272 HEREDITY AND CHRISTIAN PROBLEMS 



Finally, the natural laws of which we have been 

 treating have one signal exception ; one supreme 

 fiofure stands above their utmost reach. What- 

 ever may be the conclusion concerning other men, 

 it is impossible to account for the personality of 

 Jesus of Nazareth by either heredity or environ- 

 ment, or by both. Whether He be human or 

 divine, or both in one. He is in the history of the 

 race absolutely and unapproachably unique. 



The study of these questions which force them- 

 selves so constantly upon the thought of all who 

 observe with any care the facts of life is not with- 

 out its beneficial effect. He who knows what 

 men are, and what their tendencies are, will not 

 easily misjudge his brother. The growth of that 

 charity which thinketh no evil is greatly stimu- 

 lated by accurate knowledge of our fellow-men 

 and of the conditions in which their lives are 

 passed. 



He who understands the vitality of an evil act 

 will hesitate long before he does that which can 

 never be recalled, and which, like Frankenstein, 

 may return again and again to disturb and make 

 miserable the author of its being. If we could 

 retain within ourselves the consequences of our 

 misdeeds, we might perhaps be willing to take the 

 chances as to their results ; but no man liveth to 



