which is in- 
