New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
COCKER ON THEISM.

of modern science in opposition to the religious sys-
tenn of the Universe are here subjected to rgid
critical examination. Professor Cocker brings 10
the discussion of the subject great wealth OF PM
losophical learning singular comprehenslveness OF
Judgment and the habitual exercise OF an acute ana
profound analysis His strong religious convictions
do not betray him into the neglect OF intellectual
vigilance nor does his confidence in his own conciu-
sions prevent him from doing justice to the views
of his opponents. In spite of what he deems tho
alarming progress of unbelief among scientific men
at the present day. he approaches his theme IN the
spirit of hope and not Of despair. The signs OF tho
times, he regards as proptious to the establishment
of harmony between reason and faith science and
religion. There are many cheerful indications OF
approachng acknowledgements Candid men IN both
fields are earnestly watching for every glimpse OF
the unity that pcrvades the Universe OF beng ana
thought.
The vital question Of modern inquiry relates to
the first principle and origin of existence Every
movement Of thought is but the effort OF the mnd
to grasp the individual facts of nature in compre-
hensive unity and to interpret the universe accsrd-
ing to the suggestions of reason. In ali ages mon
have attempted an ideal construction OF natural
phenomena. But they have never been able 10 resi-
Elm anything short of an absolute unity'-a unity
which is the negaion of all plurality end change
conditions eyerything,-an eternal constancy whlch
nrodnces all genesis and all variety. Thinkers have
always apprehended, with more or less coarness'
thas the FIRST principle must be one OF nothing. ls
is tacity conceded in all modern systems OF thought
On this ground Buchner the materiaiiSt, Spencer,
the dynanist, Hegcl, the idealist, COUSIN
and Cocridge the spiritualsts, meet IN COM
mon The ultimate problem of all philosophy
is to determine the relation OF human
Thought to this absolute principle. Among inc So
utous Of the problem there four distinct types,
which in the opinion of the author exhaust the us
cusson. First, it Las been maintained that matter
with its essential attribute of force, explains the
origin of the Universe. Second, the absolute primer
ple has been found force, considered as the cause
of all the manifold phenomena of the Uni
verse. Third, thought has been assumed as
an eternal process of evolution, forming the
Supreme principle OF all reality Fourth, the causa-
tive principle OF existence and phenomena is an I'M
conditioned WILL a living and personal Beng deter
mining all the conditions OF the Universe WIN rel
,erenoe to final purpose. The first and second OF
these systems is essentially the creed OF atheism
the third, that OF panthesm; the fourth that OF
tbeism 10 the support Of which as the only rational
explanation of the facts of the Universe, the present
work is devoted.
= The theory which regards an unconditional VIII
as the ground of the Universe not only perVa'es the
highest developments OF the Greek iueaiistic PM
losophy but as is shown by the author Is accepted
by MANY of the most eminent physicists Oh the age
especially among the scientific masters III Engiahd
S;r,W X. Grove concludes his celebrated essay on
the "Correaton Of the Physical Forces with the
following words q" In all Phenomena the more
closely they are Investigated, tho more arc we con
WINGED that humanity speaking. neither matter
nor force can be created annhated, ana that an
- Il
ton is the wi creation is the act Of God" ST. john
Hcrschel expresses his conviction that " 1t is but
reasonable'tO regard the force of gravaion as the
stlirect or indirect result of consciousness or VIII
existing somewhere" Dr.. w. b. Carpenter remarks
that the form Of force which must be taken as the
tyne of all the rest is the WILL" force must be re-
par,led as the direct expression of will" Alfred
Russell Wallace suggests that 1t does lot seem an
improbable conclusion that all force may DO Will
force and thus the whole Universe is actually the
will of higher intelligence OF one Snpreiie lnte-
eSnce" "Science." says the Duke OF Aigyn, IN
the modern doctrine of the conservation oil
energy and the convertibility OF forces is
already getting hold of the idea that all
kinds of force are but forms and mani
fcsthtions of some central force ISSUING
from some one fountan-hcad of power" This one
force into which all others return again Is itself
mode of action of the Divine Will" Even Herbert
SPENCER admits that imperfect doubtless is the
order of Nature its production is far more compatible
with the hypothesis Of an intelligent viii than with
that of blind mechanism Physical science
is thus coming, Professor Cocker concludes
into harmony with metaphysical thought. 1t looks
upon nature with the eye of reason as wei as the
eve of sense Ii reduces the phenomena TO unity by
freOarlng them as the product Of higher foTce,-a
force whichis not merely mechanical dynainism in
spaee and time, but a pcrcipient and thinking
Power.
The next question discussed by the author relates
to the harmony between the conceptions OF the Dl-
wins Being obtained from revelation and verbal m
structiOn and this fundamental idea. His course
OF thought on this point may be briefly stated as
follows: BY the necessity of our reason, sle Deity
must be conceived under the essential categores OF
being attribute, and relation. Out OF these cate
ssories there can be no object of thought.
Nor can we think of God as the uncon-
ditioned Being, conditioning Himself without con-
ceiving him as reality, efficiency and personality
sBus we cannot think OF the attributes OF such a
being without conceying them az absolute infinite,
and perfect-absolute as dcnoting the undivided,
inJepepdent and imInutabie, infinite rs dcnOtlng
the absence of all limitation, and perfect as denoting
that which is complete, finished, and self sufficient
For the infinite there limits Cor the absolute
po.parts no EQUALS and no change: for the perfect
no wants. In the absolute reality we
have the ultimate ground of the Universe ;
in the infinite efficiency we have the adequate
cause IN the perfect personality Che sufficient rea7
sen of all existence The causative principle OF all
reality must itself be real, tina: u it must be self
conscious power for there can be reality without
consciousness The eausltve principle OF al eff
cheney must itself be power,-an unlimited infinite
efficiency, and adequate to the realization OF all
the ideals Of reason. TIE causatiye principle
OF all personality must itself BE- personal pos
ses,ng intention and CHOICE conscience and alice