Religious Nature. 2S9 



a PERSON. Nothing like this combination of powers 

 is found in the animal, nor is it needed. The natu- 

 ral impulses and instincts of the animal, are limited 

 by the functions of the body, to certain periods, or 

 to a given degree of strength, so that they are self- 

 regulative and need no hmiting power above them. 

 In man, they are mainly impulses indicating direc- 

 tion, but their limitation must come from the man 

 himself. They bring ruin to him before they limit 

 themselves. 



Still higher, we find the Religious Nature, that 

 joins this life to another. It gives hopes of immor- 

 tality, belief in a Father's care, and sends the de- 

 sires of the heart up in prayer to Him. If there is 

 not another life, if there is not a Power that can 

 answer to our cry, then the Religious nature of man 

 is such a blunder as we find in no other part of 

 creation. Every appetite, desire, and instinct, 

 below, has something responsive to it. They are 

 all given, because there is something in the uni- 

 verse that answers to them. The insect deposits 

 her Qg<g in autumn, because the earth is to move 

 on hundreds of millions of miles, and bring the 

 spring time with warmth and leaves for her young. 

 So every animal instinct is answered. 



Shall we believe that this Religious nature is a 

 mockery ? and that, in answer to all these instincts, 

 there is no Father to Hsten when we call? no love 

 to succor, and no light and blessedness beyond the 

 grave ? The heavens and the earth in their adap- 

 tation to the nature of every plant and animal on 



