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

122 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.unexplained by reference to the lower formof existence, and incapable of explanation inthis way? Whether there is a clear line ofdemarcation between vegetable and animallife is a comparatively subordinate question.It is the wider and more perplexing questionwhich most fundamentally affects our generalconceptions as to the history and governmentof the world? And when this question ispressed singly,-how can we account for theappearance of life in the world ?-science hasno answer to present. Life still remains amystery in scientific times, as it had been inpast ages. Much has been written as to theorigin of species; nothing to any purpose hasyet been said as to the origin of life itself.The secrets of the universe in this respecthave eluded discovery, and a constrained silenceis the consequence.But if science itself has nothing to say asto this fundamental problem, scientific menhave much to say as to the probability of atrue solution of the mystery being forthcoming.There is in many quarters an expectationthat we may yet understand the physicalprinciples, that is, the mechanical and chemicalcombinations, which go to explain life as