ON THE NON-IMMOllTALlTY OF ANIMALS. G19 
fish exclusive importance be disparaged in the eyes of Him, who 
chargeth with folly even those his angels! ' 
Before Him whose “ centre is everywhere and circumference no¬ 
where,” there is 
-“ no high, no low, no great, no small 
and w'e must remember that it is from Him has emanated the spirit 
of life and immortality—that He is a being of not only un¬ 
bounded power, but love; and that his gifts are not partially be¬ 
stowed or limited to the scope to which man’s exclusive pride 
would confine them. As His providence, so His love, is over all 
His creatures:— 
“ He sees with equal eye, as Goi> of all, 
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall.” 
But suppose, for argument sake, that I allow this ‘‘ difference” 
between the reasoning powers of man and brutes to be one of kind, 
it will not alter my position, or make your’s the stronger;—for 
aught we can tell, spirit, in its indivisibility and simplicity, may have 
as many kinds, and not mere degrees of inferiority and excellency, 
as matter has in its varied combinations. And I do not see why 
the spirit of an animalcula should not differ as much and far more 
essentially from the spirit of an elephant, though each is spirit, as 
a mote of dust or a pebble differs from the noblest mansion or most 
magnificent building or gem, though each is matter, and each a con¬ 
geries of matter. 
It should also be remembered, that there is not only a gradation 
of intellectual rank in the various species, but also among the in¬ 
dividual members of each species; so that the most gifted of an in¬ 
ferior class may be seen to be superior to the least endowed of 
that immediately above it. Thus, each link of creation is wedged 
or dove-tailed in on either side; and the great chain presents itself 
to our view as more intimately and more entirely one. Thus we 
find among the lowest grade of mankind intellects and souls power¬ 
less and grovelling, that may be well said to dove-tail in with the 
most elevated of the brute creation; while, on the other hand, how 
glorious is the contemplation of those master minds among us, 
who, though on earth, evidently belong to a higher sphere, and to 
the company of spirits, more fitted than any dwellers on earth for 
the appreciation of their great powers and pure motives! 
And, finally, in Heaven w'c may be justifiably bold in assuming 
a like gradation. The purified intellect of a Newton will not be 
limited to the enjoyments of an ungifted, uneducated peasant, but 
the reward will be apportioned to ‘Mho talents” improved. 
But we may be justified in more than assuming a gradation of 
rank among the inheritors of Heaven. We arc bound to hold it 
