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any diligence。
For our forefathers； though they might and did feel the existence
of a Personal God in the world； yet could not demonstrate this
existence； and made mistakes in their endeavour ＇sic＇ to persuade
themselves that they understood thoroughly a truth which they had
as yet perceived only from a long distance。 Hence all the
dogmatism and theology of many centuries。 It was impossible for
them to form a clear or definite conception concerning God until
they had studied His works more deeply； so as to grasp the idea
of many animals of different kinds and with no apparent
connection between them； being yet truly parts of one and the
same animal which comprised them in the same way as a tree
comprises all its buds。 They might speak of this by a figure of
speech； but they could not see it as a fact。 Before this could be
intended literally； Evolution must be grasped； and not Evolution
as taught in what is now commonly called Darwinism； but the old
teleological Darwinism of eighty years ago。 Nor is this again
sufficient； for it must be supplemented by a perception of the
oneness of personality between parents and offspring； the
persistence of memory through all generations； the latency of
this memory until rekindled by the recurrence of the associated
ideas； and the unconsciousness with which repeated acts come to
be performed。 These are modern ideas which might be caught sight
of now and again by prophets in time past； but which are even now
mastered and held firmly only by the few。
When once； however； these ideas have been accepted； the chief
difference between the orthodox God and the God who can be seen
of all men is； that the first is supposed to have existed from
all time； while the second has only lived for more millions of
years than our minds can reckon intelligently； the first is
omnipresent in all space； while the second is only present in the
living forms upon this earth…that is to say； is only more widely
present than our minds can intelligently embrace。 The first is
omnipotent and all…wise； the second is only quasi…omnipotent and
quasi all…wise。 It is true； then； that we deprive God of that
infinity which orthodox Theologians have ascribed to Him； but the
bounds we leave Him are of such incalculable extent that nothing
can be imagined more glorious or vaster； and in return for the
limitations we have assigned to Him； we render it possible for
men to believe in Him ； and love Him； not with their lips only；
but with their hearts and lives。
Which； I may now venture to ask my readers； is the true God…the
God of the Theologian； or He whom we may see around us； and in
whose presence we stand each hour and moment of our lives？
CHAPTER VIII
THE LIFE EVERLASTING
Let us now consider the life which we can look forward to with
certainty after death； and the moral government of the world here
on earth。
If we could hear the leaves complaining to one another that they
must die； and commiserating the hardness of their lot in having
ever been induced to bud forth； we should； I imagine； despise
them for their peevishness more than we should pity them。 We
should tell them that though we could not see reason for thinking
that they would ever hang again upon the same…or any at all
similar…bough as the same individual leaves； after they had once
faded and fallen off； yet that as they had been changing
personalities without feeling it during the whole of their
leafhood； so they would on death continue to do this selfsame
thing by entering into new phases of life。 True； death will
deprive them of conscious memory concerning their now current
life； but； though they die as leaves； they live in the tree whom
they have helped to vivify； and whose growth and continued well…
being is due solely to this life and death of its component
personalities。
We consider the cells which are born and die within us yearly to
have been sufficiently honoured ＇sic＇ in having contributed their
quotum to our life； why should we have such difficulty in seeing
that a healthy enjoyment and employment of our life will give us
a sufficient reward in that growth of God wherein we may live
more truly and effectually after death than we have lived when we
were conscious of existence？ Is Handel dead when he influences
and sets in motion more human beings in three months now than
during the whole； probably； of the years in which he thought that
he was alive？ What is being alive if the power to draw men for
many miles in order that they may put themselves en
rapport with him is not being so？ True； Handel no longer
knows the power which he has over us； but this is a small matter；
he no longer animates six feet of flesh and blood； but he lives
in us as the dead leaf lives in the tree。 He is with God； and God
knows him though he knows himself no more。
This should suffice； and I observe in practice does suffice； for
all reasonable persons。 It may be said that one day the tree
itself must die； and the leaves no longer live therein； and so；
also； that the very God or Life of the World will one day perish；
as all that is born must surely in the end die。 But they who fret
upon such grounds as this must be in so much want of a grievance
that it were a cruelty to rob them of one： if a man who is fond
of music tortures himself on the ground that one day all possible
combinations and permutations of sounds will have been exhausted
so that there can be no more new tunes； the only thing we can do
with him is to pity him and leave him； nor is there any better
course than this to take with those idle people who worry them
selves and others on the score that they will one day be unable
to remember the small balance of their lives that they have not
already forgotten as unimportant to them…that they will one day
die to the balance of what they have not already died to。 I never
knew a well…bred or amiable person who complained seriously of
the fact that he would have to die。 Granted we must all some
times find ourselves feeling sorry that we cannot remain for ever
at our present age； and that we may die so much sooner than we
like； but these regrets are passing with well…disposed people；
and are a sine qua non for the existence of life at all。
For if people could live for ever so as to suffer from no such
regret； there would be no growth nor development in life； if； on
the other hand； there were no unwillingness to die； people would
commit suicide upon the smallest contradiction； and the race
would end in a twelvemonth。
We then offer immortality； but we do not offer resurrection from
the dead； we say that those who die live in the Lord whether they
be just or unjust； and that the present growth of God is the
outcome of all past lives； but we believe that as they live in
God…in the effect they have produced upon the universal life…when
once their individual life is ended； so it is God who knows of
their life thenceforward and not themselves； and we urge that
this immortality； this entrance into the joy of the Lord； this
being ever with God； is true； and can be apprehended by all men；
and that the perception of it should and will tend to make them
lead happier； healthier lives； whereas the commonly received
opinion is true with a stage truth only； and has little permanent
effect upon those who are best worth considering。 Nevertheless
the expressions in common use among the orthodox fit in so
perfectly with facts； which we must all acknowledge； that it is
impossible not to regard the expressions as founded upon a
prophetic perception of the facts。
Two things stand out with sufficient clearness。 The first is the
rarity of suicide even among those who rail at life most
bitterly。 The other is the little eagerness with which those who
cry out most loudly for a resurrection desire to begin their new
life。 When comforting a husband upon the loss of his wife we do
not tell him we hope he will soon join her； but we should
certainly do this if we could even pretend we thought the husband
would like it。 I can never remember having felt or witnessed any
pain； bodily or mental； which would have made me or anyone else
receive a suggestion that we had better commit suicide without
indignantly asking how our adviser would like to commit suicide
himself。 Yet there are so many and such easy ways of dying that
indignation at being advised to commit suicide arises more from
enjoyment of life than from fear of the mere physical pain of
dying。 Granted that there is much deplorable pain in the world
from ill…health； loss of money； loss of reputation； misconduct of
those nearest to us； or what not； and granted that in some cases
these causes do drive men t