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Show Cannot Prove It. H Rev. Donald Sage Mackay, D. D., in the North H American Review, writing on "Personal Immor- H tality In the Light of Recent Science," quotes and H dlsuptes the ascertion of the late Frederick W. H H. . ers, that within a century, tho scientific Hi proof of personal Immortality would bo so strong Hj that no reasonable man would question it. Thon HI he quotes Darwin and George Eliot who wore Hj agnostics, and ccald And no proof in their exact H reasoning that there would ever be after death H any awakening for mortals. H We suspect that it will always bo so; that H: the proof, the scientific proof, of a life beyond this H. life will never be vouchsafed save through the H eye of faith. We do not believe that the proof, H the scientific proof of a life beyond this life H will ever be vouchsafed to mortals. H But the negative proof is absolute enough. H The proof of a "First Great Cause" is direct H enough. sThe more science explores its Holds H and finds how world's wore created and how H animal life came and how it is protected ; how Hj the universe rests on laws of perfect ordor that H are eternal; the proof of a great Creator assumes H that form of circumstantial evidence so absolute Hj that no other hypothesis can be entertained. Then H all the evidences reveal that through nature there H is a divine harmony which never fails. H Then coming to man we behold tho miracle of H how he comes into being tho most helpless of H creatures, but how in a briof thirty yoars ho ex- H pands sometimes into a world master, and how H to the humblest of men there aro hopos and H dreams as wide as tho earth and as sweet as H heaven. H Then, if at the close Death ends all it is clear H that there can l)e no compensation for what mor- H tals enjoy and suffer. H Again, the thoughts of men can not have thoir H orogin in more matter. Thoro must bo some- H thing higher. ThOBO thoughts aro high as hoavon Hj and deep as the doep soa. Thoy must have a Hi divine source and if so thoy cannot perish; thoy Hi must live on and on forovor. HI This is tho foundation of man's faith that Hi he is Immortal and ovary now demonstration of Hi science confirms that faith. But that tho certain HI proof of its correctness will over bo glvon, that HI is another thing. Wo doubt if it ever comos. Hi It may be felt, but cannot be proven any more HI than we can by demonstration establish that we H love one another. Man may have perfect faith H that he stands in this life on the threshold of Hp everlasting life, but he cannot prove it. |