AN ADDRESS TO STUDENTS. 99 



origin and destiny of the universe, nor was I prepared 

 to enunciate any definite views of my own. He turned 

 to me at length and said, ' You surely must have a 

 theory of the universe.' That I should in one way or 

 another have solved this mystery of mysteries seemed 

 to my. friend a matter of course. ' I have not even a 

 theory of magnetism' was my reply. We ought to 

 learn to wait. We ought assuredly to pause before 

 closing with the advances of those expounders of the 

 ways of God to men, who offer us intellectual peace 

 at the modest cost of intellectual life. 



The teachers of the world ought to be its best men, 

 and for the present at all events such men must learn 

 self-trust. By the fullness and freshness of their own 

 lives and utterances they must awaken life in others. 

 The hopes and terrors which influenced our fathers are 

 passing away, and our trust henceforth must rest on 

 the innate strength of man's moral nature. And here, 

 I think, the poet will have a great part to play in the 

 future culture of the world. To him, when he rightly 

 understands his mission, and does not flinch from the 

 tonic discipline which it assuredly demands, we have a 

 right to look for that heightening and brightening of 

 life which so many of us need. To him it is given for 

 a long time to come to fill those shores which the reces- 

 sion of the theologic tide has left exposed. Void of 

 offence to science, he may freely deal with conceptions 

 which science shuns, and become the illustrator and 

 interpreter of that Power which as 



' Jehovah, Jove, or Lord,' 



has hitherto filled and strengthened the human heart. 



Let me utter one practical word in conclusion 

 take care of your health. There have been men who 

 by wise attention to this point might have risen to any 



