Year: 1879

old as Lucretius and Hobbies, and that
it is dangerous in proportion to the con-
fidence with which its. want Of conference
is disguised and it's moral tendencies are
hidden, even from its advocates. by it's
high-sounding language, it's rhetorical
speciousness, and arrogant dogmatism.


The assumption of design in the uni
verse justifes the faith of science in q
personal and Intelligent Creator. JUS
titles had almost said it requires
this in order that the intellect may rest
in a completed idea of well rounded
universe. A creator is being who origi-
mates all the active beings, and imparts
all the force or forces which exist, and
who regulates their mutual activities by
the laws which he has imposed upon
them to accomplish the design which
he proposes, in the existence, the devel-
opment, and activity of the material and
spiritual universe. You may try in vain
to stop short at any view of the origin
of things without designing force, if you
hope to provide for science. You may
try the theory Of force only, as Spencer
does, and refer this origin of existence
of things as he does to persistent, un-
known and unknowable power, unlimited
in space and without beginning or end in
time. But in this conception you have
all the mystery that pertains to self
existent personal Creator with no ad-
yantages. You have being who is
himself unexplained, and who himself
explains nothing. Why, somehow this
unknowable power appears as acting
upon mass Of matter which is in
state of unstable equilibrium, in which
there is provided potentially ts
eTents ans beinaa which srs W Ne z
veloped in Che future history Of the uni
verse How it happens to be that each
particle is in its place, with it's wondrous
potencies and promises of vegetable and
animal life, Of heroes and battles and
philosophers, of lords and ladies gay, of
saints and fends, is not explained. 4, How
each happens regularly and progressive
ly to act, no one can explain.


But all the future is here. Here is
destiny, but no design There is law
here, because each particle that stands
or moves in this star dust must act with
every other particle according to the ca
pacities of each to condition the other.
There must be progress steady and on
ward we are told. according to a law
which sets in motion set of constantly
shifting and changing partners, every fig
ure being more complicated than the
other till the dance is out Here again
is destiny-the destiny of evolution, des-
tination with perpetual progress, but no
design.


Take now the other view. Let science
recognize purpose, and there is explana-
ton of law. The force of every individ-
ual agent is the condition of every other
so far as they act in mutual dependence
on one another. Admit evolution, even
in the EXTREMIST form, concede that
every thing has been produced out of
the original star-dust. Even then we
need not ask which best satisfies the de-
mands and the discoveries of science,
which is the best working hypothesis
this theory of personifed force, or the
theory of an intelligent Creator whose
thought preceded the act that called the
universe of forces into existence, fixed
them under law, in obedience to designs
of love that blessed beforehand those be-
ings who were to interpret in science
and initiate in art and honor in worship
the one movable God; movable by
them, because made in his image?


But our study has been too much pro-
longed. We conclude with the words of
Lord Bacon: 1T is an assured truth,
and conclusion of experience, that a
little or superficial knowledge of philoso-
ply may incline the mind to atheism,
but a farther proceeding therein doth
bring the mind back again to religion
for on the entrance of philosophy, when
the second causes which are next unto
the senses do offer themselves to the
mind of man, if it dwell and stay in them
it may induce some oblivion of the high
est cause; but when a man passeth on
farther, and seeth the dependence of
causes and the works of Providence,
then according to the allegory of the
poets, he will easily believe that the
highest link of nature chain must needs
be tied to the foot of Jupiter's chair"


NOAH PORTER.