ButitmustberememberedtherecanbenoGodwhoisnotpersonalandmaterial：andifpersonal，then，thoughinconceivablyvastincomparisonwithman，stilllimitedinspaceandtime，andcapableofmakingmistakesconcerninghisowninterests，thoughasageneralrulerightinhisestimatesconcerningthem。Where，then，isthisBeing？Hemustbeonearth，orwhatfollycanbegreaterthanspeakingofhimasaperson？Whatarepersonsonanyotherearthtous，orwetothem？Hemusthaveexistedandbegoingtoexistthroughalltime，andhemusthaveatangiblebody。Where，then，isthebodyofthisGod？AndwhatisthemysteryofhisIncarnation？
　　Itwillbemybusinesstoshowthisinthefollowingchapter。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　THETREEOFLIFE
　　AtheismdeniesknowledgeofaGodofanykind。PantheismandTheismalikeprofesstogiveusaGod，buttheyalikefailtoperformwhattheyhavepromised。WecanknownothingoftheGodtheyofferus，fornotevendotheythemselvesprofessthatanyofoursensescanbecognisant[sic]ofhim。TheytellusthatheisapersonalGod，butthathehasnomaterialperson。ThisisdisguisedAtheism。WhatwewantisaPersonalGod，thegloryofwhosePresencecanbemadeinpartevidenttooursenses，thoughwhatwecanrealise[sic]islessthannothingincomparisonwithwhatwemustleaveforeverunimagined。
　　AndtrulysuchaGodisnotfarfromeveryoneofus；forifwesurveythebroaderanddeepercurrentsofmen’sthoughtsduringthelastthreethousandyears，wemayobservetwogreatandsteadysetsashavingcarriedawaywiththemthemoreeligibleracesofmankind。TheoneisatendencyfromPolytheismtoMonotheism；theotherfromPolytypismtoMonotypismoftheearliestformsoflife-allanimalandvegetableformshavingatlengthcometoberegardedasdifferentiationsofasinglesubstance-towit，protoplasm。
　　Nomandoeswellsotokickagainstthepricksastosethimselfagainsttendenciesofsuchdepth，strength，andpermanenceasthis。Ifheistobeinharmonywiththedominantopinionofhisownandofmanypastages，hewillseeasingleGod-impregnatesubstanceashavingbeentheparentfromwhichalllivingformshavesprung。Onespirit，andoneformcapableofsuchmodificationasitsdirectingspiritshallthinkfit；onesoulandonebody，oneGodandoneLife。
　　Forthetimehascomewhenthetwounitiessopainfullyarrivedatmustbejoinedtogetherasbodyandsoul，andbeseennotastwo，butone。ThereisnolivingorganismuntenantedbytheSpiritofGod，noranySpiritofGodperceivablebymanapartfromorganismembodyingandexpressingit。GodandtheLifeoftheWorldarelikeamountain，whichwillpresentdifferentaspectsaswelookatitfromdifferentsides，butwhich，whenwehavegoneallroundit，provestobeoneonly。Godistheanimalandvegetableworld，andtheanimalandvegetableworldisGod。
　　Ihaverepeatedlysaidthatweoughttoseeallanimalandvegetablelifeasunitingtoformasinglepersonality。Ishouldperhapsexplainthismorefully，fortheideaofacompoundpersonisonewhichatfirstisnotveryeasytograsp，inasmuchaswearenotconsciousofanybutourmoresuperficialaspects，andhavethereforeuntillatelyfailedtounderstandthatweareourselvescompoundpersons。Imayperhapsbeallowedtoquotefromanearlierwork。
　　"Eachcellinthehumanbodyisnowadmittedbyphysiologiststobeapersonwithanintelligentsoul，differingfromourownmorecomplexsoulindegreeandnotinkind，and，likeourselves，beingborn，living，anddying。Itwouldappear，then，asthough’we，’’oursouls，’or’selves，’or’personalities，’orbywhatevernamewemayprefertobecalled，arebuttheconsensusandfull-flowingstreamofcountlesssensationsandimpulsesonthepartofourtributarysoulsor’selves，’whoprobablynomoreknowthatweexist，andthattheyexistasapartofus，thanamicroscopicinsectknowstheresultsofspectrumanalysis，orthananagriculturallabourer[sic]knowstheworkingoftheBritishConstitution；andofwhomweknownomorethanwedoofthehabitsandfeelingsofsomeclasswidelyseparatedfromourown。"-（"LifeandHabit，"p。110。）
　　Afterwhichitbecamenaturaltoaskthefollowingquestion：-
　　"Isitpossibletoavoidimaginingthatwemaybeourselvesatoms，undesignedlycombiningtoformsomevasterbeing，thoughweareutterlyincapableofperceivingthisbeingasasingleindividual，orofrealising[sic]theschemeandscopeofourowncombination？Andthis，too，notaspiritualbeing，which，withoutmatterorwhatwethinkmatterofsomesort，isascompletenonsensetousasthoughmenbadeusloveandleanuponanintelligentvacuum，butabeingwithwhatisvirtuallyfleshandbloodandbones，withorgans，senses，dimensionsinsomewayanalogoustoourown，intosomeotherpartofwhichbeingatthetimeofourgreatchangewemustinfalliblyre-enter，startingcleananew，withbygonesbygones，andnomoreacheforeverfromageorantecedents。
　　"’Anorganicbeing，’writesMr。Darwin，’isamicrocosm，alittleuniverse，formedofahostofself-propagatingorganismsinconceivablyminuteandnumerousasthestarsinHeaven。’Asthesemyriadsofsmallerorganismsarepartsandprocessesofus，soarewepartsandprocessesoflifeatlarge。"
