THE. GENESIS OF NATURE. 65 



association of ideas is one c-f the chief functions. It accordingly has 

 its periods of keenness and uncertainty, and decays as age advances. 

 Thus, the l)rain is not a mere instrument on which the spirit plays ; 

 on the contrary, it is almost more true that the brain plays upon 

 the spirit. It will occur to everyone that this is the case when 

 sleep is disturbed by nightmare ; and the experience of our waking 

 hours differs only in its character, not in respect of its modus 

 operandi. 



There is a spiritual side to all thought, for the sentient power (or 

 self) is identical with the human spirit. But apart from the body 

 there is, for man, no thought. Hence the need, as well as the 

 promise, of the resurrection of the body — an article of the Creed of 

 the whole of Christendom, east and west. The human spirit feels 

 and tvilh; luit what it shall feel, if not what it shall will, is 

 determined by causes external to it, though possibly belonging to 

 its immediate environment — that part of the l^rain in which the 

 memory is located — alone, as during meditation. 



The question here discussed is one quite apart from that of 

 creation or evolution, as the origin of all things, and is capal)le of 

 solution by a regard for facts within the reach of everybody. 

 Moreover, it is decided for us in the Holy Scriptures, which contain 

 innumeral)le passages indicating that at death it is not only our 

 powers of locomotion and cunning workmanship, ])ut our very 

 thoughts that perish. Christ, however, has said, " I am the 

 resurrection and the life, he that believeth in Me, though he were 

 dead, yet shall he live." " I will raise him up at the last day." It 

 is better to rest our hope on these grand statements than to put 

 any trust in a natural immortality. 



From the Eev. J. Rate, M.A. — 



We are much obliged to the Rev. G. F. Whidborne for his 

 interesting paper. 



He says, " Ask nature, where is the law-giver Not in me ; I 

 obey the laws ... I am their servant not their master ; and 

 yet no law can exist without a law-giver." 



May I make one remark. JNIuch confusion of thought is caused 

 by the different meanings in which the word law is used : — 



1. It is used to mean the commands or decrees of a legislative 

 person or body, as distinguished from the cxectdive person 



