-.

rik

REINCARNATION

*"

'"""/,
?ZJU"

The

weary

How

far

pilgrim oft doth

how

's come,

he

seek

has

he

far

know

to

to

go.

QUARLES.
Ghosts
earth
some

There

openly
half

nigh

are

noontide

at

have

hundred

in

arisen

them

have

hundred

half

some

of

million

thousand

vanished
tick

thy watch

it,ere

walking
from

one.

CABLYLE.
dwells

Truth
That

in

gulphs, whose

Night

sits muffled

darke

than

More

(To cleare her tough

To

with

wrestle

her

made

and

shades

of

in clouds

there

Nature

hide

deeps

requires

great fire of fires

mists) heaven's

heaven-strong mysteries.

those

how

am

Whence

little

central

cry

shadow-birth

With
A

Into

I go ?

do

feels and

self which

is ;

the silences ;

between

of clouds

sunshine

Nature's

strife

quiver
the

from

the future

at

hills of life ;

the

on

from

shaft

Whither

CHAPMAN.

I know

more

I ?

came

cast

past.
WHITTIER.

Where

Or

clouds, await

in the

by

what

chance

Didst

thou

this

Didst

thou

in

Or

for

Thou

this

upon

Didst

sorrow

enter,

jest,perchance,

tookest

flesh,ne'er

to

born

thou

on

earth

body's birth,

that

body find, a

body

yet my

thy dwelling-place?

Became
Or

thou, Soul, ere

wert

rich

pitch,

GEOKGE
I

so

winter's

babe
or

morn

forlorn

in mirth

try its worth

from

it to be

torn.

WADDINGTON.

the

it,

REINCARNATION

STUDY

OF

TRUTH

FORGOTTEN

BY

E. D.

WALKER

"ExorknUtux*

NEW

JOHN
150

WORTH

W.

YORK

LOVELL

STREET,

CORNER

COMPANY
MISSION

PLACB

7/5//.

6opyrigfit,

1888,

BY
E.

D.

WALKER.

To

THE

SPIRIT

OF

AND

TO

EMBODIMENT

THAT

TRUTH

OF

NAMED

TRUTH,

ARIEL,

THIS

WITH

THE

HOPE

PROMPTED

VOLUME

LITTLE

THAT

ARE

THEY

BY

DISCIPLE,

THEIR

THE

AUTHOR.

BY

NOT

HERE

THEM

DISHONORED

Soul,

dwelling

And

oft

sometimes

This
Part

of

of

awe

mine

the

Dumb,

on

Whose

dry

million

Passes

as

thou

Both

which

Alone,

from

know

still,

bright,

into

night.

trod
to

source

alone,

earnest

bourn

thou

Fearest

to

God

to

and

Cast

their

Tree,
Each

natural

the

New

robes

Quit

shrunken

To

vesture

M.

The

planets

The

force

when

its

law

an

ancient
and

frame

change
that

spirit

ampler

die

the

leave

greatest

creed,

gently
on

the

world's
and

put

binds

of

anew,

the

but

fire
be

yet
if

surface

spheres

it

save

won

philosophy

decaying

on

least,

increased

girth

dwarfed

lines,

raiments

unison

in

keep

ceased.

hath

use

its

and

their

the

don

to

year's

outgrowth,

as

art's

robes

new

as

MULOCK.

beast,

fresh

aside,

moss,

man's

should

With

Work

type,

its

How

Let

and

and

bird

and

robes

worn

flower,

Renews

fish

reptile,

return

?
D.

Insect

I, subdued

hill,

so

hast

not

thou

as

even

sun

solitary

not,

"

dew-bestrewed

Soul,

pass,

be

can

thou'

sit

lonely

That

who

know

thus

grasses

must

"

imbued,

goest

this

suns.

afraid

path

of

me

sun

warmth

being

own

November

that

Whither

summit

Mirror

thou

with

has

thou

earnest

With

Art

he

than

"

of

part

more

no

heritage

earth

the

Whence

infinitude

seeming

worms'

me,

God's

in

God

!
free

inspire
as

they

must

HENRY

roll

the

bind

G.

soul.

HEWLETT.

PREFACE.

idea

THE

"

remained

the

Lotze,
"

in

fancy,

the

expressing
If

Christendom.
show

the

this

has

any

moral

and

Hermann

writes

in

yet

one

significance

his

magnificent
of

feeling

common

its purpose

achieves

little book

strength

has

So

philosopher,

hitherto

souls

nor

higher

universe."

the

German

the

it

giving
of

order

the

of

Microcosm,"

it will

transmigration of

dream

succeeded
for

of

of

value

that

dreamy

idea.

The

present perplexity of all Christendom

of

deepest problems

pressing mankind,

the

the

leading poets,

of

the

prevalence

in

philosophy,

Christianitytries
the

the

West

compromising
themselves,
yearning

needs

St.

fate

blind

of

to

men,

of

of

form

but

revelation.

many

to

of
dare

who
the

which

Not

truth.

new

truth

art,

practical

indicate

resist,and

Christopher,

larger

in

dissatisfaction

some

op

agnosticism (if not

vital
of

the

of many

ideals

sublime
and

most

devotees

of

vain

masses

like

after

the

in

deeply

wavering

absence

flood-tide

of

sense

despairing restlessness

materialism

in

life), all feed

life, the

upon

that

only

those

un

surrender

mightiest, are
portion

of

this

viii
is

PREFACE.

variously
Transmi
Keincarnation,Metempsychosis,
believe,in

contained,we

termed

as

the

doctrine

the theories con

gration.By this we do not mean
in brute bodies,which
are
cerning re-birth of men
and philosophies
be
attributed to oriental religions
cause
popularlyacceptedby their followers. These
crude caricatures of the true conception.They
are
as
absurdlyas ordinarylife in
represent the reality
Europe and America illustrates the teachingof Jesus.
But

the inner kernel of that

mean

we

protean

welled up in every
irrepressibly
thought,which is an open secret lying
and not simplya foreign
importation,
has

forms

great phase of
all around

us

Christendom

which

and

For

those

who

But

what

an

seems

doctrine
foundest

students

it may

of

may

prove

useful,

investigation
proposition.Its

earnest

an

undemonstrable

first met

was

be

only to

They

invasion of Chris

heathen

usual creeds

the

attraction.

no

for truth-seekers

it claims

though

with

content

pleasedto regardit as

tendom.

of

are

afford to lose.

cannot

will have

this littlework
be

in

husk, which

the declaration of the pro-

as

mysteriesenvelopinghu
authoritybut no proof of

the

coming with
manity
Its violent antago
thinkers.
western
weightto most
nism to current ideas compelledthe writer to dispose
If true, there must
of it by independent methods.
be some
confirmation of it such as will impress any
"

candid
This

If false,nothing can

mind.
led to

summarized

careful
in

studyof

brief essay

the

read

force it to live.

which
subject,
and

was

publishedto

PREFACE.

small

circle

of

study

will

regard

it

as

being
motive
the

them

to

pels

many

veals

the

liness,and
veiled

in

spirituality
may
the

as

The

noblest

tions of

modern

Europe,

the

aggravating America,
materialism.
subtle

most

The
ber

sincere

of kind

itated
also

the
the

to

use

of

and

v.)

of

is the

authors

extracts

from

modes

their

the

labor

action

to

be

combats

the

the

of all
revolu

disturbances
of the

arch-enemy

un

of

cause

of

kind

accidental

to the

The

will

that

race

foe

"

by

warfare.

of

the

writer

of

materials

who

have

their

due

are

assistance

friends, whose
collection

in

seen

society,the parent

deadly
thanks

be

Virtue,

life is discerned

source

re

apprehended,

proper

Reincarnation
and

if

sentiment.

or

life,dis

of

illusions,and

abandoned

not

sincere

illuminates

mankind.

only

and

reincarnation

road

and

thus

divert

But

murky

principleswhich,

expression of impulse
evils of

the

shambling gait of

thought.

of

of

readers

as

reincarnation

haunting enigmas

only sensible kind,

the

falsehood

or

For

it.

splendor

except

little consequence.

passages

cardinal

steady

and

of

underlies

darkest

of energy,

truth

the
ing curiosity,

Some

in this volume.

waste

continuation

Theosophists.

resulted

has

that

ix

for

has

to

num

largelyfacil

this

book, and

kindly permitted

the

writings,(in chapters
E.

D.

W.

iv

Of

all

ence)

seems

ly

theories

the

to

light

throw

to

the

me

the

respecting

the

on

and

plausible

most

of

question

of

origin

the

soul,

therefore

life

to

(pre-exist-

it

the

like

most

one

FREDERICK

come.

H.

"

HEDGE.

It

would

ing
suit

it

again

have

old

of

the

on

in

happened

should

we

wide

and

of

and

tak

But

it

and

thought,

belief.

human

philosophy
remodelling

scientific

human

of

history

science

metempsychosis,

religious
ocean

the

find

of

theory

modes

present

our

ing

the

again

up

if

curious

be

launch

things

stranger
JAMES

opinion.

to

FREEMAN

"

CLARKE.

If

of

number

think

apply
it

again

as

It

is

to

seems

Christian
it

tinct
and

BOWEN.

me,

be

objections
and
for

faith
which

firm

loving

and

and

to

WILLIAM

ab

omni
other.

any

the

to

come

the

by

quod

than

to

front

KNIGHT.

well-grounded

and

might
hedged

not

revived

be

ubique,

fitly

more

belief

"

beset
motives

pungent

to

quod

semper,

PROFESSOR

theory.

metempsychosis

would

and

rival

any

likely

as

of

question

any

metempsychosis

to

quite

quod

the

adherents,

its

would

bus

determine

legitimately

could

we

helping

help

faith

to

other
for

our

of

forms

trying

to

of

many

and

doctrine,
lead

more

PROFESSOR

brother-man.
"

the
the

regenerate

with

round

in

doctrine

For

world.

the

of

difficulties
it

offers

Christian

dis

life,
FRANCIS

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION

I.
WHAT

REINCARNATION

is

.....

"

.......

II.

EVIDENCES

WESTERN
1.

confirms

it ; 4.

answers

the

The

of

nature

theological

by it

explained
solved

Analogy

2.

it ;

6.

7.

The

it ;

suggests

the

soul

Many

and

It

5.

and

sin"

experiences

life

of

it ;

requires

strange

problems

Science

3.

"original

of

question

punishment;"

"future

are

........

demands

Immortality

15

REINCARNATION

OF

are

Nemesis

of

by it.

best

III.
WESTERN
1

OBJECTIONS
We

have
to

no

receive

TO

the

poses

results
It is

it ; 4.

.......

of

memory

an

49

REINCARNATION
lives

past

of

It

2.

deeds

forgotten

is
; 3.

unjust

for

Heredity

us

op

doctrine.

uncongenial

IV.

WESTERN

AUTHORS

Extracts:
der

Schopenhauer;

1.
;

lier

5.

Ramsay

Dowden's
liam

Bulwer;

Frederick

8.

17.
;

20.
H.

14.

Sir

0.

Soame

William

Hedge

18.

R.
;

23.

9.

Sir

21.

Humphry

4.

;
;

7.

Her

Cheva

Glanvil
13.

Southey;

15.

Emerson;

Alger

Joseph

12.

Knight

Fichte

Browne

Hume;

William

Thomas

Jenyns
11.

Pezzani

.......

Lessing

2.

Shelley;

Blake

Clarke

More

Henry

63

REINCARNATION

UPON

Wil
16.

W.A.Butler;
19.

James

Francis

Davy.

10.

Freeman
Bowen

22.

CONTENTS.

xii

V.
WESTERN

POETS

II.

REINCARNATION

UPON

I. American

125

Hayne, Whittier, Taylor, Landon, Aldrich,

Leland, Thompson, Willis,Trowbridge, Long-fellow,Lowell,
Whitman, Parsons.
British Poets : Wordsworth, Gosse, Alford,Millies,
Tenny
Bailey,
Addison,
Sharp, Tapper, Browning,
son, Rossetti,
Poets:

Leyden,

Coleridge,

Matthew

Arnold.

III. Continental

Poets

Miss

Tatham,

Dr.

Donne,

Collins,

Boyesen, Hugo, Be'ranger,Goethe,

Schiller,Campanella.
Poets:
IV. Platonic
More,

Milton, Anonymous,
Vaughan, Emerson, Mrs. Rowe, Hymns.

Shelley,

VI.
REINCARNATION

II.

I. Brahmans;

193

Egyptians; III. Pythagoras; IV-

Plato;

Jews.

The

V.

ANCIENTS

THE

AMONG

VII.
REINCARNATION

IN

BIBLE

THE

213

VIII.
REINCARNATION
I. The

EARLY

IN

; II.

Gnostics

223

CHRISTENDOM

The

Neo-Platonists

; III. The

Orthodox

Fathers.

Church

IX
REINCARNATION

IN

; II.

I. Brahmanism

EAST

THE

239

TO-DAY

Buddhism

; III.

and

Zoroastrianism

Su-

fism.

X.
EASTERN

POETRY

shad;

3. The
Hafiz

249

REINCARNATION

1. Kalide*sa's

Extracts:

From

OF

"

Light

; 6. A

Sakoontala
of

Asia;

"

4. A

2. The

Katha

Persian

Upani-

Poem;

5.

Sufi Poem.

XI.

ESOTERIC

ORIENTAL

REINCARNATION

261

CONTENTS.

xiii

XII.

TRANSMIGRATION

ANIMALS

THROUGH

271

XIII.

DEATH,

HEAVEN,

AND

HELL,

WHAT

THEN

OF

287

XIV.

KARMA,

THE

COMPANION

TRUTH

OF

REINCARNATION

297
.

XV.

CONCLUSION

307

APPENDIX.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

OF

REINCARNATION

327

INDEX

345
.

the

By

There
His

stands

frame
His

Oh,
The

Life's

With

which

the

Whose

The

soldier,
wisest

Weary

light
Tell

dwells

billows
The

and
But

he

age,

whither

do

the

plod
?

sky

blazing

ceaselessly,

murmur

speaks
cold

road.

misty

in

wind

Calm

sage,

king

every

am

I,

came

Who

The

the

what

Whence

hoary

and

in

raves,

languishing

upon

me,

told

saint,

waves,

humanity

from

heads
and

ye

old

never

hidden

mystery

From

of

is

answer

From

of

mind

agony,

wan.

enigma,

riddle

torturing

doubt's

and

sadly

sea

man,

with

throbbing

me

darkening

youthful

move

solve

dreary

is

lips

For

the

by

sea,

sing

knows

and

night

not

the

stars

what

day,
high,

on

they

say.

