Page:The advancement of science by experimental research - the Harveian oration, delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, June 27th, 1883 (IA b24869958).pdf/12

8 of that which science searches out.

"Thou art in all things great, not small in any, "Thine even praise shall never rise nor fall; "Thou art in all things one, in each thing many, "For thou art infinite in one and all."

Every object in nature bears the impress of the Divine hand, and the book of nature reveals His wisdom, his beneficence, his creative power and his superintending providence. I have no sympathy with those who, whilst they seek to open the book of nature, would close the more precious volume of Divine revelation : both emanate from the same source, and when rightly understood will never contradict each other. The scriptures were not intended to teach science, but they never contradict it, however they may seem to be opposed to the false teaching of imperfect investigation. The unfolding of scientific truth is truly an evolution; it is a gradual process like the expansion of the beautiful leaf-bud; wonderfully wrapped together, but spread open under the silent powers of light and heat and growth; so is truth gradually revealed under the sunlight of advanced science. It would be unwise to