DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 197 



lifetime is constantly increasing, so 

 that we may look forward to a time 

 when most men will die a natural 

 death. But if we meet a premature 

 death, as is now generally the case, 

 can this, and other disturbing inter- 

 ruptions in the natural process, after- 

 wards be repaired? Let us hope that 

 this is possible, but a decisive answer 

 we cannot give. Our conviction is that 

 God does not interfere to help man 

 either in the transition itself or in a 

 future life in any other way than he 

 does here in time. Certainly the cler- 

 ical orthodoxy has rightly understood 

 the divine guidance in its teaching of 

 God's general providence, comprising 

 the whole creation, His special provi- 

 dence in regard to mankind, and His 

 most particular providence, limited to 

 the faithful; that is, to those that let 

 themselves be governed by the divine 

 will. Critical experience has never dis- 

 covered any exterior, occasional inter- 

 ference, which moreover is utterly im- 

 possible. God is present and active in 



