These estimates are very significant, even if we make any reasonable allowance for a decrease in the rate of wearing, as the land approaches the level of the sea. It adds another item to the great work of that great sun. The water that softens and wears, and transports, has been driven into the atmosphere by heat, and carried by winds to its destination. The flow of all the rivers of the globe had its origin in the sun. It is a long distance, 93,000,000 of miles, to reach out its fiery hand and smooth down the rough places of earth. Though the time to complete the work is long, there is no delay and no rest. God is never tired.

The most important thought that springs from this discussion is, that all the changes caused in the universe of matter by natural energies must have had a beginning, and will come to an end. Changes approaching a termination must have had a beginning else the possible changes would have been exhausted long ago. The sun radiates its heat and light into space. Unless there is some unknown mode of restoring the loss, the supply must give out. The slow rising of portions of the earth, which delay the wearing down to the water level, cannot last forever. Things that are finite because they are approaching their end, must also be finite with reference to a beginning. No thing can make itself. That which made it must have existed before it. Science requires as a postulate a Creator, and thus substantially recognizes a God.

Science can sometimes fix a probable limit to the time when the change began and when it will end. It is believed by

some that the present rate of radiation from the sun cannot continue more than 10,000,000 of years; and that its beginning does not extend back more than the same period, making its life under existing conditions 20,000,000 of years. If 5,000,000 of years are added at the beginning and end for a lower rate incapable of supporting life as it now exists on the earth, we get 30,000,000 of years from its morning to its evening twilight. A long day for the sun to work out its light giving history! It is born, lives, and dies in one day, but they are God's days.

Change is the order of nature, but that makes it certain that the end is approaching. If it comes slowly, as we count time, yet it never halts. Even our earth, seemingly so fixed, is drifting to the great deep. So are we;- pilgrims bothone to the fathomless abyss, the other to boundless time. The earth has not existed forever, else there would be no dry land. It is nevertheless getting old and its heart growing cold. For millions of years it has buried its children under the sod; and over some, the frailest and weakest, it has built a mausoleum of rocks miles in depth. It strews its memento of flowers yearly over their graves, and waters them with tears from the skies. What shall be its fate in the coming ages none but God can tell.

O. N. Strudard

HISTORY AND HISTORICAL STUDY.

BY

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH, LL, D.

We may gather out of history a policy no less wise than eternal.-Walter Raleigh.

NTIL men lose their interest in what is human, the story of the past

can never cease to fascinate. So long as homo thinks more of homo than he

does of ursus, so long will he turn with sympathy and delight to the record of the past achievements of his race. Humanity is the

very essence of the theme; and for this reason

it may well be claimed that History is the grandest subject presented to the understandings of men. It may be truly averred that the story of the social, civil and intellectual emergence of the human race, toiling upwards by hard stages from the fenlands of barbarism to the great plateau of light and freedom, transcends in interest, if it does not include in its scope, every other subject of inquiry.

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