1879] 
The Course of Nature . 
83 
secure its rejection, the question of its truth is to be settled 
onlyjjy a careful scientific study of the fadts of nature, and 
the laws of hereditary descent. The principle which is to 
aid in its settlement is universally admitted in quarters 
where it is fully understood. We are not to call in a 
supernatural cause to account for a result which could have 
been produced by the adtion of the known laws of nature. 
The question then is whether these laws of hereditary 
descent and of natural seledtion are adequate to account for 
the gradual growth of such organs as the hand, the eye, and 
the ear, and for all the adaptations which we see in nature. 
If they are it would be idle to call in any other cause, except 
we place it behind the laws, and if we place it behind those 
laws we must equally place it behind all others. Of course, 
such a cause lies beyond the field of sight, and does not, 
therefore, belong to scientific observation. Granting the 
theory, then, so far as the eye of science can penetrate 
the whole result is brought about by laws adting in 
seemingly blind disregard of consequences. 
Let us now turn once more to the theory of scrutable 
design, which supposes, at least, the occasional adtion of 
causes which the human intelledt can perceive to have been 
intended to produce certain effedts, such as the salvation of 
the righteous, the punishment of the wicked, the warning of 
the indifferent, or the preservation of the race. Studying 
this theory from the purely scientific standpoint, in all the 
varying forms in which history presents it, we see its dis- 
tinguishing feature to be the idea of causes adting so as to 
bring about certain results. 
When Pallas inspired Diomed with renewed strength, 
and gave superhuman accuracy to his aim, it was in order that 
he might be able to pierce his Trojan enemies. Ordinary 
investigation might fail to show that his hand trembled less 
than usual as he raised his javelin, but the goddess took 
care that the last tremulous motion of his hand, as the 
weapon left it, should be in the diredtion to send it into the 
breast of the foe. The utterances of the oracles were deter- 
mined, not by the past or the present, but by events still in 
the future. The blazing comet appeared, not in obedience 
to a chain of causes commencing with the creation, but in 
order that man might be warned of the coming calamity. 
When the prayers of the righteous averted the coming storm, 
the cloud moved aside in order that their fields and houses 
might be saved, and when they brought down the gentle 
rain upon the parched fields, the rain fell in order that 
famine might be averted. 
G 
