e, imponderable, yet
seemingly omnipresent and omnipotent; retreating before the man of
science deeper and deeper, the deeper he delves: namely, the life, which
shapes and makes all phenomena, and all facts. Scientific men are
becoming more and more aware of this unknown force, I had almost said,
ready to worship it. More and more the noblest minded of them are
becoming engrossed with that truly miraculous element in nature which is
always escaping them, though they cannot escape it. How should they
escape it? Was it not written of old--Whither shall I go from Thy
presence? and whither shall I flee from Thy Spirit?

What then can we know of this same life, which is so precious in most
men's eyes?

My friends, it was once said--That man's instinct was in all unknown
matters to take refuge in God. The words were meant as a sneer. I, as a
Christian, glory in them; and ask, Where else should man take refuge,
save in God? When man sees anything--as he must see hundreds of
things--which he cannot account for; things mysterious, and seemingly
beyond the power of his mind to explain: what safer, what wiser word can
he say than--This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
God understands it: though I do not. Be it what it may, it is a work of
God. From God it comes: by God it is ruled and ordered. That at least I
know: and let that be enough for me. And so we may say of life. When we
are awed, and all but terrified, by the unfathomable mystery of life, we
can at least take refuge in God. And if we be wise, we shall take refuge
in God. Whatever we can or cannot know about it, this we know; that it
is the gift of God. So thought the old Jewish Prophets and Psalmists;
and spoke of a breath of God, a vapour, a Spirit of God, which breathed
life into all things. It was but a figure of speech, of course: but if a
better one has yet been found, let the words in which it has been written
or spoken be shewn to me. For to me, at least, they are yet unknown. I
have read, as yet, no wiser words about the matter than those of the old
Jewish sages, who told how, at the making of the world, the Spirit, or
breath, of God moved on the face of the waters, quickening all things to
life; or how God breathed into man's nostrils the breath or spirit of
life, and man became a living soul.

And in the same temper does that true philosopher and truly inspired
Psalmist, who wrote the 139th Psalm, speak of the Spirit or