HEINE.

The

or

of

belief

innate

diffusion
the

doctrine

in

the

the

among

historical

metempsychosis

ages.

human

nations

"

PROFESSOR

if

mind,
of

the

claim

almost

may

earth
FRANCIS

we

and

may

its

BOWEN.

to

judge
prevalence

be
from

natural
its

wide

throughout

INTRODUCTION,

We

the

We

the

glebe,

sow

build

we

the

reap

house

corn,

where
we

And

then,

We

at

the

to

up

we

For

for

earnest,

About

the

stifled

And

to

yearn

strike

Believed

beyond,

with

them

boldly

out

within,

things

guess

but

in,

fond

yearning

not

mark

to

seen.

blood

chills

horror

sometimes

dark

and

soul

diviner

We

"

thick

folding-

senses

born,

were

jest

or

The

And

sky,

wide

great

wherefore

Enquiring-

We

suddenly,

moments,

look

rest,

may

our

To

be

such
so

And

round
we

Our

As

for

defence,

us,

wrap

moods

purple

of
sense,

manners,

from

angels,
Stand

things,

mystic

near

hidden

the

in

face

their

of

God,

wings.
MRS.

BROWNING.

"

4
"

INTRODUCTION.

truths

"

discovered are found to be the

recently
ancient.
most
They are as universal as the ocean,
always waitingto be used. The latest philosophies
and
heterodoxies
are
only fresh phrasingsof early
ideas.
The most
advanced
of art, educa
conceptions
identical with
tion,and government are essentially
new

those

of

Greece

Rome.

and

The

newest

industries

approachingthe lost arts of Egypt. The modern

sciences (as electricity
and
chemistry) are merely
of what
the schoolmasters
of
ingeniousapplications
the primitive
knew better in some
races
respects than
Edison and Cooke.
Geologyhas justdawned upon us
to reveal the sublime
synopsisof earth's historyhid
den for over
three thousand
years in the first chapter
of the Bible.
The
last great thought of this era
are

"

Evolution

"

Crookes's

is

as

old

as

the hills in the East.

Profes

experimentsconnected with
the instability
of certain elements,psychicforce,and
the fourth dimension
of matter
(so far in advance of
deride
present scientific culture that many physicists
them) are stumblingsupon the outskirts of a domain
long familiar to oriental students. After many cen
with creeds and sects,we
turies of tedious jangling
are
will make
Christianity
slowlylearningthat primitive
earth a paradise.The permanent edifice of the world's
await the time
to patiently
complete education seems
when
shall tire of fashioninguseless building
men
stuff from
their crumbling theories and revert to the
basal granite
of which
the everlasting
foundations are
laid,caringonly to shape the superstructureby the
Architect's plan.
Although commonly rejectedthroughout Europe
and America,
reincarnation is unreservedly
accepted
by the majorityof mankind at the present day,as in
sor

wonderful

INTRODUCTION.

all the past centuries.

has

prevailedamong

with
the

an

unshaken

the

dawn

of

largestpart of
of conviction.
intensity

mightiesteastern

The
sway.
deur cannot

From
the

nations

it has

held

historyit
humanity
Over

all

permanent

ancient civilization of

Egypt, whose

be overestimated,was

built upon

gran

this

as

truth,and taughtit as a precioussecret

and
Ovid,
Pythagoras,Empedocles,Plato,Virgil,

fundamental

to

through Greece and Italy. It is the

keynoteof Plato's philosophy,
being stated or implied
frequentlyin his dialogues. Soul is older
very
than body," he says.
born
Souls are
continually
over
again from Hades into this life." In his view
all knowledge is reminiscence.
To search and learn
is simplyto revive the images of what
the soul saw
in its preexistent
of realities. It
state in the world
of Ploalso widely spreadin the Neo-Platonism
was
tinus and Proclus.
The swarming millions of India
have
this thoughtthe foundation of their enor
made
in government, architecture,phi
achievements
mous
element
cardinal
in
a
losophy,and poetry. It was
the
the religion
of the Persian
Magi. Alexander
the self-immolation
Great gazed in amazement
on
by
it inspiredthe Gymnosophists. Ca3sar
fire to which
found
the Gauls.
The
its tenets propagated among
essential principle
circle of metempsychosiswas
an
of the Druid
faith,and as such was
impressedupon
forefathers
the Celts,the Gauls, and the Britons.
our
It is claimed
that the people held this doctrine so
that they wept around
the new-born
infant
vitally
and smiled upon
death ; for the beginningand end of
the imprisonmentand
to them
an
earthlylife were
release of a soul,which must
undergo repeatedproba
tions to remove
its degradingimpurities
for final ascent
who

scattered

it

"

"

into

INTRODUCTION.

succession of

higherspheres.The Bardic triads

of the Welsh
are
repletewith this thought,and a
Welsh
antiquaryinsists that an ancient emigration
from Wales
to India
conveyed it to the Brahmans.
it was
Among the Arab philosophers
a favorite idea,
a

it still may
be noticed in many
Mohammedan
In the old civilizations of Peru and Mexico
writers.

and

it

prevaileduniversally.The priestlyrites of the

of Greece,the
Egyptian Isis,the Eleusinian mysteries
Bacchic processions
of Rome, the Druid ceremonies
of
Britain,and the Cabalic rituals of the Hebrews, all
force for their
expressedthis great truth with peculiar
initiated witnesses.
The Jews
generallyadopted it
after the Babyloniancaptivity
through the Pharisees,
Philo of Alexandria, and
the doctors.
the
John
Baptistwas to them a second Elijah. Jesus was com
of John
the Bap
monly thoughtto be a reappearance
tist or of one
and
of the old prophets. The Talmud
the Cabala
full of the same
are
teaching. Some of
the late Rabbins
assert many
thingscon
entertaining
cerningthe repeatedbirths of the most noted persons
is not an
of their nation.
exceptionto
Christianity
in promulgatingthe same
all the other great religions
philosophy. Reincarnation played an importantpart
in the thought of Origen and several other leaders
It was
the earlyChurch
Fathers.
a main
por
among
tion of the creed
the Middle

advocated

of the Gnostics

and

Manicha3ans.

In

scholastics and heretical sects

many
in many
it. It has croppedout spontaneously

Ages

theologians.The elder English divines do

in their sermons.
not hesitate to inculcate preexistence
In the seventeenth
and
century Dr. Henry More
other Cambridge Platonists gave it wide acceptance.
Catholic Purgatory seems
to be a makeThe Roman
western

INTRODUCTION.
shift

improvisedto take its place.Sir Harry Vane is

said by Burnet to have maintained
this doctrine.
Many philosophersof metaphysicaldepth, like
Scotus,Kant, Schelling,
Leibnitz,
Schopenhauer,and
Gen
the younger
Fichte,have upheld reincarnation.
iuses of noble symmetry, like Giordano

Bruno, Herder,

Goethe, have fathered it. Scientists

Brewster
have ear
like Flammarion, Figuier,and

Lessing,and

nestlyadvocated
Miiller,Dorner,
Beecher

long

Emerson

of

line

have

Edward

exalted

intuitional

Swedenborg its hold

mysticsbathe in it. Of

Platonists from
doubt

no

like Julius

and

of the

Most

In

it.

maintained

have

parent.

leaders
Theological

Ernesti, Riickert, and

like Boehme

natures

the

it.

Socrates

Nearly all

of it.

is ap
course

down

to

the poets

it.
profess
Even

amid

the

predominanceof

fluences in Christendom

ing.

Traces

North

and

At

considerable

follow

of
the aborigines
among
America,and in many barbaric tribes.

of it are

South

it has

materialistic in

found

signof decrepitude
the Burman, Chinese, Japanese,
Tartar, Thibe
over
nations, includingat least
tan, and East Indian
750,000,000 of mankind and nearlytwo thirds of the
race.
Throughout the East it is the great central
of the ignorant
thought. It is no mere
superstition
of Hindu
It is the chief principle
masses.
metaphys
Such a
ics, the basis of all their inspiredbooks.
of
hoary philosophy,held by the venerable authority
from
the beginningof time the bulk of
ages, ruling
the world's thought,cherished in some
form
by the
of every great religion,
is certainly
disciples
worthy of
the profoundestrespect and
study. There must be
vital reality
some
so
inspiring
stupendousan exist
this time it

"

ence,

reignswithout

any

INTRODUCTION.

But

the
in

hold

the

for

of

ancient

ideas

though

to

standpoint.

it

all

treat

to

has

the

for

this

forgotten

essentials

many

that

no

we

boast

subject

largely

not

that

the
is

thinker.

The

civilization

of

old,

anticipated

Therefore
from

for

respect

more

they
of.

does

reincarnation

upon

occidental

an

progress

than
in

agreed

fact

The

thought.

has

modern

outstripped
pose

of

race

argument

conceit

even

the

of

majority
no

domain

democracy

for

fondness

western

we

western

or

pro

I.

WHAT

IS

REINCARNATION?

We

cannot

the

to

How

body.

leave

Is

it.

You

cannot

As
the

It

of

sense

enhance

for

so

the

belief

virtue

in

tracts

god.

the

Again

main.

tion,

state.

"

experiences

details

so

and

"

no

D'

gained

in

reverence

KNIGHT.

crimes,

the

this

life
of

punishment

life

impressions

billows

That
So

The

on

swelling
on

the

dying

tide

body

life

there

is

no

that

as

are

this

by

actions

our

into

becomes

remembered

which

they
the

through

passes

he

be

not

may

higher
"

wheel
ones,

what

he

the

undulating

of
until

is destined

fall, and
of

time
and

falling

main
swell

incessant
the

deathless

again,

roll

soul.

their

in

produce

HARTMANN.

As

this

understanding,
of

may

with

beyond

our

pleasures

energies

and

the

successful

or

one

man

lower

longer,

and

quickens

pree'xistence

WILLIAM

to

be

ISRAELI.

the

but

again

his

for

recompense

ISAAC

in

intensify
"

is to

or

pedigree

and

remuneration

repugnant

pains

the

next,

changing
him

little

The
as

future

is called

GITA.

belief

regarded.

retribution

and
and

simple,

of

and

be,

to

BHAGAVAD

the

can

he

before

is about

or

world

this

MACDONALD.

name

life

is

of

through

learn

to

"

nature,

present

principle

the

be,

birth.

noble

even

GEORGE

illustrious

an

every

of

considered

another

The

in

metempsychosis.

system
in

of

deathless

suffering

without

meant

exhausted

"

it shall

soul,

thing

glory

except

we

system
of

is

lost

are

we

have

man

remains

the

of

duty

the
the

If

that

that

teaching

the

favored

inheritance

the

which

all

all

of

most

say

hereafter.

learned

much

and

diligent

most

have

yet

will

re

transforma
at

matter
to

be

"

12

WHAT

IS

REINCARNATION?

of consciousness they will

developedin the laboratory
be distinctly
displayed. The current phase of life will
also be stored away

its unconscious

in the secret

effect upon

vaults of memory,

for

the

ensuinglives. All the

and
soul,re
now
we
qualities
possess, in body,mind
of ancient opportunities.
We
sult from
use
are
our
indeed
the heirs of all the ages,"and are
alone
For these conditions
for our
inheritances.
responsible
from
distant causes
accrue
engenderedby our older
selves,and the future flows by the divine law of
of our
and effect from
the gatheredmomentum
cause
past impetuses. There is no favoritism in the uni
the same
facilitiesfor
everlasting
verse, but all have
growth. Those who are now elevated in worldlysta
in humble
tion may
be sunk
surroundingsin the fu
ture.
Only the inner traits of the soul are permanent
companions. The wealthysluggardmay be the beg
"

gar

of the next

life ; and

the

industrious

worker

of

the present is

sowing the seeds of future greatness.

Sufferingbravelyendured now will producea treasure
life ; hardships
of patienceand fortitude in another
will give rise to strength
develop
; self-denial must
the will ; tastes cultivated in this existence will some
how bear fruit in coming ones
; and acquiredenergies
will assert

themselves

parsimonies upon
based.

Vice

which

versa,

they can by the lex

of physicsare
principles

whenever

the

the

habits, the
peculiartendencies,the

unconscious

un

fa
impulses,the
of the
and the soul-stirring
vorite pursuits,
friendships
previousactivities.
present descend from far-reaching
of plantsand
Science explainsthe idiosyncrasies
of previousgenerations
animals by the environment
In the same
habit.
and calls instinct hereditary
way
there is an evolution of individuality,
by which the

controllable

IS

WHAT

child
from

opens

its

new

the

with

era

and
anterior lives,

to
personality

13

REINCARNATION?

sum

characteristics derived

adds

of
experience

the

his treasured

total of

the
In its passage throughearthly
personalities
fund
the essential Ego" accumulates
ual self,
a
dividual

character

which

remains

as

the

new

traits.

spirit
of in

permanent

stringingtogetherthe separate lives. The

which sprang
soul is therefore an eternal water globule,
mother
in the beginninglesspast from
and
ocean,

thread

is destined

after

an

unreckonable

of meander-

course

and steam, spring and

ings in cloud and rain,snow
and
last return
with
the
to
at
river, mud
vapor,
garneredexperienceof all lonelyexistences into the
of all. Or
central Heart
rather,it is the crystal
stream
running from a heavenlyfountain throughone
continuous

current

that

often

halts in

favorite

cor

pools,and shady nooks, muddy ponds and

sunny
clearest lakes,each delayshifting
the direction and al

ners,

teringthe complexion of the next tide as it issues out

by the path of least resistance.
That we
have
forgottenthe causes
producing the
of pleasuresand pains,
talents and
present sequence
and failures,
is no disproof
of them,
defects,successes
and does not disturb the justice
of the scheme.
For
temporary oblivion is the anodyne by which the kindly
physicianis bringingus through the darker wards of
into perfect
health.
sorrow
We
earlier

do

not

undertake

stoppages further

controvertible

to

trace

than

that
principle,

the

details of

is indicated
as

long

as

in the
the

our
un-

soul

is

governed by material desires it must find its homes in

its inclination is purely
physical realms, and when
it certainly
will inhabit the domain
of spirit.
spiritual
The restless wandering of all souls must
at last con-

14

WHAT

elude

in

sible

until

the

men

philosophy

is

the

have

masses

yielding

life.

as

evolution,

is

of

law

the

holds

justice
it

of

evidence,

argumentary,

untangles

It

grandly.
lightened
spirit

the

of

reason,

to

problem
the

meets

and

Christianity.

severest

is

in

the

the

only

physical

deepest

life

apply
In

con

of

weight

It

historic.
and

simply
of

requirements
harmony

one

plane

in

value

and
of

amid

phenomena

strongest

empirical,

knotty

the

experience.
the

which

in

spirit
is

ethical

human

stands

there

firmation

firm

That

truth.

of
in

con

nature.

rebirth

accepted

we

would

human

the

explanation

already
and

of

doctrine

metaphysical

It

of

ing

the

change,

every

of

permanence

satis

beasts,

Reincarnation,
the

of

is

of

of

pos

rounds

Goal

bodies

masked

coarsely

the

Granting

of

corruption

the

that

maxims

be

not

retrogression

fundamental

the

in

in

dwell
such

as

all

only

that

will

that

through

ever

irrational,

tradict

but

gone

learned

That

as

God,

have

and

faction.

