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n the Christian order nothing is by hereditary descent； but every thing is by election of grace。 The Christian dispensation is teleological； palingenesiac； and the whole order； prior to the Incarnation； was initial； genesiac； and continued by natural generation； as it is still in all nations and tribes outside of Christendom。 No non…Christian people is a civilized people； and； indeed； the human race seems not anywhere； prior to the Incarnation； to have attained to its majority： and it is； perhaps； because the race were not prepared for it； that the Word was not sooner incarnated。 He came only in the fulness of time； when the world was ready to receive him。
The providential constitution is； in fact； that with which the nation is born； and is； as long as the nation exists； the real living and efficient constitution of the state。 It is the source of the vitality of the state； that which controls or governs its action； and determines its destiny。 151 The constitution which a nation is said to give itself； is never the constitution of the state； but is the law ordained by the state for the government instituted under it。 Thomas Paine would admit nothing to be the constitution but a written document which he could fold up and put in his pocket； or file away in a pigeon…hole。 The Abbe Sieyes pronounced politics a science which he had finished； and he was ready to turn you out constitutions to order； with no other defect than that they had； as Carlyle wittily says； no feet； and could not go。 Many in the last century； and some； perhaps； in the present； for folly as well as wisdom has her heirs； confounded the written instrument with the constitution itself。 No constitution can be written on paper or engrossed on parchment。 What the convention may agree upon； draw up； and the people ratify by their votes； is no constitution； for it is extrinsic to the nation； not inherent and living in itis； at best； legislative instead of constitutive。 The famous Magna Charta drawn up by Cardinal Langton； and wrung from John Lackland by the English barons at Runnymede； was no constitution of England till long after the date of its concession； and even then was no constitution of the state； but a set of restrictions on power。 The constitution is 152 the intrinsic or inherent and actual constitution of the people or political community itself； that which makes the nation what it is； and distinguishes it from every other nation； and varies as nations themselves vary from one another。
The constitution of the state is not a theory； nor is it drawn up and established in accordance with any preconceived theory。 What is theoretic in a constitution is unreal。 The constitutions conceived by philosophers in their closets are constitutions only of Utopia or Dreamland。 This world is not governed by abstractions； for abstractions are nullities。 Only the concrete is real； and only the real or actual has vitality or force。 The French people adopted constitution after constitution of the most approved pattern； and amid bonfires； beating of drums； sound of trumpets； roar of musketry； and thunder of artillery； swore； no doubt； sincerely as well as enthusiastically； to observe them； but all to no effect； for they had no authority for the nation； no hold on its affections； and formed no element of its life。 The English are great constitution…mongersfor other nations。 They fancy that a constitution fashioned after their own will fit any nation that can be persuaded； wheedled； or bullied into 153 trying it on； but； unhappily； all that have tried it on have found it only an embarrassment or encumbrance。 The doctor might as well attempt to give an individual a new constitution； or the constitution of another man； as the statesman to give a nation any other constitution than that which it has； and with which it is born。
The whole history of Europe； since the fall of the Roman empire； proves this thesis。 The barbarian conquest of Rome introduced into the nations founded on the site of the empire； a double constitutionthe barbaric and the civilthe Germanic and the Roman in the West； and the Tartaric or Turkish and the Graeco…Roman in the East。 The key to all modern history is in the mutual struggles of these two constitutions and the interests respectively associated with them； which created two societies on the same territory； and； for the most part； under the same national denomination。 The barbaric was the constitution of the conquerors； they had the power； the government； rank； wealth； and fashion； were reinforced down to the tenth century by fresh hordes of barbarians； and had even brought the external ecclesiastical society to a very great extent into harmony with itself。 The Pope became a 154 feudal sovereign； and the bishops and mitred abbots feudal princes and barons。 Yet； after eight hundred years of fierce struggle； the Roman constitution got the upper hand； and the barbaric constitution； as far as it could not be assimilated to the Roman； was eliminated。 The original Empire of the West is now as thoroughly Roman in its constitution； its laws； and its civilization； as it ever was under any of its Christian emperors before the barbarian conquest。
The same process is going on in the East； though it has not advanced so far； having begun there several centuries later； and the Graeco…Roman constitution was far feebler there than in the West at the epoch of the conquest。 The Germanic tribes that conquered the West had long had close relations with the empire； had served as its allies； and even in its armies； and were partially Romanized。 Most of their chiefs had received a Roman culture； and their early conversion to the Christian faith facilitated the revival and permanence of the old Roman constitution。 In the East it was different。 The conquerors had no touch of Roman civilization； and； followers of the Prophet； they were animated with an intense hatred； which； after the conquest； was changed into a superb contempt； 155 of Christians and Romans。 They had their civil constitution in the Koran； and the Koran； in its principles； doctrines； and spirit； is exclusive and profoundly intolerant。 The Graeco…Roman constitution was always much weaker in the East； and had far greater obstacles to overcome there than in the West； yet it has survived the shock of the conquest。 Throughout the limits of the ancient Empire of the East； the barbaric constitution has received and is daily receiving rude blows； and； but as reenforced by barbarians lying outside of the boundaries of that empire； would be no longer able to sustain itself。 The Greek or Christian populations of the empire are no longer in danger of being exterminated or absorbed by the Mohammedan state or population。 They are the only living and progressive people of the Ottoman Empire； and their complete success in absorbing or expelling the Turk is only a question of time。 They will； in all present probability； reestablish a Christian and Roman E