Lect. IX.] THE LINKS OF. CREATED BEIXG. 211 



througli our forgetfulness of the fact, that in a drama 

 the element of time is often annihilated for dramatic 

 purposes. There is Darwinism in this also ; the cold 

 north, which has hardened our bodies and made us 

 the envy of all nations, in iron energy and cool cour- 

 age, has also chilled our imagination and stiffened our 

 mental frame. Yet, cold and unimaginative as we are, 

 we shall never cease to be mystics, for we are flounder- 

 ing in a sea of mystery : but there are subjects that our 

 minds can grasp — things that our hands find to do ; let 

 us do them with our mioht. 



Even the ancient heathens, says Bacon, believed that 

 the highest link of creation was fastened to Jupiter's 

 chair ; are not our faculties given to us that we may 

 trace the golden links one after the other, until we, 

 mentally, reach that throne ? 



Are our faculties trustworthy ? I think they are. 

 Is there anything in creation more sacred than the 

 human mind, — any conditioned Being that comes 

 nearer to the unconditioxed Beixg ? May not human 

 beings, by a process of development, go on improving, 

 so as to become what the Eastern folk would call '^sons 

 of light ? " These are questions to be asked ; let us 

 answer them by acting. 



Whilst the world remains, there will be mystics and 

 naturalists ; there will be dreamy metaphysicians, and 

 active, bustling men of science. Such opposite t}^es 

 will always be a trial to each other ; if they are pulling 



