in our sphere, lowly or high, fought on earth for Him. It will be where God is sensibly present, it may be not seen, but felt; where the whole of space is flooded with a soft glow of Light, and the Light is the Love of God. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'1 'He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.' 2

1 Rev. xxi. 3.

2 Ibid. xxii. 20.

APPENDIX

NOTE A. EVOLUTION

THE study of the stages of creation has been pursued with peculiar interest during the last fifty years, owing to the revival by Darwin and his followers of the theory of evolution, generally known by his name. Although, as stated in the text, this theory is not opposed to any statement in Scripture, and is, in fact, perfectly consistent with the idea of the creative power of God, yet a certain number of biologists, of whom Haeckel may be taken as the leader, regard the idea of evolution of one species of plants or animals from another as if it formed decisive evidence against the existence of God. This point may therefore receive a few words of comment.

The doctrine of Darwin, as stated by himself in his last writings, is that species have been gradually modified so as to become new species. This has been effected chiefly through the natural selection of numerous successive, slight, favourable variations; aided in an important manner by the inherited effects of the use and disuse of parts; and in an unimportant manner-that is, in relation to adaptive structures whether past or present-by the direct action of external conditions, and by

variations which seem to us in our ignorance to arise spontaneously. It appears that I formerly underrated the frequency and value of these forms of variation, as leading to permanent modifications of structure independently of natural selection.'1

The doctrine in brief is that in every species certain variations are frequently arising, the causes of which Darwin admits we are ignorant of, and that such of these variations as are favourable to the vigour and health of the individual they affect give it an advantage over its fellows, and are perpetuated by heredity. Everyone must admit the truth, theoretical and practical, of this proposition. Given a useful variation, and an inherited modification follows. But what causes each variation? Darwin admits that he cannot tell; even Haeckel does not profess to tell. The believer in God answers that it is caused by God. The proof is that the idea of God explains the fact.

It may also be observed that there have been still more recent observers, among whom de Vries, an eminent Dutch botanist, is notable, who have maintained that from time to time there occur variations in plants which are not slight' but very considerable, and which are capable of explaining much more rapid evolution of new species. But, slight or important, the interposition of God explains all. And, indeed, if we even confine ourselves to the effects of heredity without variation, it is impossible to see any explanation of the cause of the reproduction of an unchanged progeny except that God has so ordained a rule. For the mere existence of a rule is no explanation of its cause.

There are, however, some curious facts in nature bearing on the extent to which variation 1 Origin of Species, Conclusion.

NOTE A]

EVOLUTION

193

is possible, which are as well recognisable by common persons interested in plants and animals as they can be by learned biologists. We can in both organisms, by selecting specimens which exhibit desirable modifications, and breeding from them under favourable conditions, establish them as permanent varieties. Thus, from the wild species of wheat and other grains, grasses, roots, and flowers and fruits, we have gradually evolved the kinds cultivated in our fields and gardens; and in like manner we have bred the dog from a wolflike progenitor, and the horse and ox and pig in all their varieties from wild animals of inferior utility. But it is remarkable that we can carry all these modifications up to a certain point, but no farther. We seem, after reaching that point, to meet with a blank wall which forbids one inch of further advance. We have no better or more prolific wheat or other grains now than our ancestors had a hundred years ago. We have been breeding the horse and the greyhound for speed under all the stimulus of competition, and with all the resources of wealth, for numberless generations; yet those of the present day scarcely, if at all, beat the records of the eighteenth century. So with our cattle, our best modern specimens are no advance upon the best of a long-past age. What has been effected is only a general improvement; there is a greater number of good quality now, but the choicest are no better than were the selected champions from which they are descended.

Such are the facts. One cannot explain them on the theory of natural selection leading to new species, which would be a much wider departure than the unlimited improvement of old; but one can easily enough understand them on the theory

of an overruling God. For if, say, we could breed oxen to the size of elephants, horses to the speed of an express train, greyhounds till hares would be caught in a few springs, and if we could make other improvements' all round, the whole conditions of existence in the world would be so altered that many species would become exterminated, and we ourselves should become subjected to new laws of life to which the imagination fails to rise. Certainly the continuity of existence on which our ordered progress in civilisation depends. would be wholly broken up. It is well, then, that fixed bounds have been set, beyond which our efforts at evolution fall feebly back.

It is constantly argued by evolutionists that we must not judge from the results of a few centuries what could be effected in millions of years. That is quite true. But as little are they entitled to say that millions of years will effect something of which we see no trace in the thousands of years of which we have written and pictorial records.

The occurrence or discovery of intermediate forms of extinct or living animals-missing links,' as they are sometimes called-is no logical proof that one species is descended from another, for such cases might equally occur by direct creation, if the circumstances rendered it suitable to Divine purpose.

The common ground of truth which Darwinians and their opponents might agree to occupy seems to be this: 1. That varieties arise capable of perpetuation and of increase up to definite limits. 2. That there is no direct evidence of these limits being ever passed, though it is quite possible that in millions of years they might be passed. 3. That the occurrence of variations cannot be explained