44 



EEV. a. F. WHIDBORNE, M.A., F.G.S., ON 



stage upon stage, each given full time for its proper develop- 

 ment, each duly prepared for the sequence of its successor. 

 Nothing would be hastened ; nothing would be left incomplete ; 

 and nothing would be delayed beyond its proper time. 



(13) As God is invisible, His creation would l)e expected to 

 be unseen in its inception, and only revealed in its results. His 

 mechanism would have hidden origins, which would come into 

 view only as reflections of its progress towards maturity. The 

 more distant causes producing each effect would be invisible or 

 dimly seen ; and to luiman eyes the results would appear to 

 grow up of themselves, simply because the Hand that was 

 producing them was hid. 



(14) As God is all-wise, His creation would be expected to 

 display His wisdom at every point. The best course would be 

 adopted to attain the destined end. Adaptations would be 

 found most suitable for all requirements. Devices would 

 be seen most fitted for all emergencies. Arrangements 

 would be continually met with which would prove, when 

 rightly discerned, to be exactly the best arrangements to meet 

 the circumstances under which they occurred. 



(15) As God is righteous, His creation would be expected to 

 exhibit moral governance. Direction towards riglit, advance 

 tow^ard perfection would pervade its course. Its laws would be 

 sternly against evil ; its retribution for wrong severe ; its 

 rewards for n<j;ht ehective. Its controlling forces would ever 

 make for good ; and that good, as it developed, would be found 

 to be not the immediate material advantage, but ultimate moral 

 good of the loftiest kind. 



(16) As God is good, His creation would be expected to be 

 full of the results of goodness. It would display beneficence. 

 It would produce benefits. It would be the shedding forth of 

 goodness throughout the fulness of its course, and the perfecting 

 of goodness in its end. 



(17) As God is honntifid, His creation would be expected to 

 be rich in all its phases. There would be no niggardliness in its 

 execution ; no straining to make two ends meet ; but a wealth 

 of resource and a wealth of pi eduction, a superabundance of 

 supply for every possible demand. 



(18) As God is glorious. His creation would be expected to be 

 beautiful. The expressions of His glory would appear in His 

 productions. Beauty would peimeate and overlay them all. 

 That beauty would be displayed in infinitely various ways. 

 That beauty would have innumerable ends and uses. But it 

 would exist for itself and not for its utility. It would be the 



