14 



Thus we find ourselves in continual contact with the 

 Almighty operator, and, so far as our intellect is concerned, 

 unable to exercise it but upon His work. But this could not 

 be if we were in a condition of necessary and absolute 

 ignorance of God. The cup cannot contain the ocean, but it 

 may be filled from its water. So we are unable to grasp as 

 one magnificent whole the boundless and varied operation of 

 the sustainer of all things, much less can we adequately 

 conceive the breadth of the attributes of His own infinite 

 nature ; but we can see in His work skill and power such as 

 we ourselves can exhibit in a less degree. Nor have we any 

 difficulty in seeing benevolence in the boundless and varied 

 life with which our earth is peopled, all the arrangements for 

 which tend to the happiness of the living. In like manner, 

 we find that when men live in any way unnatural lives their 

 action tends to their own weakness and decay, while the 

 violation of all social obligation destroys confidence, so that 

 lying, deception, theft, and every other trespass on the rights 

 of others tend to the disruption of the bonds of society, 

 and require suppression, that full communal life may remain. 

 These facts, which are invariable, as plainly show us the 

 righteousness and truth of the Author of our nature, and the 

 reality of His moral rule, as the physical universe shows us 

 His skill and power. Thus it appears that a knowledge of 

 God, of His moral character, and of our obligation to do His 

 will, may in some measure be learned by his government of us. 



But as all such knowledge is rudimentary, and requires 

 long time and patient thought, as well as large range of 

 observation, and, after all, is only of authority to the individual 

 who has thought it out for himself, we require some more 

 certain, extensive, and authoritative teaching, that we may 

 from the first live natural lives, that is, lives in accordance 

 with the requirements, capabilities, and obligations of our 

 nature. This need becomes more imperative from the fact 

 that we begin life in a condition of total ignorance, and have 

 each for ourselves to acquire such knowledge of external 

 things as will enable us to prolong and improve our life in this 

 world ; and this in many cases so engrosses the attention as 

 to leave no room for anything besides. 



Not only is there nothing in human nature to prevent such 

 a revelation of the divine will, but our relations of subordina- 

 tion and dependence, the grounds of responsibility, make 

 it likely that such revelation will be granted, and that, in 

 some way, certain and conscious intercourse with the Father 

 of our spirits will take place. We know of no being but 

 God with whom we as men can have free interchange of 



