CHAPTER VII.

SOME LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINE IMMANENCY.

Religious thought subject to the law of evolution; three main stages 351

I. Conception of God--The three stages shown--(1) Anthropomorphism--(2) Absentee landlordism--(3) Immanence 351

II. Question of First and Second Causes--The three stages shown here--(1) All is First Cause but man-like--(2) Distinction of first and second causes introduced--(3) Identification of these 354

III. General and Special Providence--The same three stages shown and the same outcome--viz., identification 355

IV. Natural and the supernatural--The same stages and the same final identification--Question of miracles 355

V. Question of design or mind in Nature--The same three stages and the same solution shown here--Confusion in the minds of modern writers 357

VI. Question of mode of creation--Old and new views contrasted 358