The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-03-13
now science pisoovsrs God.

A French naturalist declares that il
there were no birds man would be starved
out in nine years; for in spite OF all that
he could do the insects and slugs would
multiply so rapidly that they would de-
stroy all vegetation in that time We owe
our very existence. therefore. TO the birds
which in seeking their own living destroy
daily myriads OF these destructive Great
ures and so make it possible for plants and
trees to live.
This ia only one Of a multitude Of mar
velous provisions by means of which the
forces of nature are adjusted 80 as to make
possible the existence OF an infinite va
riety of plant and animal lie on our globe,
and more especially to fit the world for
mans habitation.
Every new discovery of science brings
out more and more clearly the fact that
infinite wisdom has worked out an inf
nitely complex and marvelously beautiful
system of machinery, if one may call it 50.
in this world Of ours that every valve and
pulley and belt, every bolt and rod is ad
iusted to the particular work assigned to
it. and that I'll work together for the ac-
complishment OF one great design.
Man cannot hope, however, to find out
the ultimate purpose of the Architect of
Nature by studying nature. We need to
look upon the Architects own plan to sec
what His purpose is. That plan, which is
spread before us in the Bible, is so trans
cendantly glorious that it is worth while
even for God to spend thousands OF years
in working it out.
All truth has its origin in the thoughts
OF God; therefore, any truth when fol-
lowed back to its source will necessarily
lead TO God. Ii the researches OF science
seem for time to lead men away from
God, it is only because half seen ,ruth
usually points in the wrong direction and
the true remedy for the evil ia 20 pursue
the study which has led to snsc concu-
sion under fuller knowledge 81 The sub
iect with which it deals correets the false
impression derived from partial informa-
tior.
We find very good illustration of this
in book called ''1hc Influence OF Christ
in Modern Life by DIR. Newell Dwight
Hills published by the Macmillan Con.
pany. DIR. Hills says:
1T is said that when jacquard first e--
hibited his loom to the wondering sDecta-
tors. and the streams of water by means
of the belt and hy-wheel started all the
spindles upon their task Of embroidering
flowers and leaves upon the silk texture,
the onlookers were so entranced with the
wonders of the loom as utterly to forget
the inventor. The myriad spindles toiling
on without any help from without made
Jacquard seem superfuous. But soon the
mechanism needed repairing, and then the
spectators came TO reel there was no
greatness in the loom that was not first in
Jacquards mind.
Thus for brief period this earthly
mechanism (nature with its forces and
their laws) seemed TO abolish God But
afterward, with knowledge, reverence grew
until the time has now come when biolo-
gists, physicists, historians alike confess
that there is no theory of evolution which
does not demand God to make it worka-
ble"
DIR. Hillis>is particularly able as well
as aggressive exponent of the school of
theology which is in the ascendant at pres
ent-the school which appeals to reason as
the supreme judge. of truth and accepts
the teachings Of revelation only as far as
they are considered reasonable. The ad.
herents of this school believe in God be-
cause they find Him in nature. and in
Christ because He satisfies their ideals with
regard to the possibilities of human nature.
Well, it is better to believe even so than
not to believe at all. But chat sort of be-
lief will not satisfy the needs of our spirit
ual nature. We need a God concerning
whom we can have definite knowledge
through direct revelation. which we can
feel to be authoritative and trustworthy
in itself and superior to and therefore quite
Independent of any discoveries or impress
sions concerning Him which can be OBJ
tanned from the ratiocinations OF the hui
man mind even in its highest development
New York Witness.