The Survival of the Fittest 



and religion to a large extent to-day. But this 

 nascent power must be developed at all cost, if 

 the form is to pass from any lower stage of life 

 to the next higher. Making the most of those 

 powers only which are already firmly established 

 or ruling in the body leads to temporary domi- 

 nance, but to final degeneration or extinction. 



The progressive animal or man must cultivate 

 steadily the powers which have raised him from 

 the next lower stage. He ought to cultivate 

 these by some higher exercise or in some wor- 

 thier form than ever his ancestors have done, if 

 he is to progress. The powers which most clearly 

 distinguish man from the lower animals, which 

 have made him what he is, are evidently moral 

 and religious. But there is evidently an almost 

 endless series of planes of moral and religious 

 life. The progressive portion of the human 

 race can never be content with the moral stand- 

 ards or religious visions and attainments of its 

 near or remote human ancestors. It must press 

 on to higher standards and attainments. This 

 is merely a truism. But a truism is usually a 

 truth which we have forgotten or neglected. 

 If this statement be accepted, other conclusions 

 and results necessarily follow. Some of these 



III 



