38 METAPHYSICS 



explore the realms of matter, energy, and space, to the 

 limits of the reachable and attainable, thereafter laying 

 hold of those great sustaining and guiding lines of 

 principle, described in holy writ as faith and hope, to 

 scale still farther heights and fathom still farther deeps 

 of the unknown, until at last it becomes attainable for us 

 to grasp and be sustained by the principle of charity 

 (or love) held out by the hand of Divine affection, in 

 reward for the exercise of continuous and consistent, if 

 sadly defective, effort, until the entrance of that Glorious 

 Region reserved for the <c survivals of the fittest " of 

 science, and the " Redeemed " and " Ransomed " of 

 Revelation. 



Whether this region is synonymous with the heaven 

 of theology it seems scarcely relevant to the character 

 of these remarks to enquire, but this we feel warranted 

 in saying, that heaven must necessarily have its entrance 

 in this world made visible and recognisable with well- 

 marked lines and features of physical, mental, and moral 

 character determining its discovery, open to the obser- 

 vation of all, capable of discovery by all, and affording 

 a sense of ultimate shelter, security, and enjoyment to all. 



Whether, on the other hand, hell is the region so 

 vividly depicted in holy writ, and by many a secular pen and 

 graphic pencil, and the realm to which those who fail in 

 their attainment of what is above described, it would 

 here be futile to attempt, and absolutely impossible to 

 claim as true, but this we feel warranted in saying, that 

 when man, even a good man, tries himself at the " bar 

 of his conscience " he realises that he has wittingly or 

 unwittingly broken innumerable laws, and does penance 

 as the punishment of his guilt in " contrition of soul." 

 But if instead of answering to the description of the 

 average or good man he be a bad man, in the literal 

 sense of the phrase, then, whether he tries himself at 

 the " bar of his conscience " or not he feels the punish- 

 ment of his guilt as " a matter of course," and is made 

 to realise that it is not necessary to wait for a future 

 existence, to feel that the penalties for the breaking of 

 laws, of both the human and divine governments, are 

 not delayed, but that of necessity and inexorably there 



