5 o METAPHYSICS 



into what are regarded as early historic and even modern 

 times. 



The period of time embraced in this process must 

 necessarily be uncertain, but necessarily prolonged, and the 

 stratification embraced in the process of its deposition 

 must therefore cover a large area of post-diluvian and pre- 

 historic knowledge stretching down to the historic period. 



Its progress embraced and was responsible for the 

 growth of prehistoric civilisation and the foundation of 

 human law and jurisprudence, but its great opportunity 

 and divinely enjoined privilege was the foundation and 

 evolution of a higher moral standard of excellence than 

 had yet been displayed by humanity ; and the development 

 of individual and communal moral character for its sake 

 as well as for its influence on moral progress generally. 



The long process of pre-human psychogenesis attained 

 absolutely perfect and completely rounded proportions in 

 man, to whom the endowment of a moral nature was in 

 addition given, by the cultivation of which he could 

 qualify himself to enter on a higher phase of being, and 

 to attain to a position in relation to the future altogether 

 impossible to the highest animal life. 



During ante-diluvian times, when the relationship of 

 the human family to the Author of its being was seem- 

 ingly closer than in post-diluvian times, its apparent 

 lukewarmness in the matter of the cultivation of its 

 higher powers can only be regarded as due to clinging 

 to or survival of old animal habits and natural disposi- 

 tions, the throwing off of which still continues the great 

 moral task, individual and communal, of the twentieth 

 century of the Christian era. 



There are not wanting, however, references to the 

 growth of the spiritual qualities, such as that Enoch walked 

 with God, in even ante-diluvian times, and that Noah 

 had so commended himself to the respect of the Most 

 High that a renewed opportunity was given to the human 

 race to begin the moral tasks which had proved too great 

 for his predecessors. 



These tasks, during post-diluvian times, continued to 

 be much hindered in their performance by the "clinging 

 of the Old Adam" to his descendants, and in consequence 



