172 LIFE IN NATURE. 



the world, and the most simple find his path made 

 clearer. For each man may know and be assured 

 not only that he may, but that he must, regard the 

 facts of his own and others' history, the events of his 

 and their experience, as being something more and 

 other than that which he perceives in them, and may 

 call in with confidence his best and highest feelings 

 to guide him in his belief what this must be. 



And not only so ; it seemed to me we might go 

 farther, and from the study of nature obtain a deeper 

 knowledge respecting man. When I gained the per- 

 ception that nature must be regarded as universally 

 living, I could not help asking why it was not so 

 perceived by us. How comes there to be that 

 appearance of deadness in the universe which makes 

 the organic world seem so distinctively endowed 

 with life, and which has prompted the familiar 

 term " dead matter ? " If nature is living, why do 

 we perceive it dead ? 



Pondering this question, there grew upon me the 

 thought that its solution was to be found in a change 

 of our idea respecting man. If there be a deadness 

 perceived in nature, when it is not there, may not 



