power of seeing, by which we condition, arrange, and harmonize facts. The outer light is a revelation of external nature. The inner light discerns that, or reveals that, of which the outer is a symbol. The light of the eye sees the building, the light of the mind, of the soul, endeavours to see the interior; and how vital spirits, heaven's breath, take visible form and glorious drapery. The supernature, entwining with nature; and the outer process, always being the shadow of more beautiful inner realities; we find the sense of immortality blending with our reason, making us conscious of the spiritual medium between the theoretic and experimental aspects of things. It becomes that in us which goes from strength to strength, like the electrodynamic measurements of Wilhelm Weber-models of completeness and skill; it is as genius, higher even than the philosophic method, of Faraday; and better than the intellectual action of Clerk Maxwell on the electro-magnetic theory of light. Sometimes, the joy of it is ready to burst into a shout of triumph; a Divine mediatorship is felt between nature and man, between man and God. The stone in the wall, and the beam of timber, give their answer to this speciality and splendour of generalization in men. The sun and the moon stand still that these Joshuas may achieve their scientific and spiritual victories.

Weak men try to persuade us that there is no spiritual truth, no meaning for the future, no revealing of powers that are growing into similitude with the permanent energies of the universe, though we attain skill to see the interior of our own eye; to tell that a rifle-bullet may pass through our brain in the thousandth

part of a second, so that we have no time to feel it, and pass from life into death without knowing. Strong men know that more meaning is everywhere than they are able to apprehend. A luminous impression on the retina endures about one-sixth of a second; yet, we see a flash of lightning cleave a cloud and disappear in less than the hundred thousandth part of a second. Our own life is never quite the same as any other life, and we are not exactly the very identical individuals during any two seconds of time, yet we are consciously ourselves, and like other men. The best men know that the art and science, revealed in the universe, are the great art and science of God; and that our discerning the truth is by Divine irradiation. To receive more and more of this is the great work of life; and by it, living in God, good men make a concord of the various sounds; combine the many lights; unravel the mysteries; and their science leads to great faith in the unseen, to wonderful visions of the future, the grand transaction of the resurrection.

All that we have made our own, by incorporation into our character, will accompany us into the future, and give distinctiveness; whether in deepening the shadow, or in brightening the light. Sir Thomas Browne stated, "The souls of men . . . subsist beyond the body, and outlive death by the privilege of their

proper natures, and without a miracle."1

There are times, special crises of life, when memory seems plenary and all the past is made present. This seems to indicate a coming capability, as to the righteous, in recalling the lessons and processes of Divine grace; so that all the past, as they look upon it, is full of meaning and brightness. To the wicked will come a recollection of opportunities neglected.

"This is truth the poet sings,

"2

That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things."
Lord Tennyson, Locksley Hall.

In superlative moments great discoveries are made; we consciously transcend our ordinary selves; and these processes are allied to those experiences in which runs something of prevision.

The whole may be regarded as indicative of future mastery. The discipline, perfecting our character, cannot be regarded as a less matter of design than is the molecular arrangement of our brains to be a vehicle of thought.

With mastery of knowledge comes manifoldness of knowledge. After due discipline in one mode of thought, we are able to go from the simple to the complex; then, by degrees, to work two, three, or more mental exercises,

at the same time. We converse, read, or play music, while meditating on mechanical, scientific, philosophical research and experiment. The process is delightful, but somewhat fatiguing; and when carried furthest, like researches as to wide surfaces and vast depths, yields startling surprises. It is not unlike the higher mathematics in which reasoning seems almost left behind, and things are known as by a spirit of vision; it is not a climbing of high peaks by weary travellers, but a soaring with wings of eagles. The results thus gained to science by the Newtons, the Herschels, are transcended by the sacred gains in theology by Patriarchs and Apostles. It is a noble work—

"Lifting Better up to Best :

Planting seeds of knowledge pure,

Through Earth to ripen, through Heaven endure."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, May-Day.

In it the mind exceeds material and temporal limitations as in a moment; and the spirit, well holden together, has a thousandfold of life; is aware of a further coming enlarged competence to know and enjoy all the possibilities of the universe. It is apprehension of the nature of the eternal and substantial realities, an anticipation

"That our life in Heaven above
Springs from the life below."

RESEARCH XXX.

ON BEING OUR OWN SELVES IN THE FUTURE.

"A physical philosopher, examining the world, and testing it by the standard of utility, for the purpose of providing comfort and pleasure, may well say it is a bad world; but Christianity teaches us to regard the physical world as a habitation adapted to be the scene of man's moral and intellectual discipline.

"If, as Christians believe, there are already in another state of being 'saints made perfect,' they must be still as free in heaven as they were on earth. They are guaranteed against a renewed fall, however, by the experience through which they have been divinely led, and by the clear light for which that experience prepared them: a light unto which, from its purity, nothing which maketh a lie can enter."-T. VINCENT TYMMS, The Mystery of God, pp. 123, 128.

SHALL we in the future state be our own familiar selves? with the peculiarities of disposition, the same intellectual and moral habits, which continue with us through all the conditions of our present life?

The roots, stems, branches, leaves of a tree, are distinguishable from one another, and from the fruit which crowns all; yet they are so related that all and every of the parts, in due proportion, are required for the perfect tree. On the same principle, we rightly imagine that, as in every stage of our present life, we preserve communion with ourselves; and, whatever the changes, remain our very selves; we shall be the same individuals, during the course of progression in know