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organic and an inorganic kingdom； of which they consider
themselves to be the organic； and whatever is not very like
themselves to be the inorganic。 Whether they are composed of
subordinate personalities or not we do not know； but we have no
reason to think that they are； and if we touch ground； so to
speak； with life in the units of which our own bodies are
composed； it is likely that there is a limit also in an upward
direction； though we have nothing whatever to guide us as to
where it is； nor any certainty that there is a limit at all。
We are ourselves the second concentric sphere of life； we being
the constituent cells which unite to form the body of God。 Of the
third sphere we know a single member only…the God of this world；
but we see also the stars in heaven； and know their multitude。
Analogy points irresistibly in the direction of thinking that
these other worlds are like our own； begodded and full of life；
it also bids us believe that the God of their world is begotten
of one more or less like himself； and that his growth has
followed the same course as that of all other growths we know of。
If so； he is one of the constituent units of an unknown and
vaster personality who is composed of Gods； as our God is
composed of all the living forms on earth； and as all those
living forms are composed of cells。 This is the Unknown God。
Beyond this second God we cannot at present go； nor should we
wish to do so； if we are wise。 It is no reproach to a system that
it does not profess to give an account of the origin of things；
the reproach rather should lie against a system which professed
to explain it； for we may be well assured that such a profession
would； for the present at any rate； be an empty boast。 It is
enough if a system is true as far as it goes； if it throws new
light on old problems； and opens up vistas which reveal a hope of
further addition to our knowledge； and this I believe may be
fairly claimed for the theory of life put forward in 〃Life and
Habit〃 and 〃Evolution； Old and New；〃 and for the corollary
insisted upon in these pages； a corollary which follows logically
and irresistibly if the position I have taken in the above…named
books is admitted。
Let us imagine that one of the cells of which we are composed
could attain to a glimmering perception of the manner in which he
unites with other cells； of whom he knows very little； so as to
form a greater compound person of whom he has hitherto known
nothing at all。 Would he not do well to content himself with the
mastering of this conception； at any rate for a considerable
time？ Would it be any just ground of complaint against him on the
part of his brother cells； that he had failed to explain to them
who made the man （or； as he would call it； the omnipotent deity）
whose existence and relations to himself he had just caught sight
of？
But if he were to argue further on the same lines as those on
which he had travelled hitherto； and were to arrive at the
conclusion that there might be other men in the world。 besides
the one whom he had just learnt to apprehend； it would be still
no refutation or just ground of complaint against him that he had
failed to show the manner in which his supposed human race had
come into existence。
Here our cell would probably stop。 He could hardly be expected
to arrive at the existence of animals and plants differing from
the human race； and uniting with that race to form a single
Person or God； in the same way as he has himself united with
other cells to form man。 The existence； and much more the
roundness of the earth itself； would be unknown to him； except by
way of inference and deduction。 The only universe which he could
at all understand would be the body of the man of whom he was a
component part。
How would not such a cell be astounded if all that we know
ourselves could be suddenly revealed to him； so that not only
should the vastness of this earth burst upon his dazzled view；
but that of the sun and of his planets also； and not only these；
but the countless other suns which we may see by night around us。
Yet it is probable that an actual being is hidden from us； which
no less transcends the wildest dream of our theologians than the
existence of the heavenly bodies transcends the perception of our
own constituent cells。
THE END