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