168 ASSIMILATION AND ITS ORGANS. 



in the fact, that the universe runs man-ward from its source. The 

 means to assimilation are implanted faculties in the soul, the body 

 and the mind, of imitation, emulation and order. The use of assi- 

 milation consists in renewing all things upon their highest models, 

 and by their best examples. Accordingly in the physical man, it is 

 the bringing together of the ends of the earth, to be built in the 

 temple of the body. In the mind, it is the translation of nature 

 into thought, and of matter into spirit. In the household, it is the 

 grouping of young and old upon larger affections into consolidated 

 kindreds. In the state, it is that love and warrant of the common- 

 wealth which reconstructs our private lives into the elements of an 

 advancing society. And in the individual and the race, as the part 

 and the whole of existence, it is that supernal fire which burns to 

 make us more and more from the dust of the earth in the jjnage 

 and likeness of the Divinity. The steps of these assimilations are 

 miracles ; the emulation of every nature to other and better than it 

 is ; the death of the old, and the emancipation and resurrection of 

 the new ) the conversion of all brass into gold, of all grubs 'into 

 butterflies ; of earth into passions ; of men into spirits ; — we see not 

 the stages here ; because they are easier, smaller, purer and faster than 

 our light ', but neither do we refuse to credit them, for the result is 

 humanity. 



Therefore it is thus : at one end the universe is the quarry, at the 

 other is the heaven of heavens already shapen and ever shaping ; 

 and God is the sculptor ; and between lie all time and form moulded 

 as they emerge into new heavens and new earths, the likeness of 

 the wisdom uncreated. And all together rises now, because in the 

 new covenant no temple made with hands, but immensity is the 

 mercy-seat. 



