THE BIETH OF THE SPIRIT Gl 



the spirit of the child is derived from the spirits 

 of the parents, we might assume that it originated 

 at conception; though the assumption would not 

 be compelled and in itself is very difficult. If the 

 origin of the spirit is subsequent to conception 

 and previous to birth, it then seems a necessity 

 of belief that the child's spirit is derived from its 

 mother, but not from its father. The difficulties 

 that gather about Traducianism seem to make it 

 an almost impossible belief. On the other hand, 

 if we accept the doctrine of Creationism, that each 

 human spirit is a direct creation of the Divine 

 Spirit, the time of its origin may fall within a 

 wide range. 



When the spirit is born, is about as easy to 

 answer as where it is located, a question which 

 has been one of the puzzles of philosophers, little 

 and big, of all ages. If I am not mistaken, Joseph 

 Cook lectured on this subject in his Boston course 

 more than thirty years ago. But I do not remem- 

 ber that he solved the mystery. 



The pre-existence of the spirit as pictured by 

 Wordsworth in the following lines, is a beautiful 

 poetic conception; but hardly needs serious dis- 

 cussion. Its truth or untruth is outside the limits 

 of our investigation. 



" Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: 



The soul that rises with us, our life's star, 

 Hath had elsewhere its setting, 

 And cometh from afar ; 



Not in entire forgetfulness, 

 And not in utter nakedness, 



