1856.] Science and the Bible. 91
laws
deduced by science after experiencing the vanity of man's imaginings
and turning to God's works as a sure fountain of knowledge, is
certainly remarkable as a specimen of learning; and it abounds on other
pages. We hardly know to what to refer the blindness that cannot see
the wide gulf between " vortices " and " gravities."
On
p. 170, again, he remarks on the " ever-increasing darkness of
science," " unaided by aziy higher beams," not aware that science is
itself an emanation from the Source of light. On page 110, he says well
of the Book of God, though in the same perverse tone about science: "
This grand Old Book of God still stands, and will continue to stand,
though science and philosophy are ever changing their countenances and
passing away."
Once
more, we quote a forcible illustration, which presents his views in
few words: " We may smile," he says, " at the old quackish story of the
earth's standing on the back of the elephant, and the elephant standing
on the head of a tortoise, etc.; but in our gravities, our magnetisms,
our series of fluids, ever requiring other fluids to explain their
motions, we have only introduced a new set of modern equivalents."
There
is much more of the same sort. At first, this slashing away at science
excited amusement, reminding us of the contest between Sancho and the
windmill: but then, pain, that an infidel philosophy should have
emanated from such a source. This placing in antagonism God's word and
his works, or the results of the study of his works, is only fitted to
make the young scout the former; for they know the latter has its
great truths, having the best of all evidence.
Had
the author simply condemned the false that is mixed with science, or
the atheism that substitutes force or nature for God, it would have
been well. But notwithstanding an occasional admission of good
accomplished, he reprobates science in its foundation and essence, and
also all who dare to believe, —very much, indeed, in the spirit of the
Cardinals who judged Galileo.
But science is still alive; her progress is sure ; and in her
