74 GLAUCUS ; OR, 



of the Changeless God, who yet can say, " It 

 repenteth me," and, " Behold, I work a new thing 

 on the earth," is revealed no less by nature than 

 by Scripture ; the changeableness, not of caprice 

 or imperfection, but of an Infinite Maker and 

 " Poietes," drawing ever fresh forms out of the 

 inexhaustible treasury of the primeval mind ; and 

 yet never throwing away a conception to which 

 He has once given actual birth in time and space, 

 but (to compare reverently small things and 

 great) lovingly repeating it, reapplying it ; pro- 

 ducing the same effects by endlessly different 

 methods ; or so delicately modifying the method 

 that, as by the turn of a hair, it shall produce 

 endlessly diverse effects ; looking back, as it 

 were, ever and anon over the great work of all 

 the ages, to retouch it, and fill up each chasm 

 in the scheme, which for some good purpose had 

 been left open in earlier worlds ; or leaving some 

 open (the forms, for instance, necessary to con- 

 nect the bimana and the quadrumana) to be 

 filled up perhaps hereafter when the world needs 

 them ; the handiwork, in short, of a living and 

 loving Mind, perfect in His own eternity, but 

 stooping to work in time and space, and there 

 rejoicing Himself in the work of His own hands, 