　　Atreeiscomposedofamultitudeofsubordinatetrees，eachbudbeingadistinctindividual。Socoralpolypes[sic]formatree-
　　likegrowthofanimallife，withbranchesfromwhichspringindividualpolypes[sic]thatareconnectedbyacommontissueandsupportedbyacommonskeleton。Wehavenodifficultyinseeingaunityinmultitude，andamultitudeinunityhere，becausewecanobservethewoodandthegelatinoustissueconnectingtogetheralltheindividualswhichcomposeeitherthetreeorthemassofpolypes[sic]。Yettheskeleton，whetheroftreeorofpolype[sic]，isinanimate；andthetissue，whetherofbarkorgelatine[sic]，isonlythemattedrootsoftheindividualbuds；sothattheoutwardandstrikingconnectionbetweentheindividualsismoredelusivethanreal。Thetrueconnectionisonewhichcannotbeseen，andconsistsintheanimationofeachbudbyalikespirit-inthecommunityofsoul，in"thevoiceoftheLordwhichmakethmentobeofonemindinanhouse"-"todwelltogetherinunity"-totakewhatarepracticallyidenticalviewsofthings，andexpressthemselvesinconcertunderallcircumstances。Providedthis-thetrueunifieroforganism-canbeshowntoexist，theabsenceofgrossoutwardandvisiblebutinanimatecommonskeletonisnobartoonenessofpersonality。
　　Letuspicturetoourmindsatreeofwhichallthewoodyfibre[sic]shallbeinvisible，thebudsandleavesseemingtostandinmid-airunsupportedandunconnectedwithoneanother，sothatthereisnothingbutacertaintree-likecollocationoffoliagetosuggestanycommonprincipleofgrowthunitingtheleaves。
　　Threeorfourleavesofdifferentagesstandlivingtogetherattheplaceintheairwheretheendofeachboughshouldbe；ofthesetheyoungestarestilltenderandinthebud，whiletheolderonesareturningyellowandonthepointoffalling。
　　Betweentheseleavesasortoftwig-likegrowthcanbedetectediftheyarelookedatincertainlights，butitishardtosee，exceptperhapswhenabudisonthepointofcomingout。Thentheredoesappeartobeaconnectionwhichmightbecalledbranch-like。
　　Theseparatetuftsareverydifferentfromoneanother，sothatoakleaves，ashleaves，horse-chestnutleaves，etc。，areeachrepresented，butthereisonespeciesonlyattheendofeachbough。
　　Thoughthetrunkandalltheinnerboughsandleaveshavedisappeared，yettherehanghereandtherefossilleaves，alsoinmid-air；theyappeartohavebeenpetrified，withoutmethodorselection，bywhatwecallthecapricesofnature；theyhanginthepathwhichtheboughsandtwigswouldhavetaken，andtheyseemtoindicatethatifthetreecouldhavebeenseenamillionyearsearlier，beforeithadgrownnearitspresentsize，theleavesstandingattheendofeachboughwouldhavebeenfoundverydifferentfromwhattheyarenow。Letussupposethatalltheleavesattheendofalltheinvisibleboughs，nomatterhowdifferenttheynowarefromoneanother，werefoundinearliestbudhoodtobeabsolutelyindistinguishable，andafterwardstodeveloptowardseachdifferentiationthroughstageswhichwereindicatedbythefossilleaves。Lastly，letussupposethatthoughtheboughswhichseemwantedtoconnectallthelivingformsofleaveswiththefossilleaves，andwithcountlessformsofwhichalltracehasdisappeared，andalsowithasingleroot-
　　havebecomeinvisible，yetthatthereisirrefragableevidencetoshowthattheyonceactuallyexisted，andindeedareexistingatthismoment，inaconditionasrealthoughasinvisibletotheeyeasairorelectricity。Shouldwe，Iask，underthesecircumstanceshesitatetocallourimaginaryplantortreebyasinglename，andtothinkofitasoneperson，merelyuponthescorethatthewoodyfibre[sic]wasinvisible？Shouldwenotesteemthecommonsoul，memoriesandprinciplesofgrowthwhicharepreservedbetweenallthebuds，nomatterhowwidelytheydifferindetail，asamorelivingbondofunionthanaframeworkofwoodwouldbe，which，thoughitwerevisibletotheeye，wouldstillbeinanimate？
　　Themistletoeappearsascloselyconnectedwiththetreeonwhichitgrowsasanyofthebudsofthetreeitself；itisfeduponthesamesapastheotherbudsare，whichsap-howevermuchitmaymodifyitatthelastmoment-itdrawsthroughthesamefibres[sic]asdoitsfoster-brothers-whythendoweatoncefeelthatthemistletoeisnopartoftheappletree？Notfromanywantofmanifestcontinuity，butfromthespiritualdifference-fromtheprofoundlydifferentviewsoflifeandthingswhicharetakenbytheparasiteandthetreeonwhichitgrows-thetwoarenowdifferentbecausetheythinkdifferently-aslongastheythoughtaliketheywerealike-thatistosaytheywereprotoplasm-theyandweandallthatlivesmeetinginthiscommonsubstance。
　　Weoughtthereforetoregardoursupposedtuftsofleavesasatree，thatistosay，asacompoundexistence，eachoneofwhosecomponentitemsiscompoundedofotherswhicharealsointheirturncompounded。Butthetreeabovedescribedisnoimaginaryparalleltotheconditionoflifeupontheglobe；itisperhapsasaccurateadescriptionoftheTreeofLifeascanbeputintososmallacompass。Themostsureproofofaman’sidentityisthepowertorememberthatsuchandsuchthingshappened，whichnonebuthecanknow；themostsureproofofhisrememberingisthepowertoreacthispartintheoriginaldrama，whateveritmayhavebeen；ifamancanrepeataperformancewithconsummatetruth，andcanstandanyamountofcross-questioningaboutit，heistheperformeroftheoriginalperformance，whateveritwas。
