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

266 SCIENCE AND RELIGION.ond concerns us directly here, in the moreimportant discussion as to man.With the view of completing the defenceagainst disturbing entanglement, it may bewell further to insert here the explicit statementthat men do very comnionly act in neglectof the law of benevolence, and even inviolation of it. The fact is too well knownin society to be overlooked. It may beenough, however, in the present connection,to admit that men do often act like the animals;or, to state the fact more precisely inform, the animal nature is often found governingmen, so as to make their action resemblethat of the lower animals in the strugglefor existence.These lines of severance will now makeclear what is our main question,-Is mancapable of recognizing a higher law of life?Does a law of benevolence apply to him asa rational creature, as it can not apply inthe history of the animals around us ? Andif this question be answered in the affirmative,does such answer imply the exerciseof a higher power than can be scientificallyassigned to brain cells ?That man recogiiizes a law of benevo-