god the known and god the unknown-第8章
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knows him though he knows himself no more。
This should suffice； and I observe in practice does suffice； for
all reasonable persons。 It may be said that one day the tree
itself must die； and the leaves no longer live therein； and so；
also； that the very God or Life of the World will one day perish；
as all that is born must surely in the end die。 But they who fret
upon such grounds as this must be in so much want of a grievance
that it were a cruelty to rob them of one： if a man who is fond
of music tortures himself on the ground that one day all possible
combinations and permutations of sounds will have been exhausted
so that there can be no more new tunes； the only thing we can do
with him is to pity him and leave him； nor is there any better
course than this to take with those idle people who worry them
selves and others on the score that they will one day be unable
to remember the small balance of their lives that they have not
already forgotten as unimportant to them…that they will one day
die to the balance of what they have not already died to。 I never
knew a well…bred or amiable person who complained seriously of
the fact that he would have to die。 Granted we must all some
times find ourselves feeling sorry that we cannot remain for ever
at our present age； and that we may die so much sooner than we
like； but these regrets are passing with well…disposed people；
and are a sine qua non for the existence of life at all。
For if people could live for ever so as to suffer from no such
regret； there would be no growth nor development in life； if； on
the other hand； there were no unwillingness to die； people would
commit suicide upon the smallest contradiction； and the race
would end in a twelvemonth。
We then offer immortality； but we do not offer resurrection from
the dead； we say that those who die live in the Lord whether they
be just or unjust； and that the present growth of God is the
outcome of all past lives； but we believe that as they live in
God…in the effect they have produced upon the universal life…when
once their individual life is ended； so it is God who knows of
their life thenceforward and not themselves； and we urge that
this immortality； this entrance into the joy of the Lord； this
being ever with God； is true； and can be apprehended by all men；
and that the perception of it should and will tend to make them
lead happier； healthier lives； whereas the commonly received
opinion is true with a stage truth only； and has little permanent
effect upon those who are best worth considering。 Nevertheless
the expressions in common use among the orthodox fit in so
perfectly with facts； which we must all acknowledge； that it is
impossible not to regard the expressions as founded upon a
prophetic perception of the facts。
Two things stand out with sufficient clearness。 The first is the
rarity of suicide even among those who rail at life most
bitterly。 The other is the little eagerness with which those who
cry out most loudly for a resurrection desire to begin their new
life。 When comforting a husband upon the loss of his wife we do
not tell him we hope he will soon join her； but we should
certainly do this if we could even pretend we thought the husband
would like it。 I can never remember having felt or witnessed any
pain； bodily or mental； which would have made me or anyone else
receive a suggestion that we had better commit suicide without
indignantly asking how our adviser would like to commit suicide
himself。 Yet there are so many and such easy ways of dying that
indignation at being advised to commit suicide arises more from
enjoyment of life than from fear of the mere physical pain of
dying。 Granted that there is much deplorable pain in the world
from ill…health； loss of money； loss of reputation； misconduct of
those nearest to us； or what not； and granted that in some cases
these causes do drive men to actual self…destruction； yet
suffering such as this happens to a comparatively small number；
and occupies comparatively a small space in the lives of those to
whom it does happen。
What； however； have we to say to those cases in which suffering
and injustice are inflicted upon defenceless ＇sic＇ people for
years and years； so that the iron enters into their souls； and
they have no avenger。 Can we give any comfort to such sufferers？
and； if not； is our religion any better than a mockery…a filling
the rich with good things and sending the hungry empty away？ Can
we tell them； when they are oppressed with burdens； yet that
their cry will come up to God and be heard？ The question
suggests its own answer； for assuredly our God knows our
innermost secrets： there is not a word in our hearts but He
knoweth it altogether； He knoweth our down…sitting and our
uprising； He is about our path and about our bed； and spieth out
all our ways； He has fashioned us behind and before； and 〃we
cannot attain such knowledge；〃 for； like all knowledge when it
has become perfect； 〃it is too excellent for us。〃
〃Whither then；〃 says David； 〃shall I go from thy Spirit； or
whither shall I go； then； from thy presence？ If I climb up into
heaven thou art there； if I go down into hell thou art there
also。 If I take the wings of the morning and remain in the
