glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第15部分
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not be accused of substituting 〃natural selection for God。〃 In any case
natural selection would be only the means or law by which God works；
as He does by other natural laws。 We do not substitute gravitation for
God； when we say that the planets are sustained in their orbits by the law
of gravitation。 The theory about natural selection may be untrue； or
imperfect； as may the modern theories of the 〃evolution and progress〃 of
organic forms： let the man of science decide that。 But if true； the
theories seem to me perfectly to agree with； and may be perfectly
explained by； the simple old belief which the Bible sets before us； of a
LIVING GOD： not a mere past will； such as the Koran sets forth；
creating once and for all； and then leaving the universe； to use Goethe's
simile； 〃to spin round his finger；〃 nor again； an 〃all…pervading spirit；〃
words which are mere contradictory jargon； concealing； from those who
utter them； blank Materialism： but One who works in all things which
have obeyed Him to will and to do of His good pleasure； keeping His
abysmal and self…perfect purpose； yet altering the methods by which that
purpose is attained； from aeon to aeon； ay； from moment to moment； for
ever various； yet for ever the same。 This great and yet most blessed
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paradox of the Changeless God； who yet can say 〃It repenteth me；〃 and
〃Behold； I work a new thing on the earth；〃 is revealed no less by nature
than by Scripture； the changeableness； not of caprice or imperfection；
but of an Infinite Maker and 〃Poietes；〃 drawing ever fresh forms out of
the inexhaustible treasury of His primaeval Mind； and yet never
throwing away a conception to which He has once given actual birth in
time and space； （but to compare reverently small things and great）
lovingly repeating it； re…applying it； producing the same effects by
endlessly different methods； or so delicately modifying the method that；
as by the turn of a hair； it shall produce endlessly diverse effects； looking
back； as it were； ever and anon over the great work of all the ages； to
retouch it； and fill up each chasm in the scheme； which for some good
purpose had been left open in earlier worlds； or leaving some open （the
forms； for instance； necessary to connect the bimana and the
quadrumana） to be filled up perhaps hereafter when the world needs
them； the handiwork； in short； of a living and loving Mind； perfect in
His own eternity； but stooping to work in time and space； and there
rejoicing Himself in the work of His own hands； and in His eternal
Sabbaths ceasing in rest ineffable； that He may look on that which He
hath made； and behold it is very good。
I speak； of course； under correction； for this conclusion is
emphatically matter of induction； and must be verified or modified by
ever…fresh facts： but I meet with many a Christian passage in scientific
books； which seems to me to go； not too far； but rather not far enough； in
asserting the God of the Bible； as Saint Paul says； 〃not to have left
Himself without witness；〃 in nature itself； that He is the God of grace。
Why speak of the God of nature and the God of grace as two antithetical
terms？ The Bible never； in a single instance； makes the distinction； and
surely； if God be （as He is） the Eternal and Unchangeable One； and if （as
we all confess） the universe bears the impress of His signet； we have no
right； in the present infantile state of science； to put arbitrary limits of
our own to the revelation which He may have thought good to make of
Himself in nature。 Nay； rather； let us believe that； if our eyes were
opened； we should fulfil the requirement of Genius； to 〃see the universal
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in the particular；〃 by seeing God's whole likeness； His whole glory；
reflected as in a mirror even in the meanest flower； and that nothing but
the dulness of our own souls prevents them from seeing day and night in
all things； however small or trivial to human eclecticism； the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself fulfilling His own saying； 〃My Father worketh hitherto；
and I work。〃
To me it seems （to sum up； in a few words； what I have tried to say）
that such development and progress as have as yet been actually
discovered in nature； bear every trace of having been produced by
successive acts of thought and will in some personal mind； which；
however boundlessly rich and powerful； is still the Archetype of the
human mind； and therefore （for to this I confess I have been all along
tending） probably capable； without violence to its properties； of
becoming； like the human mind； incarnate。
But to descend from these perhaps too daring speculations； there is
another； and more human； source of interest about the animal who is
writhing feebly in the glass jar of salt water； for he is one of the many
curiosities which have been added to our fauna by that humble hero Mr。
Charles Peach； the self…taught naturalist； of whom； as we walk on toward
the rocks； something should be said； or rather read； for Mr。 Chambers； in
an often…quoted passage from his Edinburgh Journal； which I must have
the pleasure of quoting once again； has told the story better than we can
tell it：…
〃But who is that little intelligent…looking man in a faded naval
uniform； who is so invariably to be seen in a particular central seat in
this section？ That； gentle reader； is perhaps one of the most interesting
men who attend the British Association。 He is only a private in the
mounted guard （preventive service） at an obscure part of the Cornwall
coast； with four shillings a day； and a wife and nine children； most of
whose education he has himself to conduct。 He never tastes the
luxuries which are so common in the middle ranks of life； and even
amongst a large portion of the working classes。 He has to mend with
his own hands every sort of thing that can break or wear in his house。
Yet Mr。 Peach is a votary of Natural History； not a student of the science
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in books； for he cannot afford books； but an investigator by sea and
shore； a collector of Zoophytes and Echinodermata … strange creatures；
many of which are as yet hardly known to man。 These he collects；
preserves； and describes； and every year does he come up to the British
Association with a few novelties of this kind； accompanied by
illustrative papers and drawings： thus； under circumstances the very
opposite of those of such men as Lord Enniskillen； adding； in like
manner； to the general stock of knowledge。 On the present occasion he
is unusually elated； for he has made the discovery of a Holothuria with
twenty tentacula； a species of the Echinodermata which Professor Forbes；
in his book on Star…Fishes； has said was never yet observed in the British
seas。 It may be of small moment to you； who； mayhap； know nothing
of Holothurias： but it is a considerable thing to the Fauna of Britain；
and a vast matter to a poor private of the Cornwall mounted guard。
And accordingly he will go home in a few days； full of the glory of his
exhibition； and strong anew by the kind notice taken of him by the
masters of the science； to similar inquiries； difficult as it may be to
prosecute them； under such a complication of duties； professional and
domestic。 Honest Peach！ humble as is thy home； and simple thy
bearing； thou art an honour even to this assemblage of nobles and
doctors： nay； more； when we consider everything； thou art an honour
to human nature itself； for where is th
