I,—­I say,—­and it is enough.

In fact, nature does not explain man, and to this conclusion has tended all that I have said to you to-day.

FOOTNOTES: 

[97] Harmonices mundi, libri quinque.

[98] Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica.

[99]

     The whole universe is full of His magnificence. 
     May this God be adored and invoked for ever!

[100] Le Rationalisme, page 19.

[101] Force et Matiere, page 262.

[102] Les Mondes Causeries astronomiques by Guillemin; see p. 122 (3rd edition), where Kepler is described as an intelligence “penetrated by a profound faith in nature and exalted by a noble pride.”  See also pages 327 and 336.

[103] The question discussed in these pages must not be confounded with that of the relations between the science of nature and the documents of revelation.  Whether nature can be explained without God is one question.  Whether geology is in accordance with the language of the book of Genesis is another question, as regards both its nature and its importance.  This latter subject does not come within the scope of these lectures.  I will merely call attention to the fact, that if nature and the sacred text are fixed elements, this is not the case with the interpretations of theologians, and the results of geology.  It is difficult to pronounce upon the exact relation of two quantities more or less indeterminate.

[104] In the writings of M. de Rougemont, if I am not mistaken.

[105] Systema naturae.

[106] Ps. civ. 24.

[107] Biographie universelle.

[108] A.  P. de Candolle, by A. de la Rive, pp. 12 and 13.

[109] M. Vaucher’s principal title to scientific distinction is his Histoire des conferves d’eau douce, Geneve, an XI (1803), 4 deg..

[110] Comptes rendus de l’Academie des Sciences of 20 April, 1863, page 738.

[111] Exeter Hall Lectures—­The Power of God in His Animal Creation, pamphlet in 12mo.  This remarkable lecture contains a twofold protest—­against the blindness of those savants who fail to recognize the presence of God in nature; and against the pretensions of those theologians who attack the certain results of the study of nature, relying upon texts more or less accurately interpreted.

[112] Chemistry applied to Agriculture and to Physiology (in German).  Seventh edition.  Introd. page 69.

[113] Since these words were spoken, M. de la Rive has been named an associated member of the Institute of France (Academy of Sciences), and thus elevated to the first of scientific dignities.  It might be shown, I believe, that the greater number of the eight associates of the Academy of Sciences to be found in the world, make profession of their faith in God the Creator, the Almighty and Holy One.  The silence which others may have preserved on the subject would, moreover, be no authority for concluding that they do not share in beliefs and sentiments which they have not had the occasion perhaps of publicly expressing.