The end of human probation, the final dissolution
of organised society, and the destruction of man's home on
the surface of the globe, were none of them violently
contrary to our present experience, but only the extension
of present facts. The presentiment of death was common;
there were felt to be many things which threatened the
existence of society; and as our globe was a ball of fire,
at any moment the pent-up forces which surge and boil
beneath our feet might be poured out ("Pall Mall Gazette,"
December 6, 1886).
The preacher appears to entertain the notion that the occurrence of a
"catastrophe"[18] involves a breach of the present order of
nature--that it is an event incompatible with the physical laws which
at present obtain. He seems to be of opinion that "scientific reason"
lends its authority to the imaginative supposition that physical law
will prevent the occurrence of the "catastrophes" anticipated by an
unscientific apostle.
Scientific reason, like Homer, sometimes nods; but I am not aware that
it has ever dreamed dreams of this sort. The fundamental axiom of
scientific thought is that there is not, never has been, and never
will be, any disorder in nature. The admission of the occurrence of
any event which was not the logical consequence of the immediately
antecedent events, according to these definite, ascertained, or
unascertained rules which we call the "laws of nature," would be an
act of self-destruction on the part of science.
Pages:
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101