THE "WONDERS OF THE SHORE. 73 



all the facts which have been observed ; and 

 there is, therefore, an almost infinite inductive 

 probability against it. As far as we know yet, 

 though all the dreams of the Transmutationists 

 are outdone by the transformations of many a 

 polype, yet the species remain as permanent and 

 strongly marked as in the highest mammal. Such 

 progress as experimental science actually shows 

 us, is quite awful and beautiful enough to keep 

 us our lives long in wonder ; but it is one which 

 perfectly agrees with, and may be perfectly ex- 

 plained by, the simple old belief, which the Bible 

 sets before us, of a Living God: not a mere past 

 ^vill, such as the Koran sets forth, creating once 

 and for all, and then leaving the universe, to use 

 Goethe's simile, " to spin round his finger " ; 

 nor again, an " all-pervading spirit," words which 

 are mere contradictory jargon, concealing, from 

 those who utter them, blank IMatcrialism : but 

 One who works in all things which have obeyed 

 Ilim to will and to do of His good plciusure, 

 keeping Ili.s abysmal and self-perfect purpose, 

 yet altering the methods by which that purpose 

 is ftttjiincd, from a-on to jron, ay, from moment 

 to moment, for ever various, yet for ever the 

 same. This great and yet most blessed paradox 



