8th.  The history of the human race, as a whole, may be regarded as the unravelling of a hidden plan of nature for accomplishing a perfect state of civil constitution for society in its internal relations (and as the condition of that, by the last proposition, in its external relations also), as the sole state of society in which the tendencies of human nature can be all and fully developed.

Sir Thomas More.—­This is indeed a master of the sentences, upon whose text it may be profitable to dwell.  Let us look to his propositions.  From the first this conclusion must follow, that as nature has given men all his faculties for use, any system of society in which the moral and intellectual powers of any portion of the people are left undeveloped for want of cultivation, or receive a perverse direction, is plainly opposed to the system of nature, in other words, to the will of God.  Is there any government upon earth that will bear this test?

Montesinos.—­I should rather ask of you, will there ever be one?

Sir Thomas More.—­Not till there be a system of government conducted in strict conformity to the precepts of the Gospel.

Montesinos.

“Offer these truths to Power, will she obey? 
It prunes her pomp, perchance ploughs up the root.” 
Lord Brooke.

Yet, in conformity to those principles alone, it is that subjects can find their perfect welfare, and States their full security.  Christianity may be long in obtaining the victory over the powers of this world, but when that consummation shall have taken place the converse of his second proposition will hold good, for the species having obtained its perfect development, the condition of society must then be such that individuals will obtain it also as a necessary consequence.

Sir Thomas More.—­Here you and your philosopher part company.  For he asserts that man is left to deduce from his own unassisted reason everything which relates not to his mere material nature.

Montesinos.—­There, indeed, I must diverge from him, and what in his language is called the hidden plan of nature, in mine will be the revealed will of God.

Sir Thomas More.—­The will is revealed; but the plan is hidden.  Let man dutifully obey that will, and the perfection of society and of human nature will be the result of such obedience; but upon obedience they depend.  Blessings and curses are set before you—­for nations as for individuals—­yea, for the human race.

Flatter not yourself with delusive expectations!  The end may be according to your hope—­whether it will be so (which God grant!) is as inscrutable for angels as for men.  But to descry that great struggles are yet to come is within reach of human foresight—­that great tribulations must needs accompany them—­and that these may be--you know not how near at hand!