86 GLAUCUS ; OR, 



by the transformations of many a polype, yet the 

 species remain as permanent and strongly marked 

 as in the highest mammal. Such progress as expe- 

 rimental 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 explained by, the simple old 

 belief which the Bible sets before us, of a Living 

 God : not a mere past will, such as the Koran sets 

 forth, creating once and for all, and then leaving 

 the universe, to use Goethe's simile, " to spin round 

 liis finger ; " nor again, an " all-pervading spirit,' 

 words which are mere contradictory jargon, con- 

 cealing, from those who utter them, blank Mate- 

 rialism : but One who works in all things which 

 have obeyed Him to will and to do of his good 

 pleasure, keeping His abysmal and self-perfect pur- 

 pose, yet altering the methods by which that purpose 

 is attained, from aeon to seon, ay, from moment to 

 moment, for ever various, yet for ever the same. 

 This great and yet most blessed paradox of the 

 Changeless God, who yet can say, " It repenteth 



