To us, as Sir Benjamin Brodie remarks, in one of his psychological discussions, the universe presents itself as an assemblage of heterogeneous phenomena, some of which we can reduce to laws of limited operation, while others stand by themselves, bearing no evident relation to anything besides. We may well, he thinks, suppose that there are in the universe beings of a superior intelligence, and possessed of a greater range of observation, who are sufficiently “behind the scenes” to be able to contemplate all the immense variety of material phenomena as the result of one great general law. Their standpoint may enable them to see a Cosmos, a world of order, where to lower intelligences Chaos alone is discernible, a world comparatively without form and void, with darkness upon the face of its deep. And as with the physical, so with the metaphysical. As with the material, so with the moral. “Experience, like a pale musician, holds A dulcimer of patience in his hand; Whence harmonies we cannot understand Of God’s will in the worlds, the strain unfolds In sad perplexèd minors.... “We murmur—‘Where is any certain tune Of measured music, in such notes as these?’— But angels leaning from their golden seat, Are not so minded! their fine ear hath won The issue of completed[27] cadences,— And, smiling down the stars, they whisper—Sweet.”[28] _RULING THE WAVES._ PSALM cxiv. 1-5; ST. MARK iv. 39. When Israel went out of Egypt, it was under the guidance of One whose hand being mighty to save, the sea saw it, and fled; Jordan was driven back. “What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” The trembling was at the presence of Him who hath placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. The commotion, the fleeing, the driving back, was at the bidding of Him who, and who alone, can say to the sea, Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. The men of Galilee marvelled when, at the storm that once arose on their sea, and the ship was in jeopardy, there arose One who rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. What manner of man was this, that even the winds and the sea obeyed Him?