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

SCIENCE AND DIVINE INTERPOSITION. 281ful, or rescue for the perishing. Though whathas been said as to the law of benevolenceiiilplies that it is universally authoritative,tliere is no express philosophic theory here introducedas to the mode by which this knowledgeis attained, or the grounds on which itsui~iversality is asserted. The bare fact thateach man expects his fello~vman to be benevolentis enough for the present purpose. Thesimple declaratioa that the man who seeksonly his own gratification, setting at defiancea11 the rights of his fellowmen, is unworthythe ilaine of man and acts a brute'spart, is all that any one needs who wouldinalce good the arguinent that h~man natureis clistinct from that of the brutes. Noi11an can escape the obligation to benevolentdispositioiz; no man except the manof gross character attempts to live as if hercgnrded the violatioii of it as capable of~i~iclication. These two things being so, thetestiinony is as strong as that establishingthe ele~nentary truths of science, which dernonstratesthat man owns a universal morallaw, and so distinguishes himself from theanimals. The coi~ditions of human life aretoo clearly recognized, and too coiistnntly in-