RATIONAL LIFE 341 



live. There is a Power operating continually in 

 Nature, which does not come within range of the 

 observation possible to scientific modes and appliances, 

 yet to which Science is ever indirectly bearing witness. 

 This Power has manifested itself at the most impressive 

 periods in the world s history, first at the appearance 

 of Organic Life, again on the appearance of Mind, and 

 again on the advent of Kational Life. At each of 

 these great epochs commencement is given to a 

 grander advance than had been possible under 

 earlier conditions. All Nature testifies not only to 

 government by fixed law, but also to the action of a 

 power whose dominion is expressed at once in each 

 single law, and in the entire system of things as con 

 stituted at any given period in history, and in the 

 appearance of new orders of existence, adding to the 

 complexity of the system as a whole. This power is 

 no Dens ex mackina. Of the Living Source of all 

 existence, in the midst of which we move, to which 

 we belong, and the science of which we rationally con 

 struct, there is no true conception under representa 

 tion of a God dwelling apart from Nature. This can 

 be found only in the representation of a God immanent 

 in Nature, immanent, yet transcendent, transcen 

 dent, yet immanent. The representation which would 

 place the Infinite Being afar off, as if He dwelt 

 apart from Creation, is alien to scientific knowledge, 

 inconsistent with the records of natural history, at 

 variance even with the conditions of rational life. 

 In harmony with thought finding expression wherever 

 man appears, we recognise the Supernatural within 

 the Natural. We cannot, indeed, vindicate for hu 

 manity a general claim to clearness and consistency 