uttermost parts of the sea； even there also shall thy hand lead
me； and thy right hand shall hold me。 If I say peradventure the
darkness shall cover me； then shall my night be turned into day：
the darkness and light to thee are both alike。 For my reins
are thine； thou hast covered me in my mother's womb。 My bones
are not hid from thee： though I be made secretly and fashioned
beneath in the earth； thine eyes did see my substance yet being
unperfect； and in thy book were all my members written； which day
by day were fashioned when as yet there was none of them。 Do I
not hate them； O Lord； that hate thee？ and am I not grieved with
them that rise up against thee？ Yea； I hate them right sore； as
though they were mine enemies。〃 （Psalm CXXXIX。） There is not a
word of this which we cannot endorse with more significance； as
well as with greater heartiness than those can who look upon God
as He is commonly represented to them； whatever comfort；
therefore； those in distress have been in the habit of receiving
from these and kindred passages； we intensify rather than not。 We
cannot； alas！ make pain cease to be pain； nor injustice easy to
bear； but we can show that no pain is bootless； and that there is
a tendency in all injustice to right itself； suffering is not
inflicted wilfully； ＇sic＇ as it were by a magician who could have
averted it ； nor is it vain in its results； but unless we are cut
off from God by having dwelt in some place where none of our kind
can know of what has happened to us； it will move God's heart to
redress our grievance； and will tend to the happiness of those
who come after us； even if not to our own。
The moral government of God over the world is exercised through
us； who are his ministers and persons； and a government of this
description is the only one which can be observed as practically
influencing men's conduct。 God helps those who help themselves；
because in helping themselves they are helping Him。 Again； Vox
Populi vox Dei。 The current feeling of our peers is what we
instinctively turn to when we would know whether such and such a
course of conduct is right or wrong； and so Paul clenches his
list of things that the Philippians were to hold fast with the
words； 〃whatsoever things are of good fame〃…that is to say； he
falls back upon an appeal to the educated conscience of his age。
Certainly the wicked do sometimes appear to escape punishment；
but it must be remembered there are punishments from within which
do not meet the eye。 If these fall on a man； he is sufficiently
punished； if they do not fall on him； it is probable we have been
over hasty in assuming that he is wicked。
CHAPTER IX
GOD THE UNKNOWN
The reader will already have felt that the panzoistic conception
of God…the conception； that is to say； of God as comprising all
living units in His own single person…does not help us to
understand the origin of matter； nor yet that of the primordial
cell which has grown and unfolded itself into the present life of
the world。 How was the world rendered fit for the habitation of
the first germ of Life？ How came it to have air and water；
without which nothing that we know of as living can exist？ Was
the world fashioned and furnished with aqueous and atmospheric
adjuncts with a view to the requirements of the infant monad； and
to his due development？ If so； we have evidence of design； and
if so of a designer； and if so there must be Some far vaster
Person who looms out behind our God； and who stands in the same
relation to him as he to us。 And behind this vaster and more
unknown God there may be yet another； and another； and another。
It is certain that Life did not make the world with a view to its
own future requirements。 For the world was at one time red hot；
and there can have been no living being upon it。 Nor is it
conceivable that matter in which there was no life…inasmuch as it
was infinitely hotter than the hottest infusion which any living
germ can support…could gradually come to be alive without
impregnation from a living parent。 All living things that we know
of have come from other living things with bodies and souls；
whose existence can be satisfactorily established in spite of
their being often too small for our detection。 Since； then； the
world was once without life； and since no analogy points in the
direction of thinking that life can spring up spontaneously； we
are driven to suppose that it was introduced into this world from
some other source extraneous to it altogether； and if so we find
ourselves irresistibly drawn to the inquiry whether the source of
the life that is in the world…the impregnator of this earth…may
not also have prepared the earth for the reception of his
offspring； as a hen makes an egg…shell or a peach a stone for the
protection of the germ within it？ Not only are we drawn to the
inquiry； but we are drawn also to the answer that the earth
was so prepared designedly by a Person with body and soul
who knew beforehand the kind of thing he required； and who took
the necessary steps to bring it about。
If this is so we are members indeed of the God of this world； but
we are not his children； we are children of the Unknown and
Vaster God who called him into existence； and this in a far more
literal sense than we have been in the habit of realising ＇sic＇
to ourselves。 For it may be doub
