216 LIFE ON THE EARTH. 



out by experience ? But, finally, if Natural Selection 

 be thus gifted with the power of continually acting 

 for the good of its subject, encouraging it, or rather 

 compelling it to continual advancement, 



Atct a/Horevetv /cat vTrep/xopov e)a/x,vat aAAa>v, 



how is this beneficent personification to be sepa- 

 rated from an ever watchful providence ; which once 

 brought into view sheds a new light over the whole 

 picture of causes and effects? 



It may be thought that, while professing to 

 keep to the old and safe method of reasoning on 

 known causes and ascertained effects, we deviate 

 from this principle in regard to the origin of life, 

 and introduce an unknown cause for phenomena 

 not understood, by calling to our aid an act of 

 'creation.' Be it so, let the word stand for a con- 

 fession of our ignorance of the way in which the 

 governing mind has in this case acted upon matter; 

 we are equally ignorant in every other instance 

 which brings us face to face with the idea of forces 

 not manifested in acts. We see the stream of life 

 flowing onward in a determined course, in harmony 

 with the recognized forces of nature, and yielding 

 a great amount of enjoyment, and a wonderful di- 

 versity of beautiful and instructive phenomena, in 

 which MIND speaks to mind. Life through many 



