206 Contemporary Evolution. 



referred to Him. He ' enlighteneth every man that 

 cometh into this world.' His are the dictates of the 

 moral sense, and the retributive reproaches of conscience. 

 To Him must be ascribed the rich endowments of the 

 intellect, the radiation of genius, the imagination of the 

 poet, the sagacity of the politician, the wisdom (as Scrip- 

 ture calls it) which now rears and decorates the Temple, 

 now manifests itself in proverb or in parable. The old 

 saws of nations, the majestic precepts of philosophy, the 

 luminous maxims of law, the oracles of individual wisdom, 

 the traditionary rules of truth and justice and religion, 

 even though imbedded in the corruption, or alloyed with 

 the pride, of the world, bespeak His original agency, 

 and His long suffering presence. Even where there is 

 habitual rebellion against Him, or profound, far-spreading 

 social depravity, still the undercurrent, or the heroic out- 

 burst of natural virtue, as well as the yearning of the 

 heart after what it has not, and its presentiment of its 

 remedies, are to be ascribed to the Author of all good. 

 Anticipations or reminiscences of His glory haunt the 

 mind of the self-sufficient sage and of the pagan devotee ; 

 His writing is upon the wall, whether of the Indian fane 

 or of the porticoes of Greece. He introduces Himself, He 

 all but concurs, according to His good pleasure, and in 

 His selected season, in the issues of unbelief, superstition, 

 and false worship, and changes the character of acts by 

 His overruling operation. He condescends, though He 



