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

124 SCIENCE AND RELIGION. 8question of the origin of life is remote fromus historically, and perplexing to us experimentally.7If we seek guidance historically,we turn to geology, and learn that the structureof the earth has involved successive formations.The materials of the earth's crustare not thrown together confusedly, but " exhibita certain order of arrangement ";* themineral masses are partly aqueous, partly igneous,in formation; according as they are oneor other, they contain organic remains, or aremarked by their absence. All that can beinferred from the data thus afforded is thatat a certain period in the world's history,when temperature and other conditions affectingthe possibility of organic existencewere favorable, life appeared. As to thecause of its appearance, geology can give notestimony. I' If next, we refer to palaeontology,we learn of the existence of colossal animalswhich have long since become extinct;but such researches only widen our acquaintancewith different orders of animals, contributingnothing towards the solution of theproblem concerning the origin of life. Theexperimental science of the present day, with* Lyell's Elements of (feology, P. 2.