This principle explains man’s attitude toward his God.  God governs rocks by force, animals by fear, savage man by force and fear, true men by hope and love.  Man can take God at whatsoever level he pleases.  He who by beastliness turns his body into a log will be held by gravity in one spot like a log.  He who lives on a level with the animals will receive fear and law and lightnings.  He who approaches God through laws of light and heat and electricity will find the world-throne occupied by an infinite Agassiz.  Some approach God through physical senses.  They behold his storms sinking ships, his tornadoes mowing down forests.  These find him a huge Hercules; yet the Judge who seems cruel to the wicked criminal may seem the embodiment of gentleness and kindness to his obedient children.  Man determines what God shall be to him.  Each paints his own picture of Deity.  Macbeth sees him with forked lightnings without and volcanic fires within.  The pure in heart see him as the face of all-clasping Love.  Give him thy heart and he will give thee love, effulgent love, like the affection of mother or lover or friend, only dearer than either.  Give him thy ways, and he will overarch life’s path as the heavens overarch the flowers, filling them with heat by day and yielding cooling dews by night.  Give him but a flickering aspiration and he will give thee balm for the bruised reed and flame for the smoking flax.  Give him the publican’s prayer and he will give thee mercy like the wideness of the sea.  Give his little ones but a cup of cold water and he will give thee to drink of the water of the river of life and bring thee to the banquet hall in the house of many mansions.

[1] Mod.  Ptrs., Vol. 5, Chap. 1.  The Earth—­Veil Star papers:  A Walk Among Trees.

VICARIOUS LIVES AS INSTRUMENTS OF SOCIAL PROGRESS.

“Only he that uses shall even so much as keep.  Unemployed strength steadily diminishes.  The sluggard’s arm grows soft and flabby.  So, even in this lowest sphere, the law is inexorable.  Having is using.  Not using is losing.  Idleness is paralysis.  New triumphs must only dictate new struggles.  If it be Alexander of Macedon, the Orontes must suggest the Euphrates, and the Euphrates the Indus.  Always it must be on and on.  One night of rioting in Babylon may arrest the conquering march.  Genius is essentially athletic, resolute, aggressive, persistent.  Possession is grip, that tightens more and more.  Ceasing to gain, we begin to lose.  Ceasing to advance, we begin to retrograde.  Brief was the interval between Roman conquest of Barbarians, and Barbarian conquest of Rome.  Blessed is the man who keeps out of the hospital and holds his place in the ranks.  Blessed the man, the last twang of whose bow-string is as sharp as any that went before, sending its arrow as surely to the mark.”—­Roswell W. Hitchcock.

CHAPTER IV.