338 



the path, and keep himself from straying when he has found 

 it. This golden rule is, Give unqualified assent to no proposi- 

 tion but thoi^e the truth of which is so clear and distinct that 

 they cannot be doubted .^^ This the Professor is ])leased to call 

 " the first commandment of science but if we apply it to the 

 matter in hand, we shall find it break down altogether. The 

 question whether the above propositions concerning the Undu- 

 latory Theory and the Lurainiferous Ether are clear and distinct 

 so that they cannot be doubted, will be answered in difiPerent 

 ways by different minds, according to their previous training 

 and their present power to grasp the evidence adduced. Per- 

 haps different nations, such as France and England, would, by 

 a majority of their learned men, give a differing vote. One 

 thing is clear to me, that Positivism has no locus standi as to 

 scientific facts. Is it not quite as difficult to prove any of the 

 propositions we have been considering as to demonstrate the 

 existence of the spiritual world ? Do we not indeed begin to see 

 that this latter is but the complement of the former? 



45. Science conducts us to the threshold of the real temple of 

 the Universe, but over its awful portal is inscribed the prohi- 

 bition to enter there. No mortal has ever lifted the veil which 

 conceals the real form of things. (Note G.) 



46. Have we not arrived by fair deduction at the knowledge of 

 the treasure-house and the sphere of development of the most 

 tremendous forces of nature ? and not only so, but that which 

 seems to stand in nearest relation to the spiritual world? (NoteH.) 



47. What more wonderful display of irresistible power than 

 the sudden flash of lightning ? And this has on different occasions 

 indicated, according to the Scriptures, the acceptance of sacrifice 

 by the Almighty — a truth which seems to have spread into all 

 nations. Sacred to Jove, the thunderer (Taranis), amongst our 

 ancestors was the oak on which his bolt was accustomed to fall. 

 Sacred to Jupiter amongst the Romans the building which he 

 struck. 



48. What more lovely sight than the rainbow ! And this, 

 according to Scripture, was made the covenant " token with 

 Noah and with the world. Amongst the Aryan nations the 

 rainbow (Iris) (Note I) was the messenger between gods and 

 '''men, the goddess shielding the Britons;'** and the fractured 

 rainbow falling to earth indicates, according to the (Scandi- 

 navian) Edda, the approaching final conflagration. 



49. In Genesis (Note J) we have the Spirit of God (Ruach 

 Elohim) brooding, dove-like, on the face of the mayim (what- 

 ever is meant by the expression), and the fiat goes forth from 



* Mythology &c.^ of the British JJmids, p. 268, &c. 



