This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY i Bought from the Fund for HE Current Modern Poetry 3§| | given by THE ORDER OF NATURE i LOXDOir PHINTBD BY SPOTTISWOODB AND CO. XSW-STKEXT SQUABS THE *OBDER OF NATURE, CONSIDERED IN REFERENCE TO TIIE CLAIMS OF EEVELATIOX. §1 (Hiiro Strics of (Essrrgs. BY THE REV. BADEN ^OWELL, Al.A. F B.S. F.E.A.S. P.G.S. ' SAVIL1AN mOFESSOR Of GEOMETRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. o LONDON LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, LONGMANS, & ROBERTS. 1859 (of. The right oj translation is reserved. " It is tlie great problem of tlie age to reconcile faitli with knowledge, — philosophy with religion." Archdeacon Hark (Life of Stkklinq, p. 121). " Da Fidei qua; Fidei sunt." Bacon. 11 Am irttrtfws yap vepnratovfKv, ou 5ta tffiovs." S. Paul, 2 Cor. v. 7. PREFACE. The following discussions, though properly forming a part of a series, are yet sufficiently distinct in their nature to be regarded as an independent work : considerable parts of Essays II. III. and IV. were in fact composed long ago, as amplifications of an argument pursued in some articles in a periodical , por tions of which may be recognised in some parts of the following pages. In the present work, in the same spirit of free inquiry as in former instances, I have endeavoured to supply what, as far as I am aware, has been hitherto wanting to our theological and philosophical literature, — A 4 PREFACE. a perfectly impartial, candid, unpolemical, discussion of the subject of miracles, impera tively demanded at the present day, in im mediate connexion with the vast progress of physical knowledge : and this in not less in timate relation to the grand result of that progress, the firm establishment of the great principle of immutable order, and thence of universal mind in nature. We are thus in volved in the larger consideration of the whole relations of physical, to revealed or spiritual, truth ; and it is to the conclusion of their independence, as relates to the essential nature of the Christian revelation, that the whole discussion tends ; while the true in fluence of that revelation is secured as based on the recognition of the important distinction, at once Baconian and Pauline, between the provinces and objects of reason and of faith. The present Essays are avowedly restricted PREFACE. to the physical aspect of the subject, but without at all meaning to undervalue the importance of the corresponding question of the relations of Christianity to moral and metaphysical philosophy. In many instances, however, the Christian doctrines have been formerly maintained in close connexion with physical ideas*, while those ideas, and the views taken of them, must of necessity be liable to change and improve ment as science advances. And if some ex pressions, apparently implying such connexion, are retained in the formularies of the Church of England, which thus acquire a modified interpretation, it must also be observed that many points, of great importance, are there left without any determination or mention. Thus, to whatever extent indi vidual, or even general, opinion may have * See Appendix, No. VII. vni PREFACE. given a turn to such questions, they are un deniably perfectly open questions to those who adopt these formularies. Of this class are the entire subjects of philosophical theism, or natural theology ; — the evidences of Chris tianity; — the inspiration of the Bible; — the immateriality of the soul ; and the nature of miracles. That thus, in the moderate tone of the requisitions of the Church of England, free course is allowed to more enlightened views, without impugning a system so highly and practically valuable, — is at once the security of the established institution in an age of progress, and supplies the sure means by which eventually the advance of truth, without external innovation, will carry out its noiseless triumph over all artificial obstructions. "Hac ce.rte mente, quae neminem contemnit, sed nec alius amore aUum ultro laedit, agere ipse et PREFACE. IX studeo et audeo: veritatis omne imperium internum, \oyix6v, liberale, ad omnes patere: externa autem vi atque potentia non posse, itaque etiam non debere, illud proferri: con- servato tamen ordine, et honesta ecclesice forma salva." — Semler, Instit. Brev. Pref. 6, Stanhope Street, Hyde Park Gardens, May, 1859. ANALYTICAL TABLE CONTENTS. or INTRODUCTION. Connexion of the present Argument with that of former Series of Essays. Page Influence of Science on Theology, direct and indirect- - 2 ESSAY I.- HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE, AS BEARING ON RELI GIOUS BELIEF. § I. — The Physical Philosophy of the Ancients and of the Middle Ages. First Ideas, vague, imaginary, and mystical : out of these Science elicited : but wanting in Connexion and Sequence 1 1 Ancient Cosmogonies and other physical Speculations wholly ideal : Conception of " Cosmos : " ancient Theism - 22 Relations of early Christianity to the prevalent Philosophy 28 Mediaeval Philosophy, deductive and verbal : connected with Theology 30 Early Speculations on Natural Theology : physical Belief - 35 XII CONTENTS. § ii, — The Epoch of Copernicus, Galileo, and Bacon. Theory of Copernicus : confirmed by Observations of Tycho: Page Calculations of Kepler, and Discoveries of Galileo. — The first Triumph of the inductive Philosophy ... 40 Antagonism of the inductive and the theological Spirit - 46 Progress of Opinion : Montaigne : Scepticism 51 Bacon : his Philosophy and Theology : Union of Induction and Deduction : Reason and Faith distinct 59 Des Cartes : his System founded on Theology, and purely deductive ; hence it failed ------ 75 Advance in Freedom of Opinion : Hobbes, Sir T. Browne, Boyle, Pascal : speculative Theories of the 17th Century 79 Nature § in and Value The of Period the Newtonian from Newton Discoveries: to Influence, Laplace. direct, and indirect 96 Philosophy of Leibnitz : metaphysical, yet advancing phy sical Truth 103 ProgressPhilosophyOrigin of of Geology of cosmical Locke in Speculations: theological Advance of Cosmogonies positive - - Views -- --- --- 108114121 Theistie Speculations and Scepticism ... - 128 Progress of the Idea of universal Law : — Berkeley, Butler 128 Views of Miracles : Middleton, Hume : Theory of Causation 136 § iv The Period from Laplace to the present Times. Completion of Theory of Gravitation: Clairault, LagTange, and Laplace: Stability of the Planetary System - - 142 Philosophy and Scepticism in France - 144 Later Researches : Unity of Sciences ... - 151 Chemistry : Advance from Mysticism : Phlogiston - - 15(i CONTENTS. XIII Page Geology : Emancipation from theological View - 158 Progress of Discovery : Development of the Idea of " Cosmos" by Humboldt 164 Natural History and Physiology : vital Principle : Origin of Species: lingering Remains of Mysticism ... 167 Sir H. Davy : Epoch in Chemistry : theological Views - 179 Rationalistic Theories of Miracles - - - - - 184 Positivism: first Principles sound: faulty in some Details: inapplicable to Religion - - - - - -187 Recent Natural Theology : (Ersted 1 98 Extensions and Prospects of Physical Science - 201 Inductive Laws of Moral Order ----- 203 Ethnology and Archaeology 208 Conclusion. Influences of Science on Moral Progress : Independence of Faith 211 Note : on Recent Bible Philosophy : Reviews of H. Miller, &c. : "Omphalos:" Archdeacon Pratt - - - - 218 § I. — ESSAY The Order II. — NATUREof Nature AND as bearing REVELATION. on Theology in general. Essential Point of all Inductive Philosophy ; universal and perpetual Order ------- - 227 Apparent Limitations of Science only provisional, dependent on Progress of Discovery. — Nature unlimited: no Super natural in Science ------- 230 Causation : no Antagonism of first and second Causes - 233 Argument of Design : narrow Views. — Hume's Objection : wider View : Reason in Nature, distinct from Theory of Origin 235 xrv CONTENTS. Page Cosmo-Theology ; Inferences very limited. — Moral and me taphysical Arguments not more advanced : both imply Order 241 Omnipotence in Nature : higher Theism beyond Science - 246 Idea of Creation not from Science : Succession of Species not miraculous : Metaphysical Argument. — Idea of Crea tion from Revelation - - - . - - - - 250 § iI. — The Natural and the Supernatural. Imagined interruptions in the Order of Nature : extraordi nary and marvellous Events not interruptions : Disbelief in occurrence of Miracles at the present day - 258 Belief in former Times : Magic and Witchcraft: Apparitions: Marvels not Miracles - - - - - - -261 Supposed Spiritual Influences : Inductive Examination of Marvels : Neglect of it : Mysteries in Nature, especially Life : not real Mysteries : extraordinary Physical Influ ences still natural ....... 263 Marvels in History: possible Explanations by Natural Causes ; ' or by supposing Narratives fictitious ... - 273 § in. — Revelation' and Miracles, Impressions apart from Reason : Spiritual Influence not at variance w ith Physical Truth ..... 276 Revelation, in itself, distinct from external Miracles : Hume's Objection on this Point 279 Alleged Necessity of Miracles for Propagation of Christianity 282 Evidential Argument : value of Testimony : Fact, Matter of Testimony ; Miracle, of Opinion ..... 283 Antecedent Credibility : Hume's Argument : Conclusion not dependent on Experience, but on Reason and cosmical Order 284 CONTENTS. XV Different Grounds