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changing first is a matter of such small moment that the two may
be left to fight it out between themselves； but； whichever view
is taken； the fact will remain that whenever the relations
between the organism and its surroundings have been changed； the
organism must either succeed in putting the surroundings into
harmony with itself； or itself into harmony with the
surroundings； or must be made so uncomfortable as to be unable to
remember itself as subjected to any such difficulties； and there
fore to die through inability to recognise ＇sic＇ its own identity
further。
Under these circumstances； organism must act in one or other of
these two ways： it must either change slowly and continuously
with the surroundings； paying cash for everything； meeting the
smallest change with a corresponding modification so far as is
found convenient； or it must put off change as long as possible；
and then make larger and more sweeping changes。
Both these courses are the same in principle； the difference
being only one of scale； and the one being a miniature of the
other； as a ripple is an Atlantic wave in little； both have their
advantages and disadvantages； so that most organisms will take
the one course for one set of things and the other for another。
They will deal promptly with things which they can get at easily；
and which lie more upon the surface； those； however； which are
more troublesome to reach； and lie deeper； will be handled upon
more cataclysmic principles； being allowed longer periods of
repose followed by short periods of greater activity。
Animals breathe and circulate their blood by a little action many
times a minute； but they feed； some of them； only two or three
times a day； and breed for the most part not more than once a
year； their breeding season being much their busiest time。 It is
on the first principle that the modification of animal forms has
proceeded mainly； but it may be questioned whether what is called
a sport is not the organic expression of discontent which has
been long felt； but which has not been attended to； nor been met
step by step by as much small remedial modification as was found
practicable： so that when a change does come it comes by way of
revolution。 Or； again （only that it comes to much the same
thing）； a sport may be compared to one of those happy thoughts
which sometimes come to us unbidden after we have been thinking
for a long time what to do； or how to arrange our ideas； and have
yet been unable to arrive at any conclusion。
So with politics； the smaller the matter the prompter； as a
general rule； the settlement； on the other hand； the more
sweeping the change that is felt to be necessary； the longer it
will be deferred。
The advantages of dealing with the larger questions by more
cataclysmic methods are obvious。 For； in the first place； all
composite things must have a system； or arrangement of parts； so
that some parts shall depend upon and be grouped round others； as
in the articulation of a skeleton and the arrangement of muscles；
nerves； tendons； etc。； which are attached to it。 To meddle with
the skeleton is like taking up the street； or the flooring of
one's house； it so upsets our arrangements that we put it off
till whatever else is found wanted； or whatever else seems likely
to be wanted for a long time hence； can be done at the same time。
Another advantage is in the rest which is given to the attention
during the long hollows； so to speak； of the waves between the
periods of resettlement。 Passion and prejudice have time to calm
down； and when attention is next directed to the same question；
it is a refreshed and invigorated attention…an attention；
moreover； which may be given with the help of new lights derived
from other quarters that were not luminous when the question was
last considered。 Thirdly； it is more easy and safer to make such
alterations as experience has proved to be necessary than to
forecast what is going to be wanted。 Reformers are like
paymasters； of whom there are only two bad kinds； those who pay
too soon； and those who do not pay at all。
CHAPTER II
COMMON GROUND
I HAVE now； perhaps； sufficiently proved my sympathy with the
reluctance felt by many to tolerate discussion upon such a
subject as the existence and nature of God。 I trust that I may
have made the reader feel that he need fear no sarcasm or levity
in my treatment of the subject which I have chosen。 I will；
therefore； proceed to sketch out a plan of what I hope to
establish； and this in no doubtful or unnatural sense； but by
attaching the same meanings to words as those which we usually
attach to them； and with the same certainty； precision； and
clearness as anything else is established which is commonly
called known。
As to what God is； beyond the fact that he is the Spirit and the
Life which creates； governs； and upholds all living things； I can
say nothing。 I cannot pretend that I can show more than others
have done in what Spirit and the Life consists； which governs
living things and animates them。 I cannot show the connection
between consciousness and the will； and the organ； much less can
I tear away the veil from the face of God； so as to show wherein
will and consciousness consist。 No philosopher； whether Christian
or Rationalist； has attempted this without discomfiture； but I
can； I hope； do two things： Firstly； I can demonstrate； perhaps
more clearly than modern science is prepared to admit； that there
does exist a single Being or Animator of all living things … a
single Spirit； whom we cannot think of under any meaner name than
God； and； secondly； I can show something more of the
persona or bodily expression； mask； and mouthpiece of this
vast Living Spirit than I know of as having been familiarly
expressed elsewhere； or as being accessible to myself or others；
though doubtless many works exist in which what I am going to say
has been already said。
Aware that much of this is widely accepted under the name of
Pantheism； I venture to think it differs from Pantheism with all
the difference that exists between a coherent； intelligible
conception and an incoherent unintelligible one。 I shall
therefore proceed to examine the doctrine called Pantheism； and
to show how incomprehensible and valueless it is。
I will then indicate the Living and Personal God about whose
existence and about many of whose attributes there is no room for
question； I will show that man has been so far made in the
likeness of this Person or God； that He possesses all its
essential characteristics； and that it is this God who has called
man and all other living forms； whether animals or plants； into
existence； so that our bodies are the temples of His spirit； that
it is this which susta