　　Thememorieswhichalllivingformsprovebytheiractionsthattheypossess-thememoriesoftheircommonidentitywithasinglepersoninwhomtheymeet-thisisincontestableproofoftheirbeinganimatedbyacommonsoul。Itiscertain，therefore，thatalllivingforms，whetheranimalorvegetable，areinrealityoneanimal；weandthemossesbeingpartofthesamevastpersoninnofigurativesense，butwithasmuchbonafideliteraltruthaswhenwesaythataman’sfinger-nailsandhiseyesarepartsofthesameman。
　　ItisinthisPersonthatwemayseetheBodyofGod-andintheevolutionofthisPerson，themysteryofHisIncarnation。
　　[In"UnconsciousMemory，"ChapterV，Butlerwrote："Inthearticlesabovealludedto（"GodtheKnownandGodtheUnknown"）I
　　separatedtheorganicfromtheinorganic，butwhenIcametorewritethemIfoundthatthiscouldnotbedone，andthatImustreconstructwhatIhadwritten。"Thisreconstructionneverhavingbeeneffected，itmaybewelltoquotefurtherfrom"UnconsciousMemory"（concludingchapter）："Atparting，therefore，Iwouldrecommendthereadertoseeeveryatomintheuniverseaslivingandabletofeelandremember，butinahumbleway。Hemusthavelifeeternalaswellasmattereternal；andthelifeandthemattermustbejoinedtogetherinseparablyasbodyandsoultooneanother。ThushewillseeGodeverywhere，notasthosewhorepeatphrasesconventionally，butaspeoplewhowouldhavetheirwordstakenaccordingtotheirmostnaturalandlegitimatemeaning；andhewillfeelthatthemaindifferencebetweenhimandmanyofthosewhoopposehimliesinthefactthatwhereasbothheandtheyusethesamelanguage，hisopponentsonlyhalfmeanwhattheysay，whilehemeansitentirely……Weshallendeavour[sic]toseetheso-calledinorganicasliving，inrespectofthequalitiesithasincommonwiththeorganic，ratherthantheorganicasnon-livinginrespectofthequalitiesithasincommonwiththeinorganic。"]
　　CHAPTERVII
　　THELIKENESSOFGOD
　　InmylastchapterIendeavoured[sic]toshowthateachlivingbeing，whetheranimalorplant，throughouttheworldisacomponentitemofasinglepersonality，inthesamewayaseachindividualcitizenofacommunityisamemberofonestate，oraseachcellofourownbodiesisaseparateperson，oreachbudofatreeaseparateplant。WemustthereforeseethewholevariedcongeriesoflivingthingsasasingleveryancientBeing，ofinconceivablevastness，andanimatedbyoneSpirit。
　　Wecalltheoctogenarianonepersonwiththeembryoofafewdaysoldfromwhichhehasdeveloped。Anoakoryewtreemaybetwothousandyearsold，butwecallitoneplantwiththeseedfromwhichithasgrown。Millionsofindividualbudshavecomeandgone，totheyearlywastingandrepairingofitssubstance；butthetreestilllivesandthrives，andthedeadleaveshavelifetherein。SotheTreeofLifestilllivesandthrivesasasingleperson，nomatterhowmanynewfeaturesithasacquiredduringitsdevelopment，nor，again，howmanyofitsindividualleavesfallyellowtothegrounddaily。ThespiritorsoulofthispersonistheSpiritofGod，anditsbody-forweknowofnosoulorspiritwithoutabody，norofanylivingbodywithoutaspiritorsoul，andifthereisaGodatalltheremustbeabodyofGod-isthemany-memberedoutgrowthofprotoplasm，theensembleofanimalandvegetablelife。
　　Torepeat。TheTheologianofto-daytellsusthatthereisaGod，butishorrifiedattheideaofthatGodhavingabody。WesaythatwebelieveinGod，butthatourmindsrefusetorealise[sic]anintelligentBeingwhohasnobodilyperson。"Wherethen，"saystheTheologian，"isthebodyofyourGod？"Wehaveanswered，"Inthelivingformsupontheearth，which，thoughtheylookmany，are，whenweregardthembythelightoftheirhistoryandoftrueanalogies，onepersononly。"Thespiritualconnectionbetweenthemisamorerealbondofunionthanthevisiblediscontinuityofmaterialpartsisgroundforseparatingtheminourthoughts。
　　Letthereaderlookatacaseofmothsintheshop-windowofanaturalist，andnotetheunspeakabledelicacy，beauty，andyetserviceablenessoftheirwings；orlethimlookatacaseofhumming-birds，andrememberhowinfinitelysmallapartofNatureisthewholegroupoftheanimalshemaybeconsidering，andhowinfinitelysmallapartofthatgroupisthecasethatheislookingat。Lethimbearinmindthatheislookingonthedeadhusksonlyofwhatwasinconceivablymoremarvellous[sic]whenthemothsorhumming-birdswerealive。Lethimthinkofthevastnessoftheearth，andoftheactivitybydayandnightthroughcountlessagesofsuchcountlessformsofanimalandvegetablelifeasthatnohumanmindcanformthefaintestapproachtoanythingthatcanbecalledaconceptionoftheirmultitude，andlethimrememberthatalltheseformshavetouchedandtouchedandtouchedotherlivingbeingstilltheymeetbackonacommonsubstanceinwhichtheyarerooted，andfromwhichtheyallbranchforthsoastobeoneanimal。WillhenotinthisrealandtangibleexistencefindaGodwhoisasmuchmoreworthyofadmirationthantheGodoftheordinaryTheologian-asHeisalsomoreeasyofcomprehension？
