226 
known matter brought forward again and again, in a slightly 
modified form. How many of the original works even are 
original in little save absurdity , and consist in wild attempts to 
subvert the whole existing system of our knowledge, and rebuild 
it as if by magic” (!) 
The conclusion to which I am brought by a careful review 
of the whole subject is that, as regards man and his place in 
Natui'e, science has no basis at her command on which to rear 
any solid and substantial truth. She can only look at the 
outside of things, and judge by the evidence of the senses. 
Where this evidence fails her, she may resort to guesses at 
truth, but in so doing, abandons her own proper line of induc- 
tive reasoning from proved and acknowledged facts, and sub- 
stitutes the perilous efforts of philosophy. Perilous certainly, 
because a strong a priori bias on such subjects is unavoidable, 
and the love of truth, and consequently real philosophy, gives 
way before the overmastering desire of proving the wished-for 
consummation. 
I do not quite agree with the reviewer, to whom we have 
been listening, in the assertion that nationally we have con- 
quered the first place in “ speculative philosophy.” Probably 
the German mind is still in advance of the English, and one 
evidence of this may perhaps be found in the decline of the 
influence of the doctrines of Darwin in that quarter.* I do 
not say that anything better is substituted in its place, for, 
as a disciple of Haeckel, quoted (loith disapprobation) by 
Dr. Drysdale, says, “You must deny God and trample the 
cross under foot before you can become even a scholar, far 
less a master in natural science. 
This is outspoken language, and gives some notion of the 
abyss towards which our Evolutionists are, with what they 
think excellent intentions, timidly leading the way. 
The result of unsettlement, such as is caused by the dreams 
of our scientists, may be studied by all in the scenes of the 
French Revolution of the past century, which may be, in time, 
foi’gotten in comparison with scenes yet to come in this 
nineteenth century, if Evolutionist teaching is to prevail. 
All society is based upon the recognition of the government 
of God. Man’s special place in creation is ordered and ap* 
pointed by the God who made him. Every individual child 
of Adam is not a chance production, but is truly formed as 
the handiwork of God, who is ever acting, and is, indeed, 
* See Appendix G. 
f Iiakelogonie, ein akademische Protest gegen HdckeVs Anthropogenic * 
Von Prof. Fr. Michelis. Bonn, 2nd edit., 1876. 
