THE NERVOUS SYSTEMS 375 



and suffice, for the conversion of the inorganic matter of 

 the earth's crust, into the living forms, with which we 

 are familiar, by a process of living inter-penetration, and 

 vivification, the organic results of which, are abundantly 

 observable, although yet entirely mysterious. The be- 

 ginning, the continuance, and the ending, of the process, 

 can be seen in endless variety, all around us, yet the most 

 acute observation, the most subtle experimentation, and 

 the most logical reasoning, of the physicist, and physio- 

 logist, have hitherto failed to do more, than maintain a 

 perennial interest, in the enthralling, and transcendental, 

 subject. Not physically, but physiologically, and psycho- 

 logically, regarded, however, we would seem " almost on 

 the brink " of projecting our inner vision across the gulf, 

 that separates the " seen, and temporal," from the "unseen, 

 and eternal"; this gulf, by the united light of science, the 

 telescopic powers of reason, the innate yearnings of the 

 human heart, and the " overglow " of revelation, lying 

 evident, in full perspective, as " one expanse " of grada- 

 tion, and rising perfection of evolutionary result, without 

 a break, or the suspicion of a solution of continuity, in its 

 entire proportions. Thus, the finite, and temporal, can 

 be seen to merge in, and to constitute a portion, for the 

 time being, of, the infinite, and eternal, whose horizons 

 recede and widen, in proportion as the range of vision, 

 and conception, increase, and the "adjustment of sight" 

 becomes more perfect, showing space, time, and eternity, 

 commingling, and inseparably blending, in one continuous 

 expanse of unbroken vision, pointing onwards, and out- 

 wards, to the arrival of that period, when the " former 

 shall be no more," or shall exist as mere evolutionary 

 incidents, in " the story of creation," and cosmic growth. 



