THE STATUE AND THE STONE. 



2. Another point of contrast is the heterogeneous 

 character of the statue, as compared with the homo- 

 geneous nature of the stone. The statue was composed 

 of gold arid silver, iron and clay ; and these substances 

 were moulded and held together in a human shape, 

 not by a vital organization, nor by chemical affinity, 

 but by mere mechanical force. And in this respect 

 the statue graphically represented the outward sym- 

 metry of the great world-kingdoms of antiquity, which 

 was the result, not of a natural spontaneous association, 

 but of a forced union of 'discordant elements by human 

 power. The might of the autocrats of Egypt, Assyria, 

 and Rome blended together races and creeds that 

 had no natural affinity or sympathy with each other 

 into one form of government, one mode of political 

 life, and one mould of religious profession. This hard 

 mechanical uniformity was secured by crushing the 

 instincts of human nature, and the liberties of the 

 individual. And hence there was a constant tendency 

 in this compulsory unity towards disintegration. On 

 the slightest temptation there was a fierce attempt 

 made to throw off the hated yoke ; and frequent 

 revolutions, and chronic internal dissensions showed 

 how forced and unnatural was the compression. And 

 as with these mighty kingdoms of old, which over- 

 weighted and overshadowed the world, so is it with 

 every combination which men form for their own 

 wicked and selfish purposes. It is a forced and un- 

 natural association. There is no real unanimity. The 

 kingdom of Satan is a kingdom divided against itself, 



