throughout the knowable universe is the same
energy that wells up in us as consciousness. Speaking for myself, I can
see no insuperable difficulty in the notion that at some period in the
evolution of Humanity this divine spark may have acquired sufficient
concentration and steadiness to survive the wreck of material forms and
endure forever. Such a crowning wonder seems to me no more than the fit
climax to a creative work that has been ineffably beautiful and
marvellous in all its myriad stages.

Only on some such view can the reasonableness of the universe, which
still remains far above our finite power of comprehension, maintain its
ground. There are some minds inaccessible to the class of considerations
here alleged, and perhaps there always will be. But on such grounds, if
on no other, the faith in immortality is likely to be shared by all who
look upon the genesis of the highest spiritual qualities in Man as the
goal of Nature's creative work. This view has survived the Copernican
revolution in science, and it has survived the Darwinian revolution.
Nay, if the foregoing exposition be sound, it is Darwinism which has
placed Humanity upon a higher pinnacle than ever. The future is lighted
for us with the radiant colours of hope. Strife and sorrow shall
disappear. Peace and love shall reign supreme. The dream of poets, the
lesson of priest and prophet, the inspiration of the great musician, is
confirmed in the light of modern knowledge; and as we gird ourselves up
for the work of life, we may look forward to the time when in the truest
sense the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of Christ, and
he shall reign for ever and ever, king of kings and lord of lords.

REFERENCES.

C.P., Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy, 1874;
U.W., The Unseen World, 1876;
D., Darwinism and Other Essays, 1879;
E.E., Excursions of an Evolutionist, 1884.

1: C.P. ii. 432-451.
2: C.P. ii. 89-91.
3: C.P. ii. 318-321; D. 45.
4: U.W. 40-42; D. 65-74; E.E. 278-282, 327, 336.
5: C.P. ii. 154-159.
6: C.P. ii. 133-135.
7: D. 45-48; E.E. 306-319.
8: C.P. ii. 310.
9: E.E. 109-146.
10: C.P. ii. 284-323.
11: C.P. ii. 342-346, 358-363.
12: C.P. ii. 202-208.
13: C.P. ii. 213-224.
14: C.P. ii. 334.
15: C.P. ii. 312-315.
16: U.W. 54; E.E. 289-291.
17: U.W. 47-50; D. 75.
18: D. 96-102.
19: C.P. ii. 406.
20: C.P. i. 45-71, 286; ii.