112 
conscious being to the phenomenal of course is not essential, 
a ■ 'priori . 
(According to Plato, and even to the later Eleatics and 
Plotinus, and his followers, the ideal of every phenomenon also 
has relation to the true-always. This question, however, is 
not practical ; even allowing the case to be as said by them, 
it would not alter the fact, that the phenomenon, as such, is 
not essential to the conscious being. And it is indisputable 
that the ideal of phenomena may pertain to the conscious 
agent as such ; and if so, its relation to the true-always might 
be remote. But this need not be here pursued.) 
101. In fine, the more we know essentially of ourselves , the 
more we shall learn of the character of the Supreme conscious 
agent ; marking as we must the Finitude in every act of our 
own. It may assist us towards apprehending even the rela- 
tion of the Perfect Being towards the phenomenal, to observe 
the moveableness of limits even in our own actions. Every 
act imposes limits for the time on finite consciousness ; we 
cannot attend to many things at once ; but not so with the 
Perfect Being. We are conscious of needing Assistance. 
Admitting these foundations at all, we must not hesitate to 
treat all Religious questions in the same way as the Moral ; 
that is to say, they must be regarded as pertaining either to 
the true-always, or to the phenomenal. How large a number 
. v .. of critical inquiries belong only to the phenomenal, 
religious and not to the true-always, it will be no little rebel 
hereafter to find. And how deep and satisfactory 
an assurance may arise from finding the highest truths of our 
Christianity in the region of the true-always, must remain to 
be perceived in our later analysis. 
102. Our practical responsibilities, whether moral 
or religious, doubtless now lie in the sphere of the 
phenomenal ; but our characters, as conscious beings, become 
elevated by having clearer and clearer relation with the true- 
always. And we may fitly conclude all that has thus far been 
demonstrated, by saying to every one who has thoughtfully 
followed what has here been adduced : — If you would be 
honest and practical, aim to use rightly the phenomenal, 
remembering that it is transitory ; but aim also, as men, to 
perfect your conscious relation with the “ true-always ” This, 
in other words, is — If you would be worthy of your Rationality 
and Responsibility, aim at the Religious life, as the only 
abiding Reality. — But we must not anticipate. 
Positivism denies what we mean by Religion, as well as all 
Causation. We must deal briefly with that hereafter. 
to 
questions 
Conclusion. 