REINCARNATION?

of

peace

they

experience

deny

IS

with

en

the

II.

EVIDENCES
WESTERN

OF

REINCARNATION.

The

house

The

soul

is not

; nor

one

any

of life hath

; it does

born

was

from

Is hard

it.

from

produced

not

was

EMERSON.

"

life

himself

who

for

; it

human

tell how

to

men

ROSSETTI.

"

die

not

produced

any

For

chambers.

many

began
knew.

beginning

MILTON.
There
fore

is

surely

elements

the

THOMAS

and

hath

Whatever

in

piece of divinity

owes

homage

no

beginning

no

us,

the

unto

may

be

was

sun.

of

confident

be

that

something

"

end.

no

SIB

"

BROWNE.
soul

of the

For
For

the
and

is form

soul

form

body
doth

doth

the

take,
make.

body

SPENSER.

Secreted

THROUGH
The

soul, if immortal,

What

is

incorruptible

Metempsychosis
hearken

can

Nature

to.

is

death

nal

Look

As

takes

in

Philosophy

Emblems

of

rise

all

man,

to

reascend

fades

expires.

not

passes,

rise.

and

set

reflourish

to

night

night, and

set, and

All

sinks
who

eter

all,

follows

and

example.

step

SCHLEGEL.

Day

; stars

abyss of

the

from

'tis revolution

which,

resurrection

of

is carried

"

death.

the

wheel

life.

of

no

dying day

Earth

that

immortality

ladder

rather

or

"

the

through

change

The

than

apex

nature

All

birth.

our

of

only system

less

the

to

past.

GOLD.

OF

HUME.

"

upward,

up

GATES

THE

the

ungenerable.

be

must

is the

nothing

by step, leads

before

existed

and

future

of

heart

the

and

world

life,the

all

illumine

can

the

of

heart

the

in

light which

is the

man

hidden

and

YOUNG.
The

blending

sentient
cedure
poses

with
versal

and

the

if

and

orders,

it be

we

be

may

the

subserves

such

in

matter

bodily

the

assured,

is

absolutely indispensable

not

creation,

it consequences
law

mind

rational

which,
of

of

as

will

of all finite natures,

in

most

make
all

important
it the

worlds.

to

ISAAC

the

ends
if

the

of

pro

final

pur

method

general,
"

of

structure

and
not

TAYLOR.

carries
the

uni

II.

EVIDENCES

WESTERN

THE

given

banquet
nobles,
ceive

from
of

ciency
advised
in

death

of

favor

of

hearing

the

sage

arose

and

to

fire

the

for

opposite

Whence

it

great

if

should

be

winds

and
this

then

whither

it

the

length

this

festal

fluttering

be

of

life
none

welcomed."

The

diviner

near

tell.
so

upon

and

ours

advice

man's

old

hall

man.

can

than

all

through

vanishing

goes

the

The
You

the

and

Others

religion brings light

must

suffi

lords.

without,

is

just

counsellor.

and

Such

new

it

At

entered

and

window.

mystery,

which

had

heretic.

oldest

king

re

religions

message.

his

moments

came

Therefore

"

swallow

few

of

chilling

the

escape

the

said

his

his

should

urged

invading

at
to

who

Norse

and

the

opinion

the

remark

they

Some

Druid

the

asked

how

to

continent.

that

Northumbria

of

as

records

missionary Paulinus,

own

king

did

arose

the

their

Bede,

Edwin

by King

Christian

arrived

REINCARNATION.

chronicler,

discussion

the

were

Saxon

old

OF

was

adopted.
We
ours.

is to

kernel

in

are

The

of

position

religion of

truth

when

the

souls

earnest

many

tianity,

the

as

it

it
is

came

of

those

churches,
a

dry
from

discovered

old

the

Christianity,

called
The

husk.

founder

under

of

ancestors

all

germinant
of

Chris

its

barren

18

EVIDENCES

wrappings,is
bread

of life.

OF

indeed
It

REINCARNATION.

sufficient to
all the

answers

feed

us

with

needs
practical

the
of

peopleeven with the husks. But it leaves some

which
vital questions
unanswered
impel us to desire
than Jesus taught
for mere
not
something more
but as food for largergrowth. The divine
curiosity,
law which promisesto fill every vacuum,
and to grat
has not left us
without
ify at last every aspiration,
of graspinga portionof these grandertruths.
means
The commonest
idea of the soul throughoutChris
for
tendom
to be that it is created specially
seems
birth on
this world, and after its lifetime here it goes
realm of infinite continuance.
to a permanent spiritual
most

"

This is

comfortable

very

belief derived

from

the ap

things,and those holding it may very

properlysay, My view agrees with the phenomena,
and if you think differently
the burden of proof rests
But a
you." We
accept this responsibility.
upon
careful observer knows
that the true explanation
of
of

pearances

"

facts is

as

rule very different from

the appearance.
for all the heavenly

Ptolemythoughthe could account

motions
his geocentric
on
theory,and his teachings
received by his contemporaries.But the
at once
were
and Galileo had to wait
deeper studies of Copernicus
a century before they were
accepted,
althoughthey in
troduced an
astronomy of immeasurablynobler scale.
Is it not

relic of the

in appearances
souls as lim
to consider the physical
orbits of human

ited to
The

our

littleview

old confidence

of them

with its in
theologianseeks to explainlife,
its miseries and injustices,
equalities,
by a future con
dition rewardingand punishingmen
for the deeds of
earth.
He concedes that benevolence
and justice
can
of His earthly
in God by what is seen
not be proven

20

EVIDENCES

There

are

REINCARNATION.

OF

arguments

seven

for Reincarnation

which

conclusive.

seem

2. That

it.
immortalitydemands
analogy makes it the most probable.

3. That

science confirms

4. That

the nature

1. That

5. That
cal

the idea of

it most

questionsof

"

it.

it.
of the soul requires
the theologi
completelyanswers
sin and
future punish
original
"

"

ment."
6. That

it explainsmany

7. That

it alone solves

misery which

broods

over

mysteriousexperiences.
and
the problem of injustice
our

world.

Immortalitydemands it.
of
and
allied schools
some
Only the positivists
thought,comprisinga very small proportionof Chris
tendom, doubt the immortalityof the soul. But a
better proof
existence after death has no
conscious
old declaration
It is an
existence.
than a pre-natal
have
We
end in time.
that what beginsin time must
no
rightto say that the soul is eternal on one side of
its earthly
periodwithout being so on the other. Far
1.

more

rational

view

the

soul

that it ends

with

believingthat
declare

is the

of certain

with
originates
this life.

That

scientists who,
this life,also
is the

logical

premise. If the soul sprang into ex

it continue
for this life,why should
istence specially
afterward
? It is precisely
as
probable from all the
that death is the conclusion of the
grounds of reason
soul as that birth is the beginningof it. As Cudworth
had
this argument which
special
pointsout, it was
whose
reasonings
weight with the Greek philosophers,
have led all later generations.
They
upon immortality
outcome

of their

EVIDENCES

21

REINCARNATION.

OF

of the soul in order to vindicate

eternity
its immortality. For, they held, as nothingwhich has
or
can
being can have originatedfrom nothingness,
certain ot
and
vanish into nothingness,
as
they were
that they could have
their existence,it was
impossible
had a temporal beginning. The
present life must be
backward
only one stage of a vast number, stretching

asserted the

forward.

and

Our

instinctive belief in

conscious
of

We

acceptance of this view.

all
life outlasting
persevering

and

immortalityimpliesa

But

death.

birth,as

well

as

the

certain

are

changes of

death, is

sub

one

time

of the

sphere
temporal shifts belonging to the transitory
which is foreign
to our
spirits.It is only because our
backs are
toward
the earlier change and our
faces to
the

later

that

used
principles
versed

world

we

refuse

about

to

the other.

of Fechner's

about

reason

If

we

one

on

lived in the

the
re

Dr.

Mises," in which old

and men
thingsgrow new
begin life by a reversed
dying and end by a reversed birth,we would probably
devise arguments for preexistenceas zealously
as
we
do now
for future existence,
and that would
lead to
reincarnation.

For

"

all the indications of

immortality
to an
point as unfailingly
eternityprecedingthis ex
istence : the love of prolonged life ; the analogy of
nature; the prevailingbelief of the most
spiritual
minds ; the permanence
of the ego principle
; the in
of annihilation
of creation
from
or
conceivability
nothing; the promise of an extension of the present
of any other thought.
career
; the injustice
The
ordinaryChristian idea of specialcreation at
birth

What

involves the correlative of annihilation

the

affect this

originof the soul may

further than
subject,

have
that it

been

at death.

does

not

long antedates

22

EVIDENCES

OF

REINCARNATION.

it be
present life. Whether
himself,or a divine emanation, or
the

its
pendentenergies,

that it is uncreated

ference

it is unthinkable

over,
enters

deduction

forms

before

bound

to pass

will be

rounded

of

career

the

this

vocate

the

into the

not

"

"

now

full orb

lives before

of

it

and
perfection

of

favor

many
it,and is

see

coming

out

has

reincarnation.

the

discerned

simile of the soul's deathlessness

in the

standard

transformation

butterfly.But it is known
all the caterpillars
and butterflies were
that once
now
alike,and that by repeatedincarnations they have
When
reached
the bewilderingdifferences.
they
of life on their own
road
started off from the procession
the progeny
from one
few similar species,
scat
a
or
and
tered into various circumstances,and the struggles
devices which
they went through for their own
pur
of
in
millions
for thousands
years
poses, beingrepeated
of
of lives,
has developedthe surprising
heterogeneity
feather-wingedinsects. And as each undergoes his
rapidchanges in rehearsal of his long pedigree,we
may

trace

The
a

into
caterpillar

it assumed

problem of the
soul in the light of modern
ad
that his masterpiece
would
centuries
thought. For many

pagan
literature of nations

of the

More

onlyphysicalexperi
endless spiritual
exist
that

to work

in

infinite history
it

an

we

goal.
stronglyin

human

doubt

we
science,

is rather

appeared as
through many

Analogy is
Bishop Butler

Were

an

it

its ultimate

2.

from

that

off to

The

cluster of inde

indestructible.

then

ence.

reach

and

for its first and

shoots

God

destinycompels the

this world
and

ence

eternal

spark from

the

the succession of his earlier lives.

violent energy

of the

previousstage leadingup

present condition
to

it.

argues

It is contended

of

great force

with

higherbirth. This
exalted
implyinga more
reach

from

us

diviner

Like

"

But

hints and

"

of the world

echoes

in the womb."

subtle indications rearward

of

death

necessitates

pletea

must

momentum
"

There

are

ascended

We
other
;

have

have

traveled

there

and

find

stairs below
are

the

embryo

us

stairs above

far.

As

ourselves
which

we

us, many

So

life

com

So swift

foundation.

must

wake

that birth is the

precedingit.

preparatory one

structure

serves

argue
Even

earlier existence.

an

another

gropingembryo plane
one.
Mysteriousintimations
sphere,
life is

folded
spirits

To

is but

death

analogy that

and

23

REINCARNATION.

OF

EVIDENCES

Emerson
on

ob
stair.

to have

seem
a

one, which

upward and out of sight."

The grand order of creation is everywhereproclaim
ing as the universal word, "change." Nothing is de
existence to an
but all is passingfrom
one
stroyed,
march
but is dancing in lively
Not an atom
other.
from its present condition to a different form, running
and ani
a ceaseless cyclethrough mineral,vegetable,
mal
losingits individuality,
existence,though never

go

diverse its apparent alterations.

however
ture

The

Not

crea

constantlyprogressingto somethingelse.
tadpolebecomes a fish,the fish a frog,and some
but

is

frogshave turned to birds. It was the keen

which gave their
in nature
of this principle
perception
and other ancient
vital force to the Greek mythologies
of per
stories embodying the idea of transmutation
this which ani
through many guises. It was
sonality
mated
the metamorphoses of Ovid, whose
philosophy
is contained
in these lines from
his poem
on
Pytha

of the

goras

"

24

REINCARNATION.

OF

EVIDENCES

Death, so called,is but

"

In

some

From

tenement

The

And

form.

new

old matter
in

the

as

softened

the

wax

and

This face assumes,

Now

varied vest

tenement, though tossed,

to

soul is stillthe same,

And,

dressed

seals receives,

new

that

figureonly lost

impressionleaves,

by another name,
by one, now
is still the
The form
is only changed, the wax
Then, to be born is to begin to be
not formerly.
Some
other thingwe were
called

That

forms

Continue

changed,I grant ;
figureit began."l

are

in the

Evolution

thought of Christen
astron
conceptionof physiology,

dom, expanding our

history. The

and

omy

nothingcan

the

remoulded

has

that

same.

more

it is studied

application.It

universal

is found

its

the secret

of God's

life.

Now

that

we

the

to

seems

know

more

the

be
evo

body,it is time that we learned the evo

shows
that each of
The biologist
lution of the soul.
before birth runs
us
physically
through all the phases
of animal
life
polyp, fish,reptile,
dog, ape, and
brief synopsisof how the ages have pre
man
as
a
The preponderanceof special
pared our tenements.
animal traits in us is due, he says, to the emphasisof
those particular
stagesof our physicalgrowth. So in
infancydoes the soul move
through an unconscious
its long line of de
series of existences,
recapitulating
scent, until it is fastened in maturity. And why is it
lution of the

"

"

"

not

true

that

activities?
of

which
and

each

the

material

traits

are

the relics of former

that the physicalpart

proves
product of a long series of changes,in

Evolution

is the

man

soul

our

stage is both

cause

part

of
of

the effect of

past

influences

succeedingissues. Does not the im

man
requirea developmentequally
1

Dryden's

Translation.

fact of

The

vast ?