　　FortheTheologiandreamsofaGodsittingabovethecloudsamongthecherubim，whoblowtheirloudupliftedangeltrumpetsbeforeHim，andhumour[sic]HimasthoughHeweresomedespotinanOrientaltale；butweenthroneHimuponthewingsofbirds，onthepetalsofflowers，onthefacesofourfriends，anduponwhateverwemostdelightinofallthatlivesupontheearth。WethencannotonlyloveHim，butwecandothatwithoutwhichlovehasneitherpowernorsweetness，butisaphantomonly，animpersonalperson，avainstretchingforthofarmstowardssomethingthatcanneverfillthem-wecanexpressourloveandhaveitexpressedtousinreturn。Andthisnotintheuprearingofstonetemples-fortheLorddwelleth[sic]intemplesmadewithotherorgansthanhands-noryetinthecleansingofourhearts，butinthecaressbestoweduponhorseanddog，andkissesuponthelipsofthosewelove。
　　Wide，however，asisthedifferencebetweentheorthodoxTheologianandourselves，itisnotmoreremarkablethanthenumberofthepointsonwhichwecanagreewithhim，andonwhich，moreover，wecanmakehismeaningclearertohimselfthanitcanhaveeverhithertobeen。He，forexample，saysthatmanhasbeenmadeintheimageofGod，buthecannotmeanwhathesays，unlesshisGodhasamaterialbody；we，ontheotherhand，donotindeedbelievethatthebodyofGod-theincorporationofalllife-islikethebodyofaman，morethanwebelieveeachoneofourowncellsorsubordinatepersonalitiestobelikeamaninminiature；butweneverthelessholdthateachofourtributaryselvesissofarmadeafterthelikenessofthebodycorporatethatitpossessesallourmainandessentialcharacteristics-thatistosay，thatitcanwasteandrepairitself；canfeel，move，andremember。Tothisextent，also，we-whostandinmeanproportionalbetweenourtributarypersonalitiesandGod-aremadeinthelikenessofGod；forwe，andGod，andoursubordinatecellsalikepossesstheessentialcharacteristicsoflifewhichhavebeenaboverecited。Itismoretrue，therefore，forustosaythatwearemadeinthelikenessofGodthanfortheorthodoxTheologiantodoso。
　　Nor，again，dowefinddifficultyinadoptingsuchanexpressionasthat"GodhastakenournatureuponHim。"Weholdthisasfirmly，andmuchmoreso，thanChristianscando，butwesaythatthisisnonewthingforHimtodo，forthatHehastakenfleshanddweltamongusfromthedaythatHefirstassumedourshape，somemillionsofyearsago，untilnow。GodcannotbecomemanmoreespeciallythanHecanbecomeotherlivingforms，anymorethanwecanbeoureyesmoreespeciallythananyotherofourorgans。Wemaydeveloplargereyes，sothatoureyesmaycometooccupyastillmoreimportantplaceinoureconomythantheydoatpresent；andinasimilarwaythehumanracemaybecomeamorepredominantpartofGodthanitnowis-butwecannotadmitthatonelivingformismorelikeGodthananother；wemustholdallequallylikeHim，inasmuchasthey"keepever，"asBuffonsays，"thesamefundamentalunity，inspiteofdifferencesofdetail-
　　nutrition，development，reproduction"（and，Iwouldadd，"memory"）"beingthecommontraitsofallorganicbodies。"Theutmostwecanadmitis，thatsomeembodimentsoftheSpiritofLifemaybemoreimportantthanotherstothewelfareofLifeasawhole，inthesamewayassomeofourorgansaremoreimportantthanotherstoourselves。
　　ButtheaboveresemblancesbetweenthelanguagewhichwecanadoptintelligentlyandthatwhichTheologiansusevaguely，seemtoreducethedifferencesofopinionbetweenthetwocontendingpartiestodisputesaboutdetail。Foreventhosewhobelievetheirideastobethemostdefinite，andwhopicturetothemselvesaGodasanthropomorphicasHewasrepresentedbyRaffaelle，areyetnotpreparedtostandbytheirideasiftheyarehardpressedinthesamewayaswearebyours。ThosewhosaythatGodbecamemanandtookfleshuponHim，andthatHeisnowperfectGodandperfectmanofareasonablesoulandhumanfleshsubsisting，willyetnotmeanthatChristhasaheart，blood，astomach，etc。，likeman’s，which，ifhehasnot，itisidletospeakofhimas"perfectman。"Iampersuadedthattheydonotmeanthis，norwishtomeanit；butthattheyhavebeenledintosayingitbyaseriesofstepswhichitisveryeasytounderstandandsympathise[sic]with，iftheyareconsideredwithanydiligence。
