404 IMMORTALITY. 



taking place In the Interaction between the Egos 

 and the Deity, the different stages of material evolu- 

 tion must correspond to different phases of that 

 spiritual interaction. Parallel, therefore, to the 

 physical evolution, there runs a spiritual evolution, 

 related to it as meaning and motive to outward and 

 visible manifestation. And there is no reason why 

 this process should not be the development, not of 

 Spirit In general, but of particular spirits, why a 

 single Ego should not pass through the succession of 

 organisms and developments of consciousness, from 

 the amoeba to man, and from man to perfection. 

 This gives, as it were, the spiritual interpretation of 

 the descent of man from the beasts, and at the same 

 time assures him of his due and proportionate share 

 in the immortality of the ultimate spirit. 



§ 15. But though the plurality of ultimate exist- 

 ence affords the only safe and sure ground for meta- 

 physical immortality. It is too remote from the 

 phenomena of our world to be at once appealed to 

 in settling the nature of our future life. It is neces- 

 sary to make out the connection of the metaphysical 

 with the physical, and it is just on the subject of 

 this connection that considerable variety of doctrine 

 might prevail. We may admit without derogating 

 from the substantial truth of our principles, that our 

 data are as yet too Inadequate for us to regard 

 speculations concerning the connection of our pre- 

 sent selves with the ultimate spirits as more than 

 probable guesses, to be ratified or modified by the 

 course of future discovery. Hence, though It may 

 be laid down generally that the ultimate spirits 

 manifest themselves in the phenomenal, it is yet 

 necessary to ask what Is the relation of such an 

 eternal spirit to Its successive phases, which form 