25

REINCARNATION.

OF

EVIDENCES

evolution

intellectual and moral

an

proceedinghand in hand with

under the economy
be explained

the

of

physicalcan
nature
by a

only
series

of reincarnations.
3.

Furthermore,

the idea that

of
principles

science.

strictest economic

methods.

the

ever

appears
rived from
seen

is

There

added.

the

as

There

is

ualists

to

nature

Nothing
or

sufficient

some

vapor

cause

specially

combats

all

proceedson

the

is either lost

What

existence

is de

although as
feed

or

the

un

clouds.

of

opinionamong spirit
alike,that the quantityboth

growing consensus

and

materialists

remains

of matter

"

which

currents

is

destruction.

spring suddenly into

of force and

All

creation

no

soul

this world

into

for introduction

created

the

The

constant.

law

of

realm as
of energy holds in the spiritual
stock of energy
in the uni
in physics. The uniform
neither declines
verse
increases,but incessantly
nor
conservation

changes. The marvelous developmentsshown in the

protean organismscontinually
enteringthe procession
of life indicate
from

that

the

new

manifestations

descend

and immortal,
line,uncreated
patriarchal
coming through the hidden regionsof previousexist
ences.

some

Science

allows

no

such

miracle

as

the

theo

logicalspecialresurrection,which is contrary to all

of re
the universality
experience. But it recognizes
of
surrection throughoutall nature, which
is a matter
observation.
The idea of the soul as a phoe
common
nix,eternally
continuing
throughmyriad embodiments,
is adapted to the whole spirit
of modern
science.
is the axiomatic
law of cause
Especially
significant
and effect.
is no
There
other adequate explanation
of the phenomena of life than
the purely scientific
similar to those now
one, that causes
operatingbefore

26

OF

EVIDENCES

have

eyes

our

REINCARNATION.

produced the

results

The

witness.

we

require
impellingcharacteristics of each personality
of physicallife to have gen
earlier experiences
some
All the sensuous
of human
erated them.
proclivities
nature
pointto long earthlyexperienceas their only
origin. And the unsatisfied physicalinclinations of
the soul necessitate
work

themselves

all the
reason

range
for a

series of material

existences to

The

for
irrepressible
eagerness
sufficient
to be a
experienceseems

out.

of

of

course

incarnations

which

shall

ac

complish that result.

that the wondrous
contend
human
Physiologists
mat
organism could not have grown up out of mere
ter, but impliesa preexistent
personalidea,1which
grouped around itself the organicconditions of phys
ical existence
1

We

purposelyuse

for the word

to

the

old

constrained

and

should

the term

be

classical one,

rescued

Personal
from

in connection

the material

elements

in

preferenceto spiritual,
its confusion of meanings
with

the soul.

As

Her

unfolds, Personalityis the key to ex

beautifully
from persona, a mask,
istence,"using the word in its first sense
the image of
analogy which calls man
parallelto the Hebrew
Mulford
also presents the thought grandly in The
Jehovah.
Republicof God and The Nation, drawing his suggestion from
Lotze

mann

the

Germans

"

Stahl

and

Froshammer.

In

this

sense

human

Deity,the veil through which the Absolute

of nat
tries to reveal Himself, castingabout in the multiplicity
of His
ural forms
after an
expressionthrough physical means
In this sublime
nature.
own
conceptionGod is the life of the
universe, who, in Schelling'sphrase, "sleeps in the stone,
in the animal, and wakes
breathes in the plant,moves
up to con
Novalis so
It is this thought which
makes
sciousness in man."
to a human
reverent
being as a Microdeus, and elevates the dig
nityof the soul above all else. For as the purpose of nature is
souls are
to personifythe
the Persons (or
Invisible, human
masks) by which the leading parts are here acted with many
changes of scenery.
ityis

the shadow

of

28

EVIDENCES

OF

the purpose

since

REINCARNATION.

of its

corporealhabitation cannot
be accomplishedin a singlebrief lifetime,
it
possibly
that it should repeat that experience,
is necessary
al
framing its receptacleto suit its growing char
ways
until
acter, like the epochsof a lobster's enlargement,
it has done with physicallife. The
new
apparitions
of

men

upon

Evolution

the earth thus hail from

older

claimed

fairlybe

scenes.

spiritual
truth applyingto all the methods of life. The gradual
developmentof the soul,by the school of experience,
demands
of action than one
a vaster
arena
earthlylife
form

one

souls from
expansionof human
natures
surelyneeds many and many
growth.
Evolutionaryscience explainsthe

animals

of young

inherited

as

experiencestransmitted into
science is learningthat the
beings are also derived from
anterior activities,
and
Herbert

memory.

tion,speaks of

through

lower

instinctive acts
"

fresh

forms.

earliest

acts

past

-as

Psychic
of

human

habits formed

remote

in

in the unconscious

stored away

of evolu
Spencer,the philosopher
constant
manifestingitself
energy
This

is the

one

life

in protean shapes.
eternally
from
of our
of conceptions
measure
acquisition
universe

evidence

that

resides in the

these

have

takinga leap,must

always been
have

There

senses.

put

us

five.

powers
senses,

which

are

some

of

or
partially

which

powers

is

no

Nature,

through all the

our
present posi

lower stages before she placedus at

since nature
tion. And
contains
many
these

life for that

tendencies,

all transformations.

the outer

and

higher

to

runs

The

never

of
ages of time and thousands
kind
of an
animal from
another,

the

which

as

If it takes

affords.
lives to

may

substances

wholly beyond
are

known

to

EVIDENCES

other

animals, we

must

of the soul

.soul cannot
than

feel itself to have

it

had

as

The

overwhelms
persistence
and
and sleep,
getfulness

beginning,
any

any

all the

na

conscious

conceive of annihilation.

can

corre

is that the

reincarnation.
requires

of

This

senses

many
of nature.1

as

higherlevels

to

us

as

present

our

the powers
much
more
weightyargument

4. A

more

introduce

the soul shall have

spond with
ture

that

assume

cending development will

in which

29

REINCARNATION.

OF

The

sense

of
interruptions

for-

all the obstacles of matter.

incessant self-assurance

suggests the idea of the

soul

beingindependentof the changingbody, its tem

follows the conceptionthat, as
porary prison. Then
the soul has once
form, so it may
appearedin human
in many
others.
The
of the soul,
eternity
reappear
to an innumerable
suc
past and present, leads directly
cession of births and deaths,disembodiments
and reembodiments.
The
a

of
identity

remembrance

the

In the
were

of

sense

drowsed

from

of that former
a

while
The

and

nature
1

ory

This

of

future

always for
recognition.

are

the

gaps.

present existence

our

into

which

have

we

oblivious
life,being sleepily
from

which

we

may

after

this.

The

into wakefulness.

infant

extent

if

condition

and
activity,

be roused

study of

as

seems

earlier

an

We

past.

consist in

not

waking again to
individuality
bridgesall

way
somnambulent

surelydoes

and

it

same

soul

all its

of

gettingourselves
But

the

psychologyconfirms

of the

mental

furniture

with

which

grandly stated in Isaac Taylor'sPhysicalThe

Future Life. In demonstratingthe assurance
that the
idea is

existence is in material

extensions

to which

developed,the

author

of reincarnation.

the

bodies, and

showing

coming bodilypowers
approachesstrangelynear

will

the

glorious

probablybe
the philosophy

SO

EVIDENCES

OF

REINCARNATION.

of this world,
beginlife,
apart from all experience
has obligedmany
thinkers to resort to preexistence
the necessary explanation.
as
we

of

careful examination

the

rarer

facts of life,

those found in dreams, trances, and analo

noticeably
completelife
gous phenomena,demonstrates that our
is largely
independentof the body,and consists in a
experiencesof
perpetual transfer of the sensuous
self-consciousness into

supersensuous

unconscious

of character

might
more
although
trulybe called our real consciousness,
of it,for it comprises
not ordinarily
we
are
cognizant
This is the es
and
tendencies.
our
habits,
instincts,
after
sential character of the soul and must
persist
death.
are
Now, unless all our earthlypossibilities
in one
exhausted
life,these inherent material quali
in a
will find expression
ties of our
nature
spiritual
of earthlyexistences. And
if the purpose
plurality
of life be the acquisition
of experience,
it would be
But

ness.

this

unreasonable
fore

full

higherstorehouse

to suppose

knowledgeof

apparent that

one

the

longestand

of

the

short

final transfer elsewhere

diverse

average,

gained. It is
accomplishthis,even in
to say nothing
career,

earth has been

life cannot

most

be

and

"

the

curtailed

allowance

for
majority. If one earth life answers
all,what a tiny experiencesuffices for the immense
who
masses
prematurelydie as children ! Men are
of spiritual
willingenough to believe in an eternity
development after this world; but is it consistent
with the thoughtof Omnipotence to consider that the
for that by a few
Divine plan is achieved in preparing
swift years in one
to our
body ? In devotingeternity
education,the infinite Teacher surelywill not put us
into the highest
grade of all until we have well mas

givento

the

tered the lessons of all the lower classes.

EVIDENCES

The

OF

"innate

philosophyof

of earlier lives than

the

31

REINCARNATION.

ideas"

is

present. The

admission

an

intuitionalists

emphatically
regard the concepts of cause, substance,
time, and space as existingin the mind
indepen
dent
of
sensationalists consider
experience. The
due to our
them entirely
sensations.
The Spenceriaii
evolutionalists occupy
a middle
ground and call them
from
mental
the experienceof
a
heredityresulting
the race.
It has been well shown, as Edgar Fawcett
impartialcritics,that thn controversy
says, by two
be solved by any agreement of Western
cannot
psychol
ogists.Buckle inveighsagainstthese discordant sys
tems
as
having thrown the studyof the mind into
a confusion
only to be compared to that in which the
has been thrown
studyof religion
by the controversies
1
of the theologians."
And
George Henry Lewes, in
his
History of Philosophy,"deploresthis perplex
ing condition of metaphysics. The solution of the
problem comes,
along with reincarnation,from the
of
eastern
students, who assert that a true conception
the soul is discovered
only by the culture of superfaculties.
sensuous
They concede a portionof truth
to both extreme
schools,declaringthat the primary
of such ideas was
acquisition
gainedby sensation,but
innate in the infant mind.
that at present they are
the generalized
experienceof former
They are now
existences risingagaininto consciousness.
The
restlessness of our
spirits
points to ancient
"

"

habits

of varied

dication

each

one

H. T.

sti]l more

forcible in

in the
and

same

per
contraries in

us, which

of

crushed

never

And

of character
diversity
wavering uncertainties

is the

These

son.

action.

even

strive for the mastery and are

of habit
by the sternest fixity

vol. i. p. 166.
Buckle, Historyof Civilization,

"

32

EVIDENCES

OF

REINCARNATION.

to temptations,
and
renderingthe best of us amenable
well result from
making the strongest vacillate,
may
characters.
The main trend
meanderingsin numerous
of our
is stilloften distracted into old forgot
natures
ten

ways.

5. Reincarnation

to
provides a complete answer
the most
perplexingproblem of theology, original
sin. Properlythis pointbelongsto the precedingsec
a
tion,but its importancejustifies
separate mention.
The endless controversies centering
upon this question
Christian metaphysics
have vainlywrestled
show how
knot which
with a Gordian
cannot
possiblybe untied
this life the initial and
from the standpoint
considering
reincarnation
which
knot
not
a
only earthlyone,
Between the
simplycuts, but reveals how it was made.
who maintained
that all
extreme
dogmas of Pelagius,
"

"

men

are

born

in

state of innocence

and

may therefore
held the total

Augustine,who
from their transgression
of mankind, arising
depravity
in Adam
and their absolute bondage to the devil,there
has
divided
has raged a continual
warfare, which
this leading
sects of thoughton
Christendom
into many
live without

sin,and

The

doctrine.

modern

of

church

creeds

still range

them

battalions,
followingthe discus
conflicting
between
sions during the Reformation
Erasmus, who
sin over
free will,and
denied the power
of hereditary
is completelyin
Luther, who insisted that the race
the devil's power
By far the largest
by nature.
part
adheres
to the lat
of the Christian world
professedly
that men
born entirely
ter faith,
are
corrupt. Even
liberal denominations
the Arminians, Quakers, and
of sin in humanity are
who admit only a germ
at a
it. The
loss to account
ordinarytheological
explana
sin from
the transgression
of
tion which derives our
selves

in

"

EVIDENCES

33

REINCARNATION.

OF

Adam, as apparentlytaught by St. Paul, although

and expressedin
of the churches
held by most
tacitly
the inner
the majorityof creeds,grates so severely
on
and

consciousness
the

answer

real

sense

common

There
difficulty.

it does

that
is

not

generalagree

among
tical life are

mankind, upon which the codes of prac

for our
based, that Adam's responsibility

sin is

makeshift

ment

only a

sensible

knows

man

of
that

: for
theologians

the
no

one

but

the

every

individual

wrong-doing. Adam
is acceptedas a fable for our
older selves. Dismissing
all the interminable
which only
arguments of theology,
obscure
truth in a cloud of intellectual wranglings,
of ethics,
the broad foundation
grounded in our best
attached sin somehow, though inexplainably,
instincts,
the only sufficient explanation
to the sinner; and
traces its beginningto earlier lives.
The moral
character of children,especially
the oc
of evil in them
currence
long before it could have
been
implanted by this existence,has forced acute
observers
that the human
has made
to assume
spirit
choice of evil in a pre-natalsphere similar to this.
children
Every one who knows
rejectsthe Pelagian
As
innocence.
theory of their immaculate
soon
as
they have the power to do wrong, without any teach
ing the wrong is done as a natural proceeding.
The germ
of sin springsup from some
old sowing.
But the Augnstiniandoctrine is equallyuntrue
to hu
The most
nature.
man
incorrigible
tendency to evil
in an
uninfluenced
child cannot
conceal
the good
within
it,but merely indicates that former ill habits
are
The
working themselves out.
depraved criminal
at last sees
his own
when
his course
of sin is run,
folly
himself

and

can

becomes

be blamed

so

weary

for

his

of it that the next

lease of life

34
must

EVIDENCES

be

on

OF

better

plan. So evil is discovered to be

making, and vice is virtue in the strength

good in the
ening.
Every person at some
of sin
to the recognition
that it is

radical

so

life,
althoughit
We

REINCARNATION.

as

is

stage
within

to reach

of

growth awakens
him, and is certain

back

of all his

surelyforeignto

all feel ourselves to have

bounded

his true

present
nature.

into life like

be shaken
stag carryinga pantherwhich must
for this by Adam's
Theology attempts to account

entailinga hereditarydepravity. But

consciousness
kind

in

agrees

with

the

common

our

sense

off.
sin

inmost
of

man

alone

holdingus

for our
responsible
tendency
Remorse
seizes us for the inexplicable
evil
to wrong.
in us.
The only solution is that of the parasite
in the
butterfly.The insect allowed the pest to enter when
This blighted
condition cannot
be the
it was
a worm.
be the result of the
It must
originalstate of man.
the divine,and choosingwrong
human
will resisting
in old existences beyond recollection.
of this thoughtnourished the
A masterlyexpression
in the teaching
of Origen,1
of Christianity
childhood
and

flourished with

wholesome

influence

until it

was

by the Council of
forciblycrushed out of popularity
for the harsh dogmas
to make
room
Constantinople,
which

have

since darkened

the rationale of Christian

and conquered,
but
met
was
intelligently
ity. It never
with the weight
was
summarily ousted as incompatible
of it appears in
of prejudice.The
treatment
same
Dr. Hodge's SystematicTheology (under the sec
tion on
Preexistence). That it is in harmony with
has been shown
by Henry More, Soame JenScripture
Bo wen, from
and Professor
yns, Chevalier Ramsay,
"

"

See pages

233 et seq.