　　Forourforefathers，thoughtheymightanddidfeeltheexistenceofaPersonalGodintheworld，yetcouldnotdemonstratethisexistence，andmademistakesintheirendeavour[sic]topersuadethemselvesthattheyunderstoodthoroughlyatruthwhichtheyhadasyetperceivedonlyfromalongdistance。Henceallthedogmatismandtheologyofmanycenturies。ItwasimpossibleforthemtoformaclearordefiniteconceptionconcerningGoduntiltheyhadstudiedHisworksmoredeeply，soastograsptheideaofmanyanimalsofdifferentkindsandwithnoapparentconnectionbetweenthem，beingyettrulypartsofoneandthesameanimalwhichcomprisedtheminthesamewayasatreecomprisesallitsbuds。Theymightspeakofthisbyafigureofspeech，buttheycouldnotseeitasafact。Beforethiscouldbeintendedliterally，Evolutionmustbegrasped，andnotEvolutionastaughtinwhatisnowcommonlycalledDarwinism，buttheoldteleologicalDarwinismofeightyyearsago。Noristhisagainsufficient，foritmustbesupplementedbyaperceptionoftheonenessofpersonalitybetweenparentsandoffspring，thepersistenceofmemorythroughallgenerations，thelatencyofthismemoryuntilrekindledbytherecurrenceoftheassociatedideas，andtheunconsciousnesswithwhichrepeatedactscometobeperformed。Thesearemodernideaswhichmightbecaughtsightofnowandagainbyprophetsintimepast，butwhichareevennowmasteredandheldfirmlyonlybythefew。
　　Whenonce，however，theseideashavebeenaccepted，thechiefdifferencebetweentheorthodoxGodandtheGodwhocanbeseenofallmenis，thatthefirstissupposedtohaveexistedfromalltime，whilethesecondhasonlylivedformoremillionsofyearsthanourmindscanreckonintelligently；thefirstisomnipresentinallspace，whilethesecondisonlypresentinthelivingformsuponthisearth-thatistosay，isonlymorewidelypresentthanourmindscanintelligentlyembrace。Thefirstisomnipotentandall-wise；thesecondisonlyquasi-omnipotentandquasiall-wise。Itistrue，then，thatwedepriveGodofthatinfinitywhichorthodoxTheologianshaveascribedtoHim，buttheboundsweleaveHimareofsuchincalculableextentthatnothingcanbeimaginedmoregloriousorvaster；andinreturnforthelimitationswehaveassignedtoHim，werenderitpossibleformentobelieveinHim，andloveHim，notwiththeirlipsonly，butwiththeirheartsandlives。
　　Which，Imaynowventuretoaskmyreaders，isthetrueGod-theGodoftheTheologian，orHewhomwemayseearoundus，andinwhosepresencewestandeachhourandmomentofourlives？
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　THELIFEEVERLASTING
　　Letusnowconsiderthelifewhichwecanlookforwardtowithcertaintyafterdeath，andthemoralgovernmentoftheworldhereonearth。
　　Ifwecouldheartheleavescomplainingtooneanotherthattheymustdie，andcommiseratingthehardnessoftheirlotinhavingeverbeeninducedtobudforth，weshould，Iimagine，despisethemfortheirpeevishnessmorethanweshouldpitythem。Weshouldtellthemthatthoughwecouldnotseereasonforthinkingthattheywouldeverhangagainuponthesame-oranyatallsimilar-boughasthesameindividualleaves，aftertheyhadoncefadedandfallenoff，yetthatastheyhadbeenchangingpersonalitieswithoutfeelingitduringthewholeoftheirleafhood，sotheywouldondeathcontinuetodothisselfsamethingbyenteringintonewphasesoflife。True，deathwilldeprivethemofconsciousmemoryconcerningtheirnowcurrentlife；but，thoughtheydieasleaves，theyliveinthetreewhomtheyhavehelpedtovivify，andwhosegrowthandcontinuedwell-
　　beingisduesolelytothislifeanddeathofitscomponentpersonalities。
　　Weconsiderthecellswhicharebornanddiewithinusyearlytohavebeensufficientlyhonoured[sic]inhavingcontributedtheirquotumtoourlife；whyshouldwehavesuchdifficultyinseeingthatahealthyenjoymentandemploymentofourlifewillgiveusasufficientrewardinthatgrowthofGodwhereinwemaylivemoretrulyandeffectuallyafterdeaththanwehavelivedwhenwewereconsciousofexistence？IsHandeldeadwhenheinfluencesandsetsinmotionmorehumanbeingsinthreemonthsnowthanduringthewhole，probably，oftheyearsinwhichhethoughtthathewasalive？Whatisbeingaliveifthepowertodrawmenformanymilesinorderthattheymayputthemselvesenrapportwithhimisnotbeingso？True，Handelnolongerknowsthepowerwhichhehasoverus，butthisisasmallmatter；
　　henolongeranimatessixfeetoffleshandblood，buthelivesinusasthedeadleaflivesinthetree。HeiswithGod，andGodknowshimthoughheknowshimselfnomore。
　　Thisshouldsuffice，andIobserveinpracticedoessuffice，forallreasonablepersons。Itmaybesaidthatonedaythetreeitselfmustdie，andtheleavesnolongerlivetherein；andso，also，thattheveryGodorLifeoftheWorldwillonedayperish，asallthatisbornmustsurelyintheenddie。Buttheywhofretuponsuchgroundsasthismustbeinsomuchwantofagrievancethatitwereacrueltytorobthemofone：ifamanwhoisfondofmusictortureshimselfonthegroundthatonedayallpossiblecombinationsandpermutationsofsoundswillhavebeenexhaustedsothattherecanbenomorenewtunes，theonlythingwecandowithhimistopityhimandleavehim；noristhereanybettercoursethanthistotakewiththoseidlepeoplewhoworrythem
　　selvesandothersonthescorethattheywillonedaybeunabletorememberthesmallbalanceoftheirlivesthattheyhavenotalreadyforgottenasunimportanttothem-thattheywillonedaydietothebalanceofwhattheyhavenotalreadydiedto。Ineverknewawell-bredoramiablepersonwhocomplainedseriouslyofthefactthathewouldhavetodie。Grantedwemustallsome
　　timesfindourselvesfeelingsorrythatwecannotremainforeveratourpresentage，andthatwemaydiesomuchsoonerthanwelike；buttheseregretsarepassingwithwell-disposedpeople，andareasinequanonfortheexistenceoflifeatall。
