THE WONDERS OF THE SHORE. 103 
or imperfection, but of an Infinite Maker and 
“ Poietes,” drawing ever fresh forms out of the in- 
exhaustible treasury of His primeval Mind; and yet 
never throwing away a conception to which He has 
once given actual birth in time and space, (but to 
compare reverently small things and great) lovingly 
repeating it, re-applying it; producing the same 
effects by endlessly different methods; or so deli- 
cately modifying the method that, as by the turn 
of a hair, it shall produce endlessly diverse effects ; 
looking back, as it were, ever and anon over the 
great work of all the ages, to retouch it, and fill 
up each chasm in the scheme, which for some 
good purpose had been left open in earlier worlds ; 
or leaving some open (the forms, for instance, neces- 
sary to connect the bimana and the quadrumana) 
to be filled up perhaps hereafter when the world 
needs them; the handiwork, in short, of a living 
and loving Mind, perfect in His own eternity, but 
stooping to work in time and space, and there 
rejoicing Himself in the work of His own hands, 
and in His eternal Sabbaths ceasing in rest 