36

EVIDENCES

OF

REINCARNATION.

longerthan the sin continues,

and that the everlasting
mercy of the Supreme will pro
final release for his erringchildren.
vide some
curious experiences.
6. Reincarnation
explains
many
known
the touches
of feelingand
Most
of us have
to be reminders of forgotten
things.
thoughtthat seem

for sin cannot

continue

of old scenes, sometimes

as
distant
flashes in the darkness recalling
vivid lightning

Sometimes

as

dim

dreams

with unutterable

sometimes

occurrences,

depthof

mean

It appears as if nature's opiatewhich ushered us

here had been so diluted that it did not quiteefface the

ing.
old

memories, and

tigesof
sense

of

former

we

state.

an

Almost

Thinking of
seizes us
impression

an

have

had

these

fact,meetinga face

with

to decipherthe
struggles

great age.

jectoften
ago,

reason

every
some

one

ves

has felt the

unwonted

sub

long
Learning
are
puzzled

that somewhere,

reflections before.

for the first time,we

it is familiar.

Travel

in strange placeswe are sometimes

there
of having been
consciousness

haunted

obscure

ing newly

sense

that

already.
Music is specially
apt to guide us into mystic depths,
reminiscences
where
startled with the flashing
we
are
have felt or seen
of unspeakable verities which we
Efforts of thoughtreveal the half-obliter
ages since.
ated inscriptions
the tablets of memory,
on
passingbe
has
fore the vision in a weird procession.Every one
such experiences.Most of them are blurred and
some
obscure.
But
are
so
some
remarkably distinct that
that their sen
those who undergo them are convinced
sations are actual recollections of events and placesin
former lives. It is even
possiblefor certain persons
to trace thus quitefullyand clearly
a part of their by
priorto this life.
gone history
so
Sir Walter Scott was
impressedby these experi-

with

37

REINCARNATION.

OF

EVIDENCES

they led him to a belief in preexistence.

his diarywas entered this circumstance,February17,
that

ences

In

1828

"

I cannot, I

sure, tell if it is worth

am

mark

ing down, that yesterday,at dinner time, I was

haunted
by what I would call the sense of
strangely
viz. a confused idea that nothing that
preexistence,
passedwas said for the first time ; that the same topics
had

been

the

same

and

discussed

the

same

them.

opinionson

The

is called

stated

sensation

was

mirage in the
board
It was
desert and a calenture on
ship.
and
yesterday,
brought to my mind
very distressing
the fancies of BishopBerkeleyabout
ideal world.
an
of unreality
in all I said or
There was
vile sense
a
so

strong as

to resemble

had

persons

what

...

did."

this

That

not

was

later years is evident from

rience is referred to in one
this

sentiment

due

to the strain upon

the fact that the

same

his
expe

of his earliest novels,where

"

of

preexistencewas first described.

In
Guy Mannering," Henry Bertram says : Why
is it that some
awaken
scenes
thoughtswhich belong,
it were,
of early and shadowy recol
to dreams
as
"

"

"

such
lections,

we

before

old

Brahmin

moonshine

the

nor

nay, feel
versation

as

if

which

inner and

could
has

not

we
persons
Platonists would

Lockhart's

the

scene

new
subjectare entirely
that part of the con
anticipate
yet taken place."

Lytton describes
spiritual
memory

places and
1

we

that neither

the

speakersnor

Bulwer

which

have

of

state

ill-defined consciousness

and

would

previousexistence. Plow often

which
find ourselves in society
have never
we
met, and yet feel impressedwith a mysterious

ascribed to
do

as

it as

that strangekind of
which
often recalls to us

have
resolve

"

never

to

seen

be the

vol.
Lifeof Scott (first
edition,

before,and

unquenched
vii. p.

114).

38

EVIDENCES

OF

REINCARNATION.

and

consciousness of a former life." Again,

struggling
in
How
Godolphiii"(chapterxv.), he writes :
comes
us as
over
we
strange is it that at times a feeling
which
certain places,
associates the scene
gaze upon
"

"

either with

some

remembered

ages of the

Past, or with

dim

and

dreamlike

im

propheticand fearful omen

of the Future.
similar
a
Every one has known
strange and indistinct feelingat certain times and
and with a similar inability
to trace the cause."
places,
walk
Edgar A. Poe writes (in Eureka ") : We
.

"

about,amid the destinies of

paniedby
vast

more

dim

but

awful.
finitely
haunted
by such
.

youth

our

for

even

As

for dreams.
the

of

Quincey,and
appears

in

found

distinctness
But

in

"

was

of manhood

of this class

shown,"

dis

in the

Willis, Coleridge,De
A

instance
striking

of the late William

Hone,

the

made such a pro

experience
from
roused him
thirtyyears of
to

conviction of the soul's inde

in

Being called
London
new
entirely
had

he

found

are

matter.

he

us

the

whom

part of

noticingthat

clear to deceive

other writers.

materialistic atheism

house

Destiny

illusions."

littlememoir

of

is too

the doubt

Hawthorne,

effect that it

pendence

many

Parodist,upon

of

bygone time and in

We
live out a youth peculiarly
dreams, yet never
mistaking them
memories
know
them.
we
During

as
pelsthese feelings
Explicitoccurrences

narratives

accom
existence,

present memories

ever

moment.

world

distant in the

very

"

our

"

never

says,

"

been
into

to

that
room

business

to

him, he kept
way

before.

to wait.

On

looking around, to my astonishment everythingap

familiar to me
to recognize
: I seemed
pearedperfectly
I was
every object. I said to myself,what is this ?
here before and yet 1 have seen all this,and if
never

OF

EVIDENCES
so, there

is

very

39

REINCARNATION.

in the shutter."

knot
peculiar

opened the shutter,and there was the knot.

of many
The experience
persons supports this
The

Hindu

sacred

tories of

contain many

books

truth.

detailed his

Kapila is said
transmigration.

have writ

to

his recollection of them

ten out

the Vedas

from

former

life. The

Vishnu

Purana

instances of memory
tertaining
cessive lives. Pythagoras is

bered his former

He

furnishes

retained

in

some

en

through suc

related to have

remem

in the persons of a herald

^Ethalides,Euphorbus the Trojan, Hermo-

named

existences

timus of Clazomense,and

It is stated that he

others.

in the

templeof Juno, at Argos,the shield

with which, as Euphorbus, he attacked
Patroclus
in
the Trojan war.
The
life of Apolloniusof Tyana
gives some
extraordinary
examples of his recogni
tions of persons
he had known
in precedinglives.
All these cases
considered fictions by most people,
are
because theytrespassthe limits of historical accuracy.
But there are many
facts in our
time that point
own
pointedout

in the

direction.

same

The

Druses

have

doubt

no

that this life follows

others.
A Druse
many
of a gun by
plainedhis terror at the discharge
"
I was
born murdered
that is,the soul of
;

boy ex
saying,

"

who

had

been shot entered into his

friend

of the writer

among

the

though born
first young

in

entrance

trict roused the

likeness. And

flat
to

before

because of certain

he

once

lived

present life,for,

his
country destitute of pines,
a

wild

deepestsense
his last

his

man

body. A scholarly

is satisfied that

mountains

pine-grownmountain dis
of familiarity
and home-

life,he thinks,was

commanding

feminine

as

woman,

traits which

assert themselves.
And
this in spiteof
continually
an
apparently
strong masculine nature, which never
excites a suspicion
of effeminacy.

40

OF

EVIDENCES

friend

Another

of

REINCARNATION.

writer

the

that his

says

only

deceased, often referred

child,a little girlnow

to

nothing. When cor

that she had no
she
rected with the assurance
sister,
would
reply, Oh, yes, I have ! I have a littlebaby
The
sister in heaven !
same
gentleman tells this
anecdote of a neighbor's
familywhere the subjectof

younger

he knew

sister of whom

"

"

reincarnation

is

playingin

dren

was

while

their mother

mentioned.

never

the

house
them.

watched

at

When

group

of

chil

countinggame
they reached

they started again at one and climbed

The brightest
once
more.
boy com
up the numbers
We
the proceeding
count
mented
:
ten, twenty,
on
Then we get through
and so on to a hundred.
thirty,
! That 's the way people
Mamma
and begin all over.
to the end,
do.
They go on and on till they come
and then theybegin over
again. I hope I '11have you
for a mamma
again the next time I begin." Law
rence
Oliphantgivesin Blackwood's Magazine for
January,1881, a remarkable account of a child who
of previouslives.
remembered
experiences
and
Notes
A
writer in
Queries,"second series,
vol. iv. p. 157, says, "A gentlemanof high intellectual
one

hundred

"

"

"

"

deceased,once

attainments,now
dreamed

of

remembered
as

those
as
distinctly

few weeks
rama

in

me

that

he had

so
vividlythat he
strange city,
streets,houses,and public buildings

being in
the

told

afterward

Leicester

of any

he

was

placehe
induced

Square,when

he

ever

to
was

visited.

visit a pano
startled by

The like
seeing the cityof which he had dreamed.
was
ness
perfectexcept that one additional church ap
peared in the picture. He was so struck by the cir
that he spoke to the exhibitor,
cumstance
assuming
for his purpose the air of a traveler acquaintedwith

OF

EVIDENCES

the

He

place.

church

was

was

informed

that

additional

the

It is difficult to

erection."

recent

41

REINCARNATION.

ac

of the double
hypothesis
of the brain, or by clairvoyance.
structure
In Lord
Lindsay'sdescriptionof the valley of
We
Kadisha
("Letters,"
p. 351, ed. 1847) he says :
The
the river Kadisha descendingfrom Lebanon.
saw
whole
bore that strange and
scene
shadowy resem
blance
to the wondrous
landscapein Kubla Khan
for such

count

fact

by

the

"

'

'

that

one

around

scene

interval.

feels in actual

often

so

you

Your

appears

the

friends seated

dreamlike

same

the whole

reactingafter a long
in the same
juxtaposi

to be

of conversation
tion,the subjects

ing with

life,when

ease,

the
that

and

same,

you

shift

remember

periodof preexistence
;
what will come
next, and sit spell
you always know
bound, as it were, in a sort of calm expectancy."
mentions
this
Dickens, in his Pictures from Italy,"
In the fore
instance,on his first sightof Ferrara :
leaning
ground was a group of silent peasant girls,
the parapet of the little bridge,lookingnow
over
up
into the water
down
the dis
at the sky, now
; in
of an
tance
a
deep dell ; the shadow
approaching
there
nighton everything. If I had been murdered
at

some

remote

indefinite

and

"

"

in

some

former

life I could

not

have

seemed

to

re

with more
or
em
thoroughly,
place more
of the blood ; and
the real remem
phatic chilling
brance of it acquiredin that minute is so strengthened
by the imaginary recollection that I hardly think I
could forgetit."
in the story of "The
A
Wool-gatherer"
passage
shows
that James
Hogg, the author, shared the same
and attributed
it to an
earlier life on
earth.
feeling
member

the

N. P. Willis wrote

story of himself

as

the reincar-

EVIDENCES

42

nation of

the title

under

St.

G.

D.

ence."
"

in "Dashes
previouspersonality,

his

ered

Agnes

The

"

of

Eevelation

"

the

does

Rossetti

Life,"

at

Exist

Previous

his story

in

same

of Intercession."

lecturer,Eugene Ashton, recently

well-known

contributed
dotes

he discov

artist,
narratinghow

Austrian

an

REINCARNATION.

OF

to

Cincinnati

these

paper

two

anec

"

At

a
lady,
York, recently,

party in New

dinner

said to
giftedsingers,
reincarnation I hope to
In some
of the guests :
one
perfectmy voice,which I feel is now only partially
developed. So long as I do not attain the highest
of which my soul is capableI shall be returned to the
who

is

of New

one

York's

most

'

flesh to work
4

But, madam,

any

what

out

if
of

evidence

intended

nature

do.'

to

me

expect incarnations,have

you

past

ones

'

'Of

you

I cannot

that

I can
recall dimly thingswhich
speak positively.
I was
when
in the flesh
to have happened to me
seem
Often I go to placeswhich are
before.
to the
new
but they are
soul ;
not new
to my
present personality,
I

am
"

sure

that I have

Southern

sure

her

that I have

stance, when

there before.'

literary
woman,

lyn, speaking of
am

been

former

lived in

who

now

lives in Brook

incarnations,says
some

past time

for in

Heidelberg,
Germany, attending
of Mystics,
in company
with some
friends
a convention
I paid my first visit to the ruined HeidelbergCastle.
As I approached it I was
impressedwith the existence
of a peculiarroom
in an
inaccessible portionof the
building. A paper and pencilwere
providedme, and
I drew a diagram of the room
to its peculiar
even
floor.
were
My diagram and description
perfect,
when

we

was

afterwards

at

visited the

room.

In

some

way

44

EVIDENCES

long distant.1
as

REINCARNATION.