　　Forifpeoplecouldliveforeversoastosufferfromnosuchregret，therewouldbenogrowthnordevelopmentinlife；if，ontheotherhand，therewerenounwillingnesstodie，peoplewouldcommitsuicideuponthesmallestcontradiction，andtheracewouldendinatwelvemonth。
　　Wethenofferimmortality，butwedonotofferresurrectionfromthedead；wesaythatthosewhodieliveintheLordwhethertheybejustorunjust，andthatthepresentgrowthofGodistheoutcomeofallpastlives；butwebelievethatastheyliveinGod-intheeffecttheyhaveproducedupontheuniversallife-whenoncetheirindividuallifeisended，soitisGodwhoknowsoftheirlifethenceforwardandnotthemselves；andweurgethatthisimmortality，thisentranceintothejoyoftheLord，thisbeingeverwithGod，istrue，andcanbeapprehendedbyallmen，andthattheperceptionofitshouldandwilltendtomakethemleadhappier，healthierlives；whereasthecommonlyreceivedopinionistruewithastagetruthonly，andhaslittlepermanenteffectuponthosewhoarebestworthconsidering。Neverthelesstheexpressionsincommonuseamongtheorthodoxfitinsoperfectlywithfacts，whichwemustallacknowledge，thatitisimpossiblenottoregardtheexpressionsasfoundeduponapropheticperceptionofthefacts。
　　Twothingsstandoutwithsufficientclearness。Thefirstistherarityofsuicideevenamongthosewhorailatlifemostbitterly。Theotheristhelittleeagernesswithwhichthosewhocryoutmostloudlyforaresurrectiondesiretobegintheirnewlife。Whencomfortingahusbanduponthelossofhiswifewedonottellhimwehopehewillsoonjoinher；butweshouldcertainlydothisifwecouldevenpretendwethoughtthehusbandwouldlikeit。Icanneverrememberhavingfeltorwitnessedanypain，bodilyormental，whichwouldhavemademeoranyoneelsereceiveasuggestionthatwehadbettercommitsuicidewithoutindignantlyaskinghowouradviserwouldliketocommitsuicidehimself。Yettherearesomanyandsucheasywaysofdyingthatindignationatbeingadvisedtocommitsuicidearisesmorefromenjoymentoflifethanfromfearofthemerephysicalpainofdying。Grantedthatthereismuchdeplorablepainintheworldfromill-health，lossofmoney，lossofreputation，misconductofthosenearesttous，orwhatnot，andgrantedthatinsomecasesthesecausesdodrivementoactualself-destruction，yetsufferingsuchasthishappenstoacomparativelysmallnumber，andoccupiescomparativelyasmallspaceinthelivesofthosetowhomitdoeshappen。
　　What，however，havewetosaytothosecasesinwhichsufferingandinjusticeareinflictedupondefenceless[sic]peopleforyearsandyears，sothattheironentersintotheirsouls，andtheyhavenoavenger。Canwegiveanycomforttosuchsufferers？
　　and，ifnot，isourreligionanybetterthanamockery-afillingtherichwithgoodthingsandsendingthehungryemptyaway？Canwetellthem，whentheyareoppressedwithburdens，yetthattheircrywillcomeuptoGodandbeheard？Thequestionsuggestsitsownanswer，forassuredlyourGodknowsourinnermostsecrets：thereisnotawordinourheartsbutHeknowethitaltogether；Heknowethourdown-sittingandouruprising，Heisaboutourpathandaboutourbed，andspiethoutallourways；Hehasfashionedusbehindandbefore，and"wecannotattainsuchknowledge，"for，likeallknowledgewhenithasbecomeperfect，"itistooexcellentforus。"
　　"Whitherthen，"saysDavid，"shallIgofromthySpirit，orwhithershallIgo，then，fromthypresence？IfIclimbupintoheaventhouartthere；ifIgodownintohellthouarttherealso。IfItakethewingsofthemorningandremainintheuttermostpartsofthesea；eventherealsoshallthyhandleadme，andthyrighthandshallholdme。IfIsayperadventurethedarknessshallcoverme，thenshallmynightbeturnedintoday：
　　thedarknessandlighttotheearebothalike。Formyreinsarethine；thouhastcoveredmeinmymother’swomb。Mybonesarenothidfromthee：thoughIbemadesecretlyandfashionedbeneathintheearth，thineeyesdidseemysubstanceyetbeingunperfect；andinthybookwereallmymemberswritten，whichdaybydaywerefashionedwhenasyettherewasnoneofthem。DoI
　　nothatethem，OLord，thathatethee？andamInotgrievedwiththemthatriseupagainstthee？Yea，Ihatethemrightsore，asthoughtheyweremineenemies。"（PsalmCXXXIX。）Thereisnotawordofthiswhichwecannotendorsewithmoresignificance，aswellaswithgreaterheartinessthanthosecanwholookuponGodasHeiscommonlyrepresentedtothem；whatevercomfort，therefore，thoseindistresshavebeeninthehabitofreceivingfromtheseandkindredpassages，weintensifyratherthannot。Wecannot，alas！makepainceasetobepain，norinjusticeeasytobear；butwecanshowthatnopainisbootless，andthatthereisatendencyinallinjusticetorightitself；sufferingisnotinflictedwilfully，[sic]asitwerebyamagicianwhocouldhaveavertedit；norisitvaininitsresults，butunlesswearecutofffromGodbyhavingdweltinsomeplacewherenoneofourkindcanknowofwhathashappenedtous，itwillmoveGod’shearttoredressourgrievance，andwilltendtothehappinessofthosewhocomeafterus，evenifnottoourown。
