re withdrawn," forced
upon us by the demonstrations of the exact sciences.[111-2]

Thus do we reach the foundation for the faith in a moral government of
the world, which it has been the uniform characteristic of religions to
assert; but a government, as thus analytically reached, not easily
corresponding with that which popular religion speaks of. Such feeble
sentiments as mercy, benevolence and effusive love, scarcely find place
in this conception of the source of universal order. In this cosmical
dust-cloud we inhabit, whose each speck is a sun, man's destiny plays a
microscopic part. The vexed question whether ours is the best possible
or the worst possible world, drops into startling insignificance.
Religion has taught the abnegation of self; science is first to teach
the humiliation of the race. Not for man's behoof were created the
greater and the lesser lights, not for his deeds will the sun grow dark
or the stars fall, not with any reference to his pains or pleasure was
this universe spread upon the night. That Intelligence which pursues its
own ends in this All, which sees from first to last the chain of causes
which mould human action, measures not its purposes by man's halting
sensations. Such an Intelligence is fitly described by the
philosopher-poet as one,

"Wo die Gerechtigkeit so Wurzel schlaeget,
Und Schuld und Unschuld so erhaben waeget
Dass sie vertritt die Stelle aller Guete."[112-1]

In the scheme of the universe, pain and pleasure, truth and error, has
each its fitness, and no single thought or act can be judged apart from
all others that ever have been and ever shall be.

Such was the power that was contemplated by the Hebrew prophet, one from
which all evil things and all good things come, and who disposes them
all to the fulfilment of a final purpose:

"I am the Lord and there is none else. I form the light and create
darkness; I make peace and create evil."

"I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient times the things which are not yet
done."[113-1]

In a similar strain the ancient Aryan sang:--

"This do I ask thee, tell me, O Ahura!
Who is he, working good, made the light and also darkness?
Who is he, working good, made the sleep as well as waking?
Who the night, as well as noon and the morning?"

And the reply came:

"Know also this, O pure Zarathustra: through my wisdom, t