THE ASCENT OF THE BODY. 75 



ing laboratory. Observe the variety and intricacy of 

 its metamorphoses, the exquisite gradation of its as 

 cent, the unerring aim with which the one type un 

 foldsnever pausing, never uncertain of its direction, 

 refusing arrest at intermediate forms, passing on to 

 its flawless maturity without waste or effort or 

 fatigue. See the sense of motion at every turn, of 

 purpose and of aspiration. Discover how, with iden 

 tity of process and loyalty to the type, a hair-breadth 

 of deviation is yet secured to each so that no two 

 forms come out the same, but each arises an original 

 creation, with features, characteristics, and individual 

 ities of its own. Remember, finally, that even to 

 make the first cell possible, stellar space required to 

 be swept of matter, suns must needs be broken up, 

 and planets cool, the agents of geology labor millen 

 nium after millennium at the unfinished earth to pre 

 pare a material resting-place for the coming guest. 

 Consider all this, and judge if Creation could have a 

 sublimer meaning, or the Human Race possess a more 

 splendid genesis. 



From the lips of the Prophet another version, an 

 old and beautiful story, was told to the childhood of 

 the earth, of how God made Mini ; how with His own 

 hands lie gathered the Bactrian dust, modelled it, 

 breathed upon it, and it became a living soul. Later, 

 the insight of the Hebrew Poet taught Man a deeper 

 lesson. He saw that there was more in Creation than 

 mechanical production. He saw that the Creator had 

 different kinds of Hands and different ways of model 

 ling. How it was done he knew not, but it was not 

 the surface thing his forefathers taught him. The 

 higher divinity and mystery of the process broke upon 