　　ThemoralgovernmentofGodovertheworldisexercisedthroughus，whoarehisministersandpersons，andagovernmentofthisdescriptionistheonlyonewhichcanbeobservedaspracticallyinfluencingmen’sconduct。Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves，becauseinhelpingthemselvestheyarehelpingHim。Again，VoxPopulivoxDei。Thecurrentfeelingofourpeersiswhatweinstinctivelyturntowhenwewouldknowwhethersuchandsuchacourseofconductisrightorwrong；andsoPaulclencheshislistofthingsthatthePhilippiansweretoholdfastwiththewords，"whatsoeverthingsareofgoodfame"-thatistosay，hefallsbackuponanappealtotheeducatedconscienceofhisage。
　　Certainlythewickeddosometimesappeartoescapepunishment，butitmustberememberedtherearepunishmentsfromwithinwhichdonotmeettheeye。Ifthesefallonaman，heissufficientlypunished；iftheydonotfallonhim，itisprobablewehavebeenoverhastyinassumingthatheiswicked。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　GODTHEUNKNOWN
　　ThereaderwillalreadyhavefeltthatthepanzoisticconceptionofGod-theconception，thatistosay，ofGodascomprisingalllivingunitsinHisownsingleperson-doesnothelpustounderstandtheoriginofmatter，noryetthatoftheprimordialcellwhichhasgrownandunfoldeditselfintothepresentlifeoftheworld。HowwastheworldrenderedfitforthehabitationofthefirstgermofLife？Howcameittohaveairandwater，withoutwhichnothingthatweknowofaslivingcanexist？Wastheworldfashionedandfurnishedwithaqueousandatmosphericadjunctswithaviewtotherequirementsoftheinfantmonad，andtohisduedevelopment？Ifso，wehaveevidenceofdesign，andifsoofadesigner，andifsotheremustbeSomefarvasterPersonwholoomsoutbehindourGod，andwhostandsinthesamerelationtohimashetous。AndbehindthisvasterandmoreunknownGodtheremaybeyetanother，andanother，andanother。
　　ItiscertainthatLifedidnotmaketheworldwithaviewtoitsownfuturerequirements。Fortheworldwasatonetimeredhot，andtherecanhavebeennolivingbeinguponit。Norisitconceivablethatmatterinwhichtherewasnolife-inasmuchasitwasinfinitelyhotterthanthehottestinfusionwhichanylivinggermcansupport-couldgraduallycometobealivewithoutimpregnationfromalivingparent。Alllivingthingsthatweknowofhavecomefromotherlivingthingswithbodiesandsouls，whoseexistencecanbesatisfactorilyestablishedinspiteoftheirbeingoftentoosmallforourdetection。Since，then，theworldwasoncewithoutlife，andsincenoanalogypointsinthedirectionofthinkingthatlifecanspringupspontaneously，wearedriventosupposethatitwasintroducedintothisworldfromsomeothersourceextraneoustoitaltogether，andifsowefindourselvesirresistiblydrawntotheinquirywhetherthesourceofthelifethatisintheworld-theimpregnatorofthisearth-maynotalsohavepreparedtheearthforthereceptionofhisoffspring，asahenmakesanegg-shellorapeachastonefortheprotectionofthegermwithinit？Notonlyarewedrawntotheinquiry，butwearedrawnalsototheanswerthattheearthwassoprepareddesignedlybyaPersonwithbodyandsoulwhoknewbeforehandthekindofthingherequired，andwhotookthenecessarystepstobringitabout。
　　IfthisissowearemembersindeedoftheGodofthisworld，butwearenothischildren；wearechildrenoftheUnknownandVasterGodwhocalledhimintoexistence；andthisinafarmoreliteralsensethanwehavebeeninthehabitofrealising[sic]
　　toourselves。Foritmaybedoubtedwhetherthemonadsarenotastrulyseminalincharacterastheprocreativematterfromwhichallanimalsspring。
　　Itmustberememberedthatifthereisanytruthintheviewputforwardin"LifeandHabit，"andin"EvolutionOldandNew"（andIhavemetwithnoseriousattempttoupsetthelineofargumenttakenineitherofthesebooks），thennocomplexanimalorplantcanreachitsfulldevelopmentwithouthavingalreadygonethroughthestagesofthatdevelopmentonaninfinitenumberofpastoccasions。Aneggmakesitselfintoahenbecauseitknowsthewaytodoso，havingalreadymadeitselfintoahenmillionsandmillionsoftimesover；theeaseandunconsciousnesswithwhichitgrowsbeinginthemselvessufficientdemonstrationofthisfact。Ateachstageinitsgrowth{hechickenisreminded，byareturnoftheassociatedideas，ofthenextstepthatitshouldtake，anditaccordinglytakesit。
　　Butifthisisso，andifalsothecongeriesofallthelivingformsintheworldmustberegardedasasingleperson，throughouttheirlonggrowthfromtheprimordialcellonwardstothepresentday，then，byparityofreasoning，thepersonthuscompounded-thatistosay，LifeorGod-shouldhavealreadypassedthroughagrowthanalogoustothatwhichwefindhehastakenuponthisearthonaninfinitenumberofpastoccasions；andthedevelopmentofeachclassoflife，withitsculminationinthevertebrateanimalsandinman，shouldbeduetorecollectionbyGodofhishavingpassedthroughthesamestages，ornearlyso，inworldsanduniverses，whichweknowoffrompersonalrecollection，asevidencedinthegrowthandstructureofourbodies，butconcerningwhichwehavenootherknowledgewhatsoever。
