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Contemporary Evolution. 



teaches of a Being who, though the highest, yet in the 

 work of creation, conservation, government, retribution, 

 makes Himself, as it were, the minister and servant of 

 all ; who, though inhabiting eternity, allows Himself to 

 take an interest, and to feel a sympathy, in the matters 

 of space and time. His are all beings, visible and in- 

 visible, the noblest and the vilest of them ; His are the sub- 

 stance, and the operation, and the results of that system 

 of physical nature into which we are born ; His, too, are 

 the powers and achievements of the intellectual essences, 

 on which He has bestowed an independent action and 

 the gift of organisation. 



" The laws of the universe, the principles of truth, the 

 relation of one thing to another, their qualities and 

 virtues, the order and harmony of the whole, all that 

 exists, is from Him ; and, if evil is not from Him, as 

 assuredly it is not, this is because evil has no substance 

 of its own, but is only the defect, excess, perversion, or 

 corruption of that which has. All we see, hear, and touch, 

 the remote sidereal firmament, as well as our own sea 

 and land, and the elements which compose them, and 

 the ordinances they obey, are His. The primary atoms of 

 matter, their properties, their mutual action, their dis- 

 position and collocation, electricity, magnetism, gravita- 

 tion, light, and whatever other subtle principles or opera- 

 tions the wit of man is detecting or shall detect, are the 

 works of His hands. From Him has been every move- 