OF

But

it failsto account

this

is unsatisfactory,
explanation

for the wonderful

vividness of

some

of these

in well-balanced
minds, or the
impressions
longtrains of thoughtwhich come
independentof any
the prophetic
which anticipate
or
companions,
glimpses

actual

soul is

credible is it that each

more

palimpsestinscribed again and againwith

storyupon

one

Far

occurrences.

another,and whenever

thor is readyto write

the all-wise Au

granderpage

on

us

He

washes

off the old ink and pens his latest word.

of
But some
trace here and there letters of the former man
us
can
not yet effaced.
uscript

contributor

ber, 1875, refers

vision

to

the

to

the

Monthly,"of Septem
hypothesisof double mental
Penn

"

of these
for most
supposed to account
and then concludes :
Such would be my
instances,
inference as regardsordinary
of this sort of rem
cases
when
iniscence,especially
they are observed to ac
company
any impairedhealth of the organs of mental
instances
But there are more
action.
extraordinary
of this mental phenomenon,of which I can
giveno ex
planation.Three of these have fallen within my own
as

"

range

of observation.

years

old

by

was

observed

friend's child

of about

four

sister to be talk

her older

ing to herself about matters of which she could not be

,' ex
supposed to know
anything. Why, W'

about
do you know
the older sister,' what
born ! '
that ? All that happened before you
were
'
I would have you know, L
that I grew old in
,

claimed

heaven

before I

was

born.'

quote this

I do not

as

if

of these instances,Dr. Wigan

physiological
explanation
publishedin 1844 a curious book entitled, The Dualityof the
1

As

"

Mind

"

forth

(London),which
number

excited animated

of circumstances

the brain could not

explain.

which

discussions and
the double

called

structure

of

OF

EVIDENCES

curious

to have

it from

any
second

The

from

statement

ever

it to

the child meant

it explainedwhat

45

REINCARNATION.

the mouth

but
explain,

of

as

too

one

young
inferred

to have
or
preexistence,
of her own.
ambiguous mental experiences
of inexplicable
is that of the presence
case

of

heard

reminiscences,

what

or

seem

such

in

dreams.

As

everybodyknows, the stuff which dreams are ordinarily

which
of life,
made
of is the every-dayexperience
we
into

cast

of

new

and

arrangement

laws

fantastic combinations, whose

and

succession

are

still unknown

to

is a young
In the list of my acquaintances
mar
who is repeatedly
but
ried lady,a native of Philadelphia,

us.

in her dreams
carried back
to English
habitually
societyof the eighteenthcentury, seemingly of the
times of George II., and
to a social circle somewhat
lives.
above that in which
she now
Her acquaintance
with literature is not such as to giveher the least clue
not

to

the

matter, and

the

details

she

furnishes

not

are

gatheredfrom books of any class.

The
the lofty and elaborate
head
dress, especially
dresses of the ladies, their slow and
statelyminuet
to their supe
dancing,the deference of the servants
such

as

would

riors,the
of

be

details

which

of the

she

stiff,
square

brick

houses,in

surprisedto find a family

all
chapel with mural paintingsand a fine organ
these she describes with the sort of detail possibleto
who has actually
one
seen
them, and not in the fashion
one

was

"

in which

book-makers

write

about

them.

Yet

another,

is that of a friend,who
experience,
remembers
He
having died in youth and in India.
the bronzed
attendants
sees
gatheredabout his cradle
in their white dresses ; they are
And
fanning him.
Much
of
as
theygaze he passes into unconsciousness.
his description
concerned
points of which he knew
a

more

wide-awake

46

OF

EVIDENCES

nothing from

enabled

and
the life,
which

other

any

REINCARNATION.

to fix

me

all

but

source,

India

on

true

was

the

as

to

scene

he recalled."

7. The

strongestsupport of reincarnation is its happy

the

of

solution

and
justice

problem

of

moral

otherwise

evil which

and
inequality

overwhelms

us

in

as

we

The
seeming chaos is marvelously
survey the world.
set in order by the idea of soul-wandering.Many a
intellect has been

sublime

God.

thingshere

of

turviness

is blind

All

oppressedwith

so

"

to

as

the topsyThere is no

cry out,
An
exclusive

chance."

view of

the miseries of mankind, the

the

the

of
struggles

and

cesses

the

on

or,

masses,

of wickedness,
prosperity
the oppressionof the
deserving,

other

happinessof

to call the world

the fortunate

sham

consideration

hand, the talents

without

and

suc

few,compelsone
moral

any

law.

But

majesticsatisfaction
is assured that the present life is only one
when one
is gradu
of a grand series in which
every individual
allygoing the round of infinite experiencefor a glori
that the hedging ills of to-dayare
a
ous
outcome,
did yesterdayand a step
of what
we
consequence
the
Thus
the great things of to-morrow.
toward
tangledsnarls of earthlyphenomena are straightened
that

yieldsto

"

out

as

and

vast

beautiful

perienceof humanity forms

perfectpoeticjustice.
The
meets

the total

and

ex

magnificenttapestryof

it
any hypothesisis whether
all the facts better than any other theory. No
crucial test of

other view

so

conditions

on

voritism
and

scheme,

the

on

many

with him,

earth, and

refutes

the

Hierocles

part of Providence.

philosopherbefore

"

Without

the

of
diversity
charge of fa

for the

admirablyaccounts

and

doctrine

agreed
metempsychosis

since

of

has

said,

OF

EVIDENCES

47

REINCARNATION.

of God."
the ways
Some
possibleto justify
have found the idea of preexistence
of the theologians
explanationof the world,
necessary to a reasonable
althoughit is considered foreignto the Bible. Over
Beecher
published
thirtyyears ago, Dr. Edward
The Conflict of Ages," in which the main
argument
demonstrates
that the facts of
is this thought. He
sin and depravity
compel the acceptance of this doc
God
from
the chargeof malicious
trine to exonerate
His book caused a lively
ness.
controversy, and was
of Ages," in which
followed by
The Concord
soon
his posi
the objections
and strengthens
he answers
truth is taughtby Dr. Julius Miiller,
tion. The same
German
a
theologianof prodigiousinfluence among
the clergy. Another
prominentleader of theological
thought,Dr. Dorner, sustains it.

it is not

"

"

conclude, therefore,that reincarnation

We

is

ne

by immortality,that analogy teaches it,

of the soul
science upholds it, that the nature

cessitated
that
needs

strange sensations support it,

many
it alone grandlysolves the problem of life.

it, that

and

that

The

fullness

of its

for
preciation,
lowest

animal

meaning

it shows
to

the

is

that

majesticbeyond
soul, from

every

ap
the

highestarchangel,belongsto

family of God and is eternal in its con

scious essence,
perishingonly in its temporary dis
guises; that every act of every creature is followed
law
by infallible reactions which constitute a perfect
in
of retribution ; and that these souls are intricately
The
terlaced with mutual
relationships.
bewildering
thus becomes
a divine
maze
harmony. No individual
the infinite

stands

alone, but trails with

quelsof

an

his

that

race

ancestral
each

career,

is

him
and

the
is

so

for
responsible

unfinished
bound

all and

up

se

with

all for

EVIDENCES

48

each.

No

dignity.
selfish
mankind.

one

can

Every

deemed.
faults

OF

not

our

This

affairs

be

wholly

suffering
own

assumes

thought
and

confirms

REINCARNATION.

we

until

saved
endure

the

removes

in

us

are

re

for

apparently
light

holy

all

the

and

sublime

littleness

of

vastest

hopes

petty
for

III.

OBJECTIONS
TO

REINCARNATION.

Man

has
in

perience

stand

be

blessed

who

welcomes

the

for

seed

and

Him,

haste

return

of

millions

takes

who

principles.

animal

the

who

God,

Father

Eternal

an

who

form

to

needs

never

sown

soul

and

the

upon

that

be

to

old

shall

this

fallows

shall
affects

has

us

prejudices.
Platonic

thickly

feeling

source

in

after

all

It

candidly,
with

extravagance

we

which

it

semi-materialistic

or

ARCHER

from

itself.

congratulate

materialistic

WILLIAM

PROFESSOR

"

the

not

human
with

stocked

thousands

whose

immediate

dust

BUTLER'S

left

that

in

Lectures

shall

day

start

field

few

urns

while

on

and

up,

sepulture,

But

the

of these

the

of

their

at

are,

many

all, without

claim

from

saved

are

each

; and

germ

of

only

Nevertheless

imperishable

an

another

and

to

generations

surface,

knowledge.

to

soul

the

tablets

upon

compared

of many

remains

heaves

lost

utterly

be

memory
the

oblivion,

present,

tion,

secret

the

of

"

of

improbability

ourselves

examine

we

eternity.

MACDONALD.

arises

to

reason

the

as

Philosophy,

Might

has

that

its

if

whether,

discover

not

ourselves

is, in

never

of

and

strangeness

has

philosophy

our

questioned

be

may

which

on

the

(preexisteiice)among

hypothesis

grounds

whether

doubted

be

ex

under

beauty

or

GEORGE

It may

gain

and

of truth

simplest thought

has

he

reside

to

PARACELSUS.

"

years

him

sent

dues.

dead

distinc
ISAAC

"

TAYLOR.

The

absence
be

cannot

Forgetf
upon

of

conclusive

of

ulness

sense-perception

den

phenomena
what

we

collection
LIAM

AVC

would

be

quite

The
as

casual

case

in

much

to

meet

the

crypts

are

of

previous

lived

the

conditions

body

which

is

hindrance

as

gleams
of

with.

in

having

revelations

expect

done

our

of

one

priori anticipate

surviving

KNIGHT.

be

may

momentary
would

against

existence.

that

and

abrupt

of

may

In

membrance.

past

actions

any

argument

the

stage

new

of

memory

of

the

If the

only
memory.

of

organ

help

to

has

re

siid-

us

precisely

faint
"

the

are

soul

some

entrance

an

giving

past,

it.

through

of

memory,

state

the

preexisted,
traces

PROFESSOR

of

re

WIL

52

OBJECTIONS

life for his

TO

child,after

innocent

Wiirtem-

Oetingen of

von

in

his

long

great and good

The

fortune.
inseparable

prelateFrederick Christian
barg (1702-1782) became
and

REINCARNATION.

old

age a devout
life of usefulness.

Graduallyspeech died away, until for three

dumb.
was
Leaving his study,where he had
whose
edifyingbooks, and his library,
many
were

sealed

now

to

him,

would

he

to

go

years

he

written

volumes

the streets

join the children in their plays,and spend all his

time sharing their delights. The
profound scholar
venerable
a
was
strippedof his intellect and became
boy, lovable and kind as in all his busy life. He had
and

bathed

before his time.

in the river of Lethe

cases

might

men

have

be

produced,where

been

divested

of

aged infancy,seeming to be a
existence.
They show that the
does

not

appear
penthicwaters of
imbibed

as

by

strange
about

of strong
spirits

in
lifetime's memory
foretaste of the next

loss of

nature, and

to

Styx,which

souls

the

Similar

life's details
that

the

ne-

the ancients
to

represented
reenter
earthlylife to
experiences,are not

dispel recollection of former

wholly fabulous.
Memory of the details of the past is absolutely
of the conservative
faculty
impossible. The power
We
though relatively
great is extremely limited.
after we
forgetthe largerportionof experiencesoon
have passed through it,and we
should be able to re
all the
of our
call the particulars
past years, filling
missinglinks of consciousness since we entered on the
in a positionto remem
present life,before we were
ber our
ante-natal experience.Birth must
necessarily
be preceded by crossingthe river of oblivion,while
the capacityfor fresh acquisition
survives,and the
"

garnered

and

amount

But
former
and

that

shown

been

the

of the new."

character

it has

experiencedetermines

old

of

wealth

53

REINCARNATION.

TO

OBJECTIONS

there

traces

are

of

in some
memories.
These
lingering
exceptionaldepartures from the general

existences

other

rule furnish substantial evidence

that the obliteration

previouslives from our consciousness

parent. Sleep, somnambulism, trance,

is

of

conditions

up

open
to illustrate how

world

only ap

and

similar

of super-sensuous
are

erroneous

our

reality

notions of

common

that
Experimental evidence demonstrates
actually
forgetnothing,though for longlapseswe

memory.
we

unable

are

bers of
in

to

soul ; and

our

that
affirming

able to look

is stored

recall what

as

in the cham

away

that the Orientals may be right

man's
lives become
he is
purer

backward

previousstages, and at
last will view the long vista of the aeons
by which he
has ascended
reveal
that the
to God.
Many cases
reach and
clearness of memory
are
greatlyincreased
during sleep and still more
greatlyduring somnambulent

trance

sleepingsand
from

the

of most

And,

condition,the
includes

the

memory

facultyof
of

memory

retain

not

individual

same

the

seem

while

does

that the memory

of some
is sufficiently
trances
distinct
so

of the

consciousness,to
sciousness

much

so

memory

person.

upon

the

facts

of the trance

all the facts of

the

sensuous

in
a

waking

different

sensuous

of

the

con

trance

state retains and

consciousness

exemplifyingthe superiorand

unsuspectedpowers
of our
unconscious
selves. Instances are
frequent
how
the higher consciousness
illustrating
faithfully
stores away
which are thoughtto be long
experiences
"

Professor

See p. 95.

William

Knight,in

the

Fortnightly
Review,

1878.

54

OBJECTIONS

until
forgotten

vivid touch

some

order.1

bringsthem

forth

higherrecollection and the

sometimes
conduct us
through a double life.
that vanish during the day are
resumed at

in accurate

lower
Dreams

night in an
ing class of
which

REINCARNATION.

TO

links

The

unbroken
cases

record

on

is an

in which

interest

the memory

successive dual states of consciousness

our

is

completely
wanting that in
observingonlythe difference between the two phases
of the same
con
person we describe it as "alternating
sciousness."
These go far toward an empirical
proof
into

united

There

course.

that

whole

individual

one

Mystik

"

of which

in

Archiv

"

the

followingis

Sir William
of

of such

number

first directed

such

"

Philosophicder

authentic instances,

givenby Dr. Mitchell

iv.
Magnetismus,"

one,

attention

Hamilton

wonderful

two

Prel's

fiirthierischen

Leibnitz

mena.

Du

Baron

cites

distinct persons
of
demonstration
practical

become

can

in succession,making
reincarnation.

so

has

these

to

collected

revival

singularpheno
a

number

of in

of

Carpenter's
memory.
and
Brodie's
In
430
et
Physiology,
Psychological
pp.
seq.,
Second Series,p. 55, mention
several cases.
Coleridge
quiries,
stances

Mental

cited
mented
"

the

German

remarkable

and
illustration,
chapter vi. :
upon it in his BiographiaLiteraria,

from

the

com

"

This

fact

(and it would

kind) contributes

same

not be difficultto adduce

to

make

it

even

several of

probablethat

all

that,if the in
; and
thoughts are in themselves imperishable
it
comprehensive,
facultyshould be rendered more
telligent
the
would requireonly a different and apportioned
organization,
to bringbefore every
body celestialinstead of the body terrestrial,
of its whole past existence.
soul the collective experience
human
And this
this,perchance,is the dread Book of Judgment,in
is recorded !
whose
mysterioushieroglyphics
every idle word
it may be more
possible
Yea, in the very nature of a livingspirit,
act, a
that heaven and earth should pass away than that a single
thought,should be loosened or lost from that livingchain
single
"

of

causes

will,our

to all whose

links, conscious

or

onlyabsolute Self,is co-extensive

unconscious,the free
and

co-present."

perfecthealth,and
enjoyednaturally

Miss

"

any
giftedwith

talented, and

was

learned

and

memory,

with

She

serious illness.

without

womanhood

reached

55

REINCARNATION.

