按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Madagascar； the succulent Cactus…like Euphorbias of the Canaries and
elsewhere； the Gale…like Phyllanthus； the many…formed Crotons； the
Hemp…like Maniocs； Physic…nuts； Castor…oils； the scarlet Poinsettia； the
44
… Page 45…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
little pink and yellow Dalechampia； the poisonous Manchineel； and the
gigantic Hura； or sandbox tree； of the West Indies； … all so different in
shape and size； yet all alike in their most peculiar and complex
fructification； and in their acrid milky juice；… 〃What if all these forms are
the descendants of one original form？ Would that be one whit the more
wonderful than the theory that they were； each and all； with the minute；
and often imaginary； shades of difference between certain cognate
species among them； created separately and at once？ But if it be so …
which I cannot allow … what would the theologian have to say； save that
God's works are even more wonderful than he always believed them to
be？ As for the theory being impossible … that is to be decided by men
of science； on strict experimental grounds。 As for us theologians； who
are we； that we should limit； * priori； the power of God？ 'Is anything
too hard for the Lord？' asked the prophet of old； and we have a right to
ask it as long as the world shall last。 If it be said that 'natural selection；'
or； as Mr。 Herbert Spencer better defines it； the 'survival of the fittest；' is
too simple a cause to produce such fantastic variety … that； again； is a
question to be settled exclusively by men of science； on their own
grounds。 We； meanwhile； always knew that God works by very simple；
or seemingly simple； means； that the universe； as far as we could discern
it； was one organization of the most simple means。 It was wonderful …
or should have been … in our eyes； that a shower of rain should make the
grass grow； and that the grass should become flesh； and the flesh food
for the thinking brain of man。 It was … or ought to have been … more
wonderful yet to us that a child should resemble its parents； or even a
butterfly resemble； if not always； still usually； its parents likewise。
Ought God to appear less or more august in our eyes if we discover that
the means are even simpler than we supposed？ We held Him to be
Almighty and All…wise。 Are we to reverence Him less or more if we
find Him to be so much mightier； so much wiser； than we dreamed； that
He can not only make all things； but … the very perfection of creative
power … MAKE ALL THINGS MAKE THEMSELVES？ We believed
that His care was over all His works； that His providence worked
perpetually over the universe。 We were taught … some of us at least … by
45
… Page 46…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
Holy Scripture； that without Him not a sparrow fell to the ground； and
that the very hairs of our head were all numbered； that the whole history
of the universe was made up； in fact； of an infinite network of special
providences。 If； then； that should be true which a great naturalist writes；
'It may be metaphorically said that natural selection is daily and hourly
scrutinizing； throughout the world； every variation； even the slightest；
rejecting that which is bad； preserving and adding up all that is good；
silently and insensibly working； whenever and wherever opportunity
offers； at the improvement of each organic being； in relation to its
organic and inorganic conditions of life；' … if this； I say； were proved to
be true； ought God's care and God's providence to seem less or more
magnificent in our eyes？ Of old it was said by Him without whom
nothing is made … 'My Father worketh hitherto； and I work。' Shall we
quarrel with physical science； if she gives us evidence that those words
are true？〃
And … understand it well … the grand passage I have just quoted need
not be accused of substituting 〃natural selection for God。〃 In any case
natural selection would be only the means or law by which God works；
as He does by other natural laws。 We do not substitute gravitation for
God； when we say that the planets are sustained in their orbits by the law
of gravitation。 The theory about natural selection may be untrue； or
imperfect； as may the modern theories of the 〃evolution and progress〃 of
organic forms： let the man of science decide that。 But if true； the
theories seem to me perfectly to agree with； and may be perfectly
explained by； the simple old belief which the Bible sets before us； of a
LIVING GOD： not a mere past will； such as the Koran sets forth；
creating once and for all； and then leaving the universe； to use Goethe's
simile； 〃to spin round his finger；〃 nor again； an 〃all…pervading spirit；〃
words which are mere contradictory jargon； concealing； from those who
utter them； blank Materialism： but One who works in all things which
have obeyed Him to will and to do of His good pleasure； keeping His
abysmal and self…perfect purpose； yet altering the methods by which that
purpose is attained； from aeon to aeon； ay； from moment to moment； for
ever various； yet for ever the same。 This great and yet most blessed
46
… Page 47…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
paradox of the Changeless God； who yet can say 〃It repenteth me；〃 and
〃Behold； I work a new thing on the earth；〃 is revealed no less by nature
than by Scripture； the changeableness； not of caprice or imperfection；
but of an Infinite Maker and 〃Poietes；〃 drawing ever fresh forms out of
the inexhaustible treasury of His primaeval Mind； and yet never
throwing away a conception to which He has once given actual birth in
time and space； （but to compare reverently small things and great）
lovingly repeating it； re…applying it； producing the same effects by
endlessly different methods； or so delicately modifying the method that；
as by the turn of a hair； it shall produce endlessly diverse effects； looking
back； as it were； ever and anon over the great work of all the ages； to
retouch it； and fill up each chasm in the scheme； which for some good
purpose had been left open in earlier worlds； or leaving some open （the
forms； for instance； necessary to connect the bimana and the
quadrumana） to be filled up perhaps hereafter when the world needs
them； the handiwork； in short； of a living and loving Mind； perfect in
His own eternity； but stooping to work in time and space； and there
rejoicing Himself in the work of His own hands； and in His eternal
Sabbaths ceasing in rest ineffable； that He may look on that which He
hath made； and behold it is very good。
I speak； of course； under correction； for this conclusion is
emphatically matter of induction； and must be verified or modified by
ever…fresh facts： but I meet with many a Christian passage in scientific
books； which seems to me to go； not too far； but rather not far enough； in
asserting the God of the Bible； as Saint Paul says； 〃not to have left
Himself without witness；〃 in nature itself； t