Page ii contains quotations by William Whewell and Francis Bacon on the theology of natural laws, harmonising science and religion in accordance with Isaac Newton's belief in a rational God who established a law-abiding cosmos. In the second edition, Darwin added an epigraph from Joseph Butler affirming that God could work through scientific laws as much as through miracles, in a nod to the religious concerns of his oldest friends. The Introduction establishes Darwin's credentials as a naturalist and author, then refers to John Herschel's letter suggesting that the origin of species "would be found to be a natural in contradistinction to a miraculous process":
Page ii contains quotations by William Whewell and Francis Bacon on the theology of natural laws , harmonising science and religion in accordance with Isaac Newton 's belief in a rational God who established a law - abiding cosmos . In the second edition , Darwin added an epigraph from Joseph Butler affirming that God could work through scientific laws as much as through miracles , in a nod to the religious concerns of his oldest friends . The Introduction establishes Darwin 's credentials as a naturalist and author , then refers to John Herschel 's letter suggesting that the origin of species " would be found to be a natural in contradistinction to a miraculous process " :
What was Isaac Newton's belief about God  on the theory of natural law?
What was Isaac Newton 's belief about God on the theory of natural law ?
a rational God who established a law-abiding cosmos
a rational God who established a law-abiding cosmos