　　SosmallaspaceremainstomethatIcannotpursuefurtherthereflectionswhichsuggestthemselves。Afewconcludingconsiderationsareherealonepossible。
　　Weknowofthreegreatconcentricphasesoflife，andwearenotwithoutreasontosuspectafourth。Iftherearesomanythereareverylikelymore，butwedonotknowwhetherthereareornot。Theinnermostsphereoflifeweknowofisthatofourowncells。Thesepeopleliveinaworldoftheirown，knowingnothingofus，norbeingknownbyourselvesuntilveryrecently。Yettheycanbeseenunderamicroscope；theycanbetakenoutofus，andmaythenbewatchedgoinghereandthereinperturbationofmind，endeavouring[sic]tofindsomethingintheirnewenvironmentthatwillsuitthem，andthendyingonfindinghowhopelesslydifferentitisfromanytowhichtheyhavebeenaccustomed。Theyliveinus，andmakeusupintothesinglepersonwhichweconceiveourselvestoform；wearetothemaworldcomprisinganorganicandaninorganickingdom，ofwhichtheyconsiderthemselvestobetheorganic，andwhateverisnotverylikethemselvestobetheinorganic。Whethertheyarecomposedofsubordinatepersonalitiesornotwedonotknow，butwehavenoreasontothinkthattheyare，andifwetouchground，sotospeak，withlifeintheunitsofwhichourownbodiesarecomposed，itislikelythatthereisalimitalsoinanupwarddirection，thoughwehavenothingwhatevertoguideusastowhereitis，noranycertaintythatthereisalimitatall。
　　Weareourselvesthesecondconcentricsphereoflife，webeingtheconstituentcellswhichunitetoformthebodyofGod。Ofthethirdsphereweknowasinglememberonly-theGodofthisworld；
　　butweseealsothestarsinheaven，andknowtheirmultitude。
　　Analogypointsirresistiblyinthedirectionofthinkingthattheseotherworldsarelikeourown，begoddedandfulloflife；
　　italsobidsusbelievethattheGodoftheirworldisbegottenofonemoreorlesslikehimself，andthathisgrowthhasfollowedthesamecourseasthatofallothergrowthsweknowof。
　　Ifso，heisoneoftheconstituentunitsofanunknownandvasterpersonalitywhoiscomposedofGods，asourGodiscomposedofallthelivingformsonearth，andasallthoselivingformsarecomposedofcells。ThisistheUnknownGod。
　　BeyondthissecondGodwecannotatpresentgo，norshouldwewishtodoso，ifwearewise。Itisnoreproachtoasystemthatitdoesnotprofesstogiveanaccountoftheoriginofthings；
　　thereproachrathershouldlieagainstasystemwhichprofessedtoexplainit，forwemaybewellassuredthatsuchaprofessionwould，forthepresentatanyrate，beanemptyboast。Itisenoughifasystemistrueasfarasitgoes；ifitthrowsnewlightonoldproblems，andopensupvistaswhichrevealahopeoffurtheradditiontoourknowledge，andthisIbelievemaybefairlyclaimedforthetheoryoflifeputforwardin"LifeandHabit"and"Evolution，OldandNew，"andforthecorollaryinsisteduponinthesepages；acorollarywhichfollowslogicallyandirresistiblyifthepositionIhavetakenintheabove-namedbooksisadmitted。
　　Letusimaginethatoneofthecellsofwhichwearecomposedcouldattaintoaglimmeringperceptionofthemannerinwhichheuniteswithothercells，ofwhomheknowsverylittle，soastoformagreatercompoundpersonofwhomhehashithertoknownnothingatall。Wouldhenotdowelltocontenthimselfwiththemasteringofthisconception，atanyrateforaconsiderabletime？Woulditbeanyjustgroundofcomplaintagainsthimonthepartofhisbrothercells，thathehadfailedtoexplaintothemwhomadetheman（or，ashewouldcallit，theomnipotentdeity）
　　whoseexistenceandrelationstohimselfhehadjustcaughtsightof？
　　Butifheweretoarguefurtheronthesamelinesasthoseonwhichhehadtravelledhitherto，andweretoarriveattheconclusionthattheremightbeothermenintheworld。besidestheonewhomhehadjustlearnttoapprehend，itwouldbestillnorefutationorjustgroundofcomplaintagainsthimthathehadfailedtoshowthemannerinwhichhissupposedhumanracehadcomeintoexistence。
　　Hereourcellwouldprobablystop。Hecouldhardlybeexpectedtoarriveattheexistenceofanimalsandplantsdifferingfromthehumanrace，andunitingwiththatracetoformasinglePersonorGod，inthesamewayashehashimselfunitedwithothercellstoformman。Theexistence，andmuchmoretheroundnessoftheearthitself，wouldbeunknowntohim，exceptbywayofinferenceanddeduction。Theonlyuniversewhichhecouldatallunderstandwouldbethebodyofthemanofwhomhewasacomponentpart。
　　Howwouldnotsuchacellbeastoundedifallthatweknowourselvescouldbesuddenlyrevealedtohim，sothatnotonlyshouldthevastnessofthisearthburstuponhisdazzledview，butthatofthesunandofhisplanetsalso，andnotonlythese，butthecountlessothersunswhichwemayseebynightaroundus。
　　Yetitisprobablethatanactualbeingishiddenfromus，whichnolesstranscendsthewildestdreamofourtheologiansthantheexistenceoftheheavenlybodiestranscendstheperceptionofourownconstituentcells。