The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

INORGANIC ELEMENTS. 83ture within compass of human observationas they had never been before. The intellectual conditions for observation and inferenceno doubt remain simply what theyhave been; the laws of intelligent inquiry arethe same, determining sufficiency of evidence,and trustworthiness in reasoning ; but therange of observation has been indefinitelymultiplied, and things transcending previousconjecture have become matters of certainobservation. The telescope and the microscopeprovided for this revolution. Theybrought the uiiiverse within range as it hadnever previously been, and thus making anenormous addition to the sum of humanknowledge, suggested new modes of contemplatingand explaining the facts whichhad been familiar through all the ages.There can be no reversal of all this-noreturn on the old methods. Nor can therebe reversal in the sense of ~ve~turiiiiig presentlyrecognized conclusions. There are indeedhosts of theories of which it may besafely predicted that they will be overturnedand forgotten; but a veritable knowledge hasbeen acquired, which will certainly be preservedamong the treasures of the race. We