sights and sounds and actions are "illusions," cheats, nonentities with a semblance of being ;-this, which is the creed of the educated Hindoo, is another belief so contradictory to common sense, that it might have been supposed impossible of acceptance by any considerable number of men. It is held, however, by thousands, who see no absurdity in it, and are convinced that it is the only rational theory of existence; and, so far as present appearances go, there seems to be no probability that either Christianity or modern science will succeed in shaking the belief, however absurd it may be and how- ever mischievous. III. THE MODERN THEORY OF EVOLUTION. The spontaneous origin of life from inor- ganic matter, the development of protoplasm from molecules, of vegetable life from protoplasm, of animal life from vegetable life, and of humanity from advanced animals, which, though a 11ure hypothesis, has been accepted almost universally by physicists in the present <lay, is intrinsically as absurd and unthinkable a theory as either Epicu- reanism or Hinuoo pantheism. But its absurdity is not seen by those who have been taught it from the time that they first turned their attention to physical science, who find it accepted by all their teachers, and assumed as a basis by every book that is put into their hands, who live as it were in an atmosphere saturated with evolutionism, and absorb it with every breath that they inhale. The time will probably come, perhaps after no great delay, when a reaction will set in, and the ability of unintelligent matter t-0 impro,•e itself and advance to perfection will be seen to be as absurd and as self- contradictory as the ability of images carved out of wood and stone to affect the course of events-to "do good or to do evil." Meanwhile, however, the existing false system is almost as impervious to argument and criticism as was the system of heathen idolatry. It has possession of the field (the so-called scientific field), as that had of the general field of human society; it supports itself by a number of interconnected propo- sitions, no one of which rests upon any sure basis; and it does uot even perceive the force of the arguments which are brought against it. Thus it may keep its hold upon men for some considerable time, before it takes its final place as "a chapter in the history of human error."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.
Vers. 1-7.-.Argument with the nations. Jehovah calls the countries to "come silently" unto him. Let the people pluck up what strength they may have, and let the cause between them and Jehovah come to the tribunal of reason. Have the idols any spiritual power? or is Jehovah only the true God ? 1. THE vrcTomous CAREER OF CYRUS. This great man has, in the prophet's thought, a vocation from God. He is the minister of the Divine righteousness (eh. xiii 6; xiv. 13). Cyrns is supported by the unseen might of Jehovah, who gives peoples into his hancis, makes him tread on the necks of kings, whose swords turn to dust, whose warlike bow becomes as powerless as stubble driven before the blast. On the hero goes, in swift pursuit, penetrating into trackless districts, or t?ose inaccessib)e to the orctioary traveller, where he cannot be followed. Or the meanmg may be, his passage is swift as that of eagle or vulture (eh. xlvi. 11), and he leaves no trace of his feet behind. Now, "who hath produced and carried out this?" "In all religions men have found it necessary, in any great action, to engage some other agent and priociple beside the man himself. The god becomes coadjutor in every noble or heroic achievement. Homer brings in Diomed and Ulysses, assisted by Mars and Pallas-one notable for acts of valour, and the other for those of counsel and wisdom ; and the like is said of many others." And now which of the heathen gods has been the coadjutor of Cyrus? Why, he has come to overthrow the worshippers of the heathen gods. 'l'he deities are chiefly bound up with the futures of their peoples, and with t.hem they fall. ·who, then, can Lave raised up the great conqueror and desi'royer, but he who alone abides-who called forth the generations from the beginning of "the vanished_ past and the vanisuing present," who is Alpha and Omega, who preceded all, and will be self-existent in the ages to come. The expression, "I am he," briefly and suggestively con-vcys this idea of self-existence, of eternity (eh. xliii. 10, 13; xlvi. 4; xlviii. 12; OH, XLI, 1-29.] 'fHE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET ISAIAH. 103