TO

OBJECTIONS

great

remarkably good
Without

ease.

any

day into a deep sleep

hours, and on awakening she had
which lasted many
forgottenevery bit of her former knowledge,and her
She
become
had
a
complete tabula rasa.
memory
read, write, and reckon, and
again learned to spell,

previouswarning

made
she

fell

one

afterward
rapid progress. Some few months
prolongedslumber,from
againfell into a similarly
to her

she awoke

which
the

she

state

same

without

the
of

events

istence

as

faintest

before

her

i. e.,
consciousness,
first

that in

continued, so

in

long sleep,but

recollection of the existence

This

interveningperiod.

the

now

former

double

or
ex

singlesubject
two
perfectly

regularalternation of
of the
distinct personalities,
each being unconscious
other,and possessing
onlythe memories and knowledge
states."
acquiredin previouscorresponding
still are cases
individual
More singular
in which one
becomes
of whom
is
two
one
interchanging
persons,
with the known
whollyunconnected
historyof that in
there occurred

dividual,like that narrated

of

"

The

Julian
The

Adventures
Hawthorne's

of Dr.

in Mr.

Stevenson's

Jekyl and

story of

"

Mr.

Archibald

story

Hyde," and
Malmaison."

recentlypublishedail account of a
Boston
clergyman, who strangelydisappearedfrom
his city,
leavingno trace of his destination. Just be
fore going away
he drew
from the bank,
some
money
and for weeks
his familyand friends heard nothingof
faithful.
him, though he had previouslybeen most
Soon
after his departurea stranger turned
up in a
Pennsylvaniatown and bought out a certain store,
newspapers

56

OBJECTIONS

he conducted

which
At

TO

lengtha

awoke

from

"You

are

here ?

delirious illness seized him.

it and

asked his nurse,

," she said.

belongin

for three months

his attendant.

Rev.

Three

"

Boston."

and

You

You

anythingsince drawing the

Returninghome, he there resumed

Numerous

similar

get

the

am

Boston."

He

blank.

absolute

of

without further

"

lived here

in

church

line of his ministerial life and continued

acter

did

have

I ?

's store,"replied

the

an

day he
am

mistaken,madam

are

were

"

How

"

time.

One

Where

"

Mr.

own

pastor of

months

memory
bank.

for some
industriously

very

in

REINCARNATION.

had

money

no

at his

the broken
in that char

interruption.
in the annals

recorded

are

cases

in assuming,
us
medicine,and justify
psychological
that some
accordingto the law of correspondences,

of

alternation

such

of

consciousness

great change known

plainthem
ful.

as

mental

Reincarnation

The

death.

as

aberrations

after

occurs

attempt

to

the
ex

is whollyunsuccess

to be

exceptions
prov
the recall of former activitiessupposed
ing the rule
to be forgotten.In these examplesof double identity
the other set
when
the facts of each state disappear
resumed
forward and are
come
again in their turn.
Where
did theyreside meanwhile ?
They must have
than the brain,
been preservedin a subtler organ
of translation from that un
which is onlythe medium
of sense-perception.
to the world
conscious memory
shows

them

"

be in the

This

must

This

that,as
provides

to

unconscious

part of the soul.

super-sensuous
leads
a slow and painful
training

habits

of

so
skill,

the

life is stored up in the highermemory,

the reflex acts of the
when assimilated,
"

those

itary.

which
operations

we

experienceof
and

becomes,

life,
following

call instinctive and hered

questionis raised, is

2. The
should
done

for what

suffer

it

conscious

is not

he

just that

of

man

having

As

that he should

justas

between

offender

the

requiresthat

is

he

which

enjoythe
causing. It is

remember

he does not

for

57

REINCARNATION.

TO

OBJECTIONS

of
operations
that method
justice
to mistake.
bility
wise

the
be

cannot

man

said that

conscious

But

punished.

and

man

be

results of what

the Infinite.

justice
fault

of the

ideas of

appliedto

In human

justice
the all-

attempts

is

imperativebecause of
God's justice
is vindicated

at

lia

our

the

by

If /suffer
sway of the law of causation.
be for what / have done.
The faith in Provi

undisturbed
it must

demands

dence

reincarnation

that

of Providence

has

God

from

fallible

ityin

cause

the

of unbelief

it is because

this,and

obliterated

the

idea

of

Nature
is the
minds.
many
and there is no
and effect,

the universe

effect without

an

as

the

seemingnegligenceon

of in

such

man

imperiledby
now
we
experiences
to us by our
own
not

God.

How

and
we

Heart

gered by
we

of

burden
have

have

effect is

ignorance. To doubt that the

enjoy and endure properlybelong

choice

is to

why they

have

The

abandon

the
is

come

universal

idea

of

explained
Over-Soul

the
By veilingour memories
the horror
of all,mercifully
us
saves
knowing all the myriad steps by which

mistakes.

no

Mother

in

sown

his

reincarnation.

only by
makes

and

absurd

responsible
in ignorance

suffer from a disease

may
its germs
which
of the conditions under
were
and
of cause
his body,but the rightsequence
A

cause.

part

Personal

arena

in

become
the

sightof

done

grand total

what

than

well

is

would

we

are.

We

would

be

stag

waywardness,and what
richly in the
possessedmore
in the infinite debe possible

all

our

58

OBJECTIONS

We

tails.

in the hands

are

banker, who
the accounts.

REINCARNATION.

TO

says

"

I will

ords

of your

save

Whenever

you
folio,I will strike the balance

proceedswith

omniscient
generous
you all the trouble of

of

ready to

are

and

turn

interests.

all accrued
and
deposits

The

spendingsare

start

over

new

net

your

itemized

rec

beyond your

calculation."
3. It may

that the facts of

hereditybear
mental, and
physical,

be claimed

againstreincarnation. As the
from the parents,
moral peculiarities
of children come
he makes
is what
how can
it be possible
that a man
himself
the offspring
of his own
previouslives?
Science is certain of the tendencyof every organism
its own
to transmit
to its descendants,and
qualities
"

the intricate web

of ancestral

for all the aberrations

account

the forces

science.

producingthis
The

influences

is assumed

of individual

result

beyond

are

life.

to

But

the ken

of

theoryof germ cells multi

the germs
be
: for
plying their kind is inadequate
with growth,and ex
come
more
complex and energetic
ceed the limitations of molecular physics. The facts
of heredity
demand
the existence in nature
of superforces escapingour
observation and cogniz
sensuous
able onlythrough their effects on the plane of sen
consciousness.
These
forces residingin the
suous
inaccessible regionsof the soul mould
all individual
and faculties and character.
Reincarnation
aptitudes
includes the facts of heredity,
by showing that the
tendencyof every organism to reproduceits own like
similar causes
ness
producing similar
groups together
in the same
lines of physical
relation. Instead
effects,
of being content
that heredity
with the statement
causes

the

mechanical

resemblances

tion teaches

that

of child to

of
similarity

parent, reincarna

ante-natal

develop

60

OBJECTIONS
c.

It

seems

As

TO

REINCARNATION.

notion.
cold,irreligious

will be

the con
fullyshown in chapterxii.,
of human
souls throughanimal
ceit of a transmigration
bodies,althoughit has been and is cherished by most
of the believers in reincarnation,
is onlya gross meta
received by
was
phor of the germinaltruth,and never
of pluralexistences.
advocates
the enlightened
b. The most
thoughtfuladherents of a future life
a.

agree

that

there

must

be there

some

subtler mode

of

between
friends than physical
recognition
appearances,
for these outer signscannot
endure in the world
of
spirit.The conviction that whether there be prophe
cies theyshall fail,
whether
there be tongues theyshall
there be knowledge it shall vanish
cease, whether
and
love never
faileth,"
away," but
only character
of identification,
is precisely
shall remain as the means
the view entertained
by believers in reincarnation.
be explained
The most intimate ties of this life cannot
"

"

otherwise

than

as

renewals

drawn
of old intimacies,

to

of love,and enjoy
gravitation
getherby the spiritual
of a previoussimilar experience.
ing often the sense
(A further reference to this pointwill be found later.
See page 295.)
have been nour
natures
The strongestreligious
c.
that life
with the feeling
ished from time immemorial
tread our darkened
is a pilgrimagethroughwhich we
full of it,and
The Scriptures
are
way back to God.
it a
the spiritual
of every age has found
manhood
From
of invigoration.
Abraham, who reckoned
source
his lifetime as
the days of the years of his pilgrim
age,"through all the phasesof Christian thoughtto
The
of modern
the mightiestbook
Christendom,
Pilgrim'sProgress,"this idea has been universally
in
be seen
of it may
A typical
cherished.
expression
"

"

the

mediaeval

these

words

direction

simpler

this

providing

wherein

abiding

traverse

the

ence

that

Instead

being
is

carnation

germ,

enlarged

needs

of

with

blest

does,

the

will

men

to

of

of

deepest

that

of

piety
as

development

again.

God.

combined
other

no

of

mankind.

rein

Christian
with

commensurate

character

experi

hypothesis,

philosophic

fullness

way,

wander

to

ex

profitably
much

so

supernal
the

more

occasion

no

only

theory

by

may

gathering

providing

grandest

we

unfoldment

the

and

warmth

the

cold

living

intelligence,
for

be

station

days
road,

upward

there
of

few

is

the

to

own

Jeru

to

Our

many

his

by

philosophy

proportion

just

bearing

journeying

reincarnation.

in

journey

destination,

traveler

Alford

inscribed

were

pilgrimage
of

phrasing
the

of

inn

Now

salem."

tends

The

"

Canterbury,

at

Dean

of

which

Latin,

in

Martin

remains

the

over

St.

of

churchyard

stone

upon

61

REINCARNATION.

TO

OBJECTIONS

It
with

the

throbs

no

supposition

IV.

WESTERN

PROSE

WRITERS

ON

REINCARNATION.

I
for

think

girls.

The

must

LOUISA

"

have

not

of

clearly

often

with

seen

masculine,

been

because

love

my

all

is

ALCOTT.

M.

guilt

greatest

seem

have

once

is that

man

soul

my

with

but

present,

born.

was

in

remember

to

my

he

CALDERON.

"

presentiment

other

some

eye.

which
E.

J.

"

VON

SCHUBERT.

I produced
other

no

this

became

created

If

there

period

at

be

The

equal

by

which

verse,

and

utility.

of

of

all

and

their

their

to

thus
"

God,

they

Avhich

before

that

of

have

existed

lived

God

before

lived

they

partaker

never

hath

in

the

by

MORE.

because

breath

lift, when

HENRY

"

that

were

God

at

SOAMK

we

in

the
of

eternity

shall

we

continue

offices

JENYNS.

time

there

after

are

our

ex

of

in

life

one

and

highest
life

by

also
answer

carry

on

the

by

it

all
be

may

may

not

purposes

both

most

rotation

only

be

the

of

business

un

right

the

lowest,

and

the
set

equitable

an

the

rational

most

as

punishments

and
but

goodness

the

serve

the

seems

necessary

so

rewards

same

and

wisdom

creatures

exist

to

that

SHELLEY.

"

things

before
then

commences,

transmigration

behavior,
the

that

apparently

burdensome

mcst

means

portioned

is

suppose

God's

with

dispensations

and

soul

ceased.

doctrine

ancient

eligible

the

that

supposing

apparently

another,

souls
in

be

but

eternally

our

of

ways

to

dead

sinking.

cease

lived

existence

our

consistent

most

from

they

to

reasons

no

for

has

istence

the

at

LAW.

which

grounds

therefore

WILLIAM

"

live
of

souls

and

heart

never

can

only

touching-

me

can

essences

living

preexistence

my

souls

our

The

souls,

God.

keep

nothing

eternity.

they

and

and

be,

to

satisfy

might

of

essences

from

no

of

key

could

hypothesis

began

golden

method

The

in

the

of

pro

uni

justice

IV.

is

THERE

of

it

ers

embrace

is

confirmed

When

of

of

time

first

Church

Boehme,
ian

and

it.

Herder,

In

Bruno

Fichte

The

cated.

duces

in two
be

in

human

hundred
in

urged
bodies,

thinkers

the

and

"

De

favor

Cambridge

in

and

Cud

of
to

most

advo

Kant

of
with

and
The

it.

ad

Animarum,"

all the

which

arguments
of

return

into

souls
Of

ideas.
defended

Platonists

and

earnestly

contact

Jewish

acuteness,
worth

is

systems

the

Leibnitz,

Hegel,

Revolutions

problems

according

learning

of

points

Helmont,

younger

it

younger,

em

is enriched

philosophy

anthropological
furnish

Schelling

the

Ital

The

it.

Campanella,

Lessing,

the

Paracelsus,

as

to

and

German

Schopenhauer,

and

soul,

it,

advo

its mediaeval

adhered

Giordano
of

this

with

beyond

has

best

inner

the

forth

kept sprouting

Swedenborg,
The

it.

philosophy.

eradicate

intuitional

great

of

ineffectually to

Bonaventura,

and

Erigena

luminaries,

braced

it

which

East

tinctured

deeply

was

oth

while

Europe

over

In

knows.

the

tests

swept

tried

sects

from

ray

candid

the

all

world

spontaneously,

up

luminous

leaders

Every

cates.

More

its

various

in

and

much

as

by

The

truth.

may

springs

Christianity

thought

by

it

reincarnation

of
the

than

thinkers

them

REINCARNATION.

