[Footnote J: "The first principle of all things is Living Goodness, armed with Wisdom and all-powerful Love. But if a man's soul be once sunk by evil fate or desert, from the sense of this high and heavenly truth into the cold conceit that the original of all lies either in shuffling chance or in the stark root of unknowing nature and brute necessity, all the subtle cords of reason, without the timely recovery of that divine torch within the hidden spirit of his heart, will never be able to draw him out of that abhorred pit of atheism and infidelity. So much better is innocency and piety than subtle argument, and sincere devotion than curious dispute. But contemplations concerning the dry essence of the Godhead have for the most part been most confusing and unsatisfactory. Far better is it to drink of the blood of the grape than to bite the root of the grape, to smell the rose than to chew the stalk. And blessed be God, the meanest of men are capable of the former, very few successful in the latter; and the less, because the reports of those that have busied themselves that way have not only seemed strange to most men, but even repugnant to one another. But we should in charity refer this to the nature of the _pigeon's neck_ than to mistake and contradiction. One and the same object in nature affords many different aspects. And God is infinitely various and simple; like a circle, indifferent whether you suppose it of one uniform line, or an infinite number of angles. Wherefore it is more safe to admit all possible perfections of God than rashly to deny what appears not to us from our particular posture."--HENRY MORE.] "Make us a god," said man: Power first the voice obeyed, And soon a monstrous form Its worshippers dismayed; Uncouth and huge, by nations rude adored, With savage rites and sacrifice abhorred. "Make us a god," said man: Art next the voice obeyed, Lovely, serene, and grand, Uprose the Athenian maid: The perfect statue, Greece with wreathed brows, Adores in festal rites and lyric vows. "Make us a god," said man: Religion followed art, And answered, "Look within; Find God in thine own heart-- His noblest image there, and holiest shrine, Silent revere--and be thyself divine." IV.--CHOICE. Heaven hell's pit copes: Nor fathoms any sin's abyss, or clambers out, Save by the steps his choice hath delved.