64 



CA^^ON R. B. GIRDLESTONE; M.A., ON 



leave the student to determine for himself which was first in 

 the field. 



(1) Both proclaim the unity of Nature. 



Whether the book of GenCvsis is an historical work dating from 

 the patriarchal period, as I believe, or whether it is a patch- 

 work put together from old traditions and myths in later ages„ 

 it did this great thing — it testified that all nature was one 

 inasmuch as it was ultimately traceable to one Author. " The 

 earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." Science has 

 laboriously reached the same result though by a different road. 

 It has learnt the correlation of physical ibrces not only upon 

 earth but in the heavens. It is sufiicient for me to refer to tlie 

 late Duke of Argyll's book on this great subject. 



(2) Both agree in the fixity, stability and continuity of Nature. 



The Psalms express this truth in sublime language, 

 recognising as they do that this fixity is the result of a Divine 

 decree. " He hath established them for ever and ever ; He 

 hath made a decree which shall not pass." Isaiah speaks to 

 the same effect, though he points to a period when the existing 

 order of things shall pass away. 



On the scientific side I need only remind you of the late 

 Professor Balfour Stewart's instructive book on The Conservation 

 of Energy, and of that other notable book, I hope not yet 

 forgotten, The Unseen Universe. 



{?>) Both agree in the doctrine of causation, i.e., that natural 

 phenomena are under control and are the result of ordered 

 forces. 



No effect is produced without a cause ; the same causes 

 produce the same effects ; if they do not follow, it is. 

 because we have neglected some factor in the causes. I do not 

 say — science does not say — that no physical effect is produced 

 without a physical cause. It is here that one has to weigh 

 one's words most carefully. Man's will is, properly speaking, 

 not a physical cause, but it produces wonderful physical 

 effects. A wwd is a cause of action, and a thought is the 

 c;iuse of the word being spoken, and the ego is the tliinker, 

 though lie utilises his brains in thinking. The Bible says of 

 God, " He spake and it was done," and constantly reminds u& 

 that He is the author of the forces (in other woids, of tho 

 causes) operating in nature. 



