126 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



ence, indeed, — that in regard to our works we see 

 that our knowledge of natural laws is very imper- 

 fect, and our control over them is very feeble ; 

 whereas in the machinery of Nature there is evi- 

 dence of complete knowledge and of absolute 

 control. The universal rule is that everything is 

 brought about by way of Natural Consequence. 

 But another rule is, that all natural consequences 

 meet and fit into each other in endless circles of 

 Harmony and of Purpose. And this can only be 

 explained by the fact that what we call Natural 

 Consequence is always the conjoint effect of an 

 infinite number of elementary Forces, whose action 

 and reaction are under direction of the Will which 

 we see obeyed, and of the Purposes which we see 

 actually attained. 



It is, indeed, the completeness of the analogy 

 between our own works on a small scale, and the 

 works of the Creator on an infinitely large scale, 

 which is the greatest mystery of all. Man is 

 under constraint to adopt the principle of Adjust- 

 ment, because the Forces of Nature are external to 

 and independent of his Will. They may be man- 

 aged, but they cannot be disobeyed. It is impos- 