ON

endorsement

larger

western

among
many

WRITERS

PROSE

WESTERN

English
it

with

conspicuously Henry
Hume

it

ranks

as

the

66

WRITERS

PROSE

rational

most

Orientalis
vated

"

devotes

zani's book

REINCARNATION.

theoryof immortality.Glanvil's
curious

treatise to it.
Leroux.

and

Pluralityof

The

"

on

of Fourier

minds

the

ON

It

Lux

"

capti

Andre* Pez-

the Soul's Lives

"

Catholic idea of
system on the Koman
expiation.Modern astronomy has furnished material

works

for

out

the

of
speculations

the elaborate

tendingthrough many
nelle's volume

"

The

reincarnation

ex

publishedin Fonteof Worlds," Huygens's

Plurality
worlds, as

Cosmotheoros,"Brewster's "More Worlds than One ;

the Philosopher's
Faith and the Christian's Hope,"
Jean Reynaud's Earth
and Heaven," Flammarion's
of Inhabited
The Plurality
Stories of Infinityand
To-morrow
of Death."
"The
Worlds," and Figuier's
With
these
various degreesof fancy and probability
the heavenly
writers trace the soul's progress
among
"

"

"

"

bodies.

The

';

Bode

astronomer

wrote

that

we

start

planetof our solar system and ad

from
the sun, where the
vance
nearer
planetto planet,
most
perfectbeings,he thinks,will live. Emmanuel
Kant, in his General Historyof Nature," says that
from the sun, and travel by planet
souls start imperfect
stages,farther and farther away to a paradisein the

from

the coldest

"

coldest and

remotest

star

of

our

system.

Between

oppositesmany savants have formulated other

theories.
In
theologyreincarnation has retained a
firm influence from the days of Origen and Porphyry,
to the present day. In Soame
through the scholastics,
Jenyns'sworks, which longthrived as the best published
Chevalier
it is noticeable.
argument for Christianity,
Ramsay and William Law have also written in its de
Julius Miiller warmly upholds it in his pro
fense.

these

work

found
well

as

on

"

The

Dr. Dorner.

Christian Doctrine
Another

means

of Sin,"

as

of its dissemina-

68

PROSE

WRITERS

These

"

constant

ON

REINCARNATION.

births,then, constitute the

new

succession of the life-dreams of

is

will which

in itself

and

indestructible,
until,instructed

improved by so
much
and such various successive knowledge in a con
new
form, it abolishes or abrogatesitself
stantly
with the Infinite].
[becomesin perfectharmoii}^
It must
be neglected that
not
even
empirical
of this kind.
As a
grounds support a palingenesis
"

"

"

of

matter

fact,there

the birth of the

of

those

that

does

exist

are

It shows

out.

worn

fourteenth

century the Black

between
the death

itself in the

which

race

as
appears
in the
When

diseases.
devastating

of

consequence

connection

newly appearingbeingsand

great fruitfulness of the human

a

for the most

had

Death

part depopulatedthe old world,a quiteabnormal

fruit-

fulness

twin-

births

also remarkable
time obtained

that

none

circumstance

of the children

their full number

exertingitself to
This

race, and

the human
appeared among
were
very frequent. The

the utmost,

of teeth

born

was

at this

thus nature,

niggardlyin details.
Schnurrer, Chronik der Seu-

is related

was

by F.
chen,' 1825.
Casper also, Ueber die Wahrscheinlichc Lebensdauer
des Menschen,'1835, confirms the
that the number
of births in a givenpopula
principle
tion has the most decided influence
upon the lengthof
life and mortality
in it,as this alwayskeeps pace with
the mortality
that always and
: so
everywhere the
4

deaths and

portion;

the births increase and

which

he

lation of evidence

various
can

be

provinces. And
a

physicalcausal

death and

have

placesbeyond doubt by
collected from

or

many

an

lands

accumu

and

their

that there
yet it is impossible
my early
marriagewith which I

connection

the fruitfulness of

nothing to do,

in like pro

decrease

between

conversely. Thus

here

the

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

and

undeniable

metaphysical
appears

69

REINCARNATION.

in

stupendous
of the
explanation
a

ground of
fresh
and
being comes
physical.Every new-born
blithe into the new
existence,and enjoys it as a free
gift: but there is,and can be, nothingfreelygiven.
Its fresh existence is paid for by the old age and death
of a worn-out
existence which has perished,
but which
manner

as

the immediate

contained

the indestructible seed out

existence

has

the

arisen

bridgebetween

lution of
The

they are

the two

one

would

of which

the

new

being. To show
be the so
certainly

great riddle.

great truth which

is

expressedhere has never

been entirely
unacknowledged,althoughit could not
be reduced
and correct
to the exact
meaning,which is
onlypossible
throughthe doctrine of the primary and
of the will,and
the secondary,
metaphysicalnature
merelyorganicnature of the intellect. We find the
from the earliest
doctrine of metempsychosis,
springing
and
noblest ages of the human
race, always spread
abroad
in the earth as the belief of the great majority
of mankind
of all religions,
as the teaching
; nay, really
with the exceptionof that of the Jews
and
the two
which have proceededfrom it : in the most
subtle form
in Bud
to the truth
however, and coming nearest
while Christians console them
dhism.
Accordingly,
selves with the thoughtof meetingagain in another
world, in which one regainsone's completepersonality
and knows
one's self at once, in those other religions
the
meeting again is going on now, only incognito.In
the succession
of births,and
by virtue of metempsy
chosis or palingenesis,
the persons
who
stand
in
now
"

close connection

or

contact

with

us

will also be

againwith us at the next birth,and will have the

or
analogousrelations and sentiments towards

born
same

us

a^s

70

PROSE

WRITERS

whether

these

ON

of

REINCARNATION.

hostile de
or
a
friendly
here limited to an
scription.Eecognitionis certainly
obscure intimation, a reminiscence,which cannot
be
broughtto distinct consciousness,and refers to an in
distant time ; with the exception,
finitely
however, of
Buddha
of distinctly
himself,who has the prerogative
knowing his own earlier births and those of others,
this is described in the Jataka.'
But in fact,
as
if at
in a purelyob
a favorable
moment
one
contemplates,
the action of men
in reality,
the intui
jective
manner,
tive conviction is forced upon one
that it not onlyis
and
remains
constantlythe same, accordingto the
Idea,but also that the present generation,
[Platonic]
in its true inner nature, is precisely
and substantially
identical with every generationthat has been before
it. The questionsimplyis,in what
this true being
consists. The answer
which my doctrine givesto this
The intuitive conviction re
questionis well known.
ferred to may be conceived as arising
from
the fact
that the multiplying-glasses,
time and space, lose for a
now,

are

"

"

'

their effect.

moment

salityof
rightlyin
13, 'Cette
tellement

the

With

belief in

his excellent

reference

the

to

univer

metempsychosis,Obry says
book
Du Nirvana
Indien,'p.

vielle croyance
rdpandue dans

'

fait le tour du
la

haute

monde,

et

antiquitdqu'un

docte
sans

in

et
Anglican Tavait jugee sans pere, sans
mere,
as
ge'ne'alogie.'
Taught alreadyin the Vedas
all the sacred books of India, metempsychosisis

well known

the whole
than

to be the kernel

It

dhism.

was

of Brahmanism

accordingly
prevailsat

of non-Mohammedan

half the whole

tion,and with
It

'

'

also the

human

the

as

Bud

present day

Asia, thus
race,

and

among

in

more

the firmest convic

influence.
incredibly
strong practical
belief of the Egyptians,
it
from whom

an

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

71

REINCARNATION.

by Orpheus,Pythagoras,
The Pythagoreans,
Plato.
and
however, specially
re
also taught in the mysteriesof
tained it. That it was
the Greeks undeniablyfollows from the ninth book of
in the
Edda
The
Plato's Laws.
also, especially
it
'Voluspa,'teaches metempsychosis. Not less was
of the Druids.
Even
the foundation
of the religion
a
in Hindustan, the
Mohammedan
sect
Bohrahs, of
in the
which Colebrooke givesa full account
Asiatic
and
accord
Kesearches,'believes in metempsychosis,
inglyrefrains from all animal food. Also among
received

was

with

enthusiasm

'

'

'

Indians

American

the natives of
.

and

all this the

chosis presentsitself
whenever

he reflects at all in

It would

reallyseem

of

his three

philosophemenatural
from
have

its forms

been

ing from
it is at

and

belief in

among

found.

are

metempsy

conviction of

the natural

as

even

of this belief

Australia,traces

According to

asserts

tribes,nay,

negro

unprejudicedmanner.
Kant
to be that which
falsely
pretendedideas of the reason, a
which proceeds
to human
reason,
when

an

it is not

found

it must

doctrines
displaced
by positive
religious
a

different

once

obvious

man

source.

to

every

I have
one

also remarked
who

hears

com

that

of it for

Let any one

onlyobserve how earnestly
Lessingdefends it in the last seven
paragraphsof his
the firsttime.

'Erziehungdes Menschengeschlechts.'1
Lichtenberg
also says in his ' Selbstcharacteristik ' :
rid of the thought that I died before

Even

'

I cannot
I

was

get

born.'

Hume
excessively
empirical
says in his skep
tical essay on
'The
immortality,
metempsychosis is
therefore the only system of this kind
that philos
to.' What
hearken
resists this belief is
ophy can
which
have
Judaism, togetherwith the two religions
the

Translated

in section 2 of this

chapter.

72

PROSE

from

sprung

of

out

man

WRITERS

ON

it,because

nothing,and

REINCARNATION.

they teach
they have

the

creation

the hard

of

task of

linkingon to this belief an endless existence a parte

have
succeeded,with fire and
post. They certainly
sword, in drivingout of Europe and part of Asia that
belief of mankind
consoling
primitive
; it is stilldoubt
ful for how long. Yet how difficultthis was
is shown
by the oldest church histories. Most of the heretics
attached
to this belief ; for example,Simonists,
were
Valentinians, Marcionists,Gnostics,and
Basilidians,
Manicheans.
into it,as
Talmud

body

of

passage

The Jews

themselves

Tertullian and Justinus

it is related that

Seth, and
of the

then

AbeFs

have in part fallen

inform us.
In the

soul

passed into

into that of Moses.

Even

the
the

Bible,Matt, xvi, 13-15,only obtains

meaning if we understand it as spoken under

the assumptionof the dogma of metempsychosis.
In Christianity,
however, the doctrine of original
sin,
i. e., the doctrine of punishment for the sins of an
other individual,
has taken
the placeof the transmi
grationof souls,and the expiationin this way of all
the sins committed
in an
earlier life. Both
identify
the existing
who has existed before : the
with one
man
sin
of souls does so directly,
original
transmigration
indirectly."
rational

2. In the remarkable

Education

of the Human

littletreatise

on

"

The

Divine

Eace," by Lessing,the Ger

book
a
so
philosopher,
sublimelysimple in its
influence
profoundinsightthat it has had enormous
and was
translated into Englishas a labor of love by
man

the Rev.

Frederick

W.

Robertson, the

author

outlines

gradualinstruction of mankind and shows how the

enlightenmentis still progressingthrough many im
to a climax in
portant lessons. His thought mounts
the

WRITERS

PROSE

73

REINCARNATION.

ON

the stupendous programme

by which God
suggesting
is developing
the individual justas he has been edu
catingthe race :
the race
reaches its
The very same
way by which
one
sooner,
perfectionmust every individual man
"

"

"

later

another
over

in

one

and

and

one

the

the

"

world

life

Can

Can

sensual

Have

over.

he

traveled

have

Jew

and

life have

he in the selfsame

in

been

spirit
over

both ?

Surelynot

vidual

life ?

same

selfsame

ual Christian ?

taken

traveled

have

"

man

that

have

but

existed

why
more

should
than

not
once

every
upon

indi
this

hypothesisso laughablemerely because it

be
is the oldest ?
Because the human
understanding,
and
of the schools had
fore the sophistries
dissipated
?
debilitated it,lighted
upon it at once
I have
already performed
Why may not even
which
those steps of my perfecting
bringto men
only
temporalpunishmentsand rewards ? And once more,
why not another time all those steps to perform which,
the views of eternal rewards
so
powerfullyassist us ?
back as often as I am
ca
Why should I not come
pable of acquiringfresh knowledge,fresh expertness?
that there is noth
from once
Do I bring away so much
ing to repay the trouble of coming back ?
Is this a reason
againstit ? Or, because I forget
that I have been here already?
Happy is it for me
recollection of my former con
that I do forget. The
dition would
permitme to make only a bad use of the
I must
forgetnow, is
present. And that which even
that necessarily
forgottenforever ?
Or is it a reason
that so
against the hypothesis
u

Is this

"

"

"

"

much

time

would

have

been

lost to

me

Lost ?

And

74

WRITERS

PROSE

then

much

how

nitymine

REINCARNATION.

ON

should

I miss ?

Is not

whole

eter

"

Destiny of Man," by J. G. Fichte,whose

great thoughtsstill heave the heart of Germany and
grandlymould the world, contains these paragraphs:
and the
"These
two
systems, the purelyspiritual
3.

"

The

sensuous,

able series of

exist

lives,
particular
"

when

moment

consist of

last may

which

"

active

my

an

in

immeasur
from

me

the

developed,and
former alone gives
is

reason

The
course.
parallel
I am
and value.
to the latter meaning and
purpose
eternal,so soon as I form the
immortal, imperishable,
After an
exist
resolution to obey the law of reason.
world can
of myriad lives the super-sensuous
ence
their

pursue

be

not

present than

more

Other

at this moment.

con

existence are
but
ditions of my
to come,
sensuous
these are no more
the true life than the present con
dition is.
"

Man

is not

the end of his existence

world.
and

His

destination

all that

"Mine

can

pertainsto

eye discerns

of

the world

productof

be attained

never

lies

sense

beyond time

and

in that

and

space

sense.

this eternal life and motion

in

all the veins of sensible and

spiritual
nature, through

what

mass.

seems

to others

life forever ascend

a

more

and

dead
grow

and

spiritual
expressionof

sun

rises and

and

all the

sets, the stars

And

dying,the

in

this

its

vanish

nature.

own

and

The

again,
But they
cycledance.
theydisappeared
; and
return

is also life and

in
is birth ; and precisely
of life appears
most
conspicu-

nature

sublimation

sees

itselfinto
transfigure

sphereshold their
such as
return
never
precisely
in the shiningfountains of life there
progress.
"
All death

it

76

WRITERS

PROSE

Have

"

In that

had

never

you

state, which

ON

could

you

beautiful

REINCARNATION.

remembrances

find

those persons, or
And
yet it could
most

blessed

from

that

look

periodwhen

comprehend
from

wedded

so

pure

not

have

been

to

fect

our

ourselves.

half-

places,

in

this life ?

The

such

have

do

ourselves,we

on

And

causes,

we;

are

sunk

deep

so

remain

to

The

us.

wine and

simplicity
accordingto

nobler

not

who,

we

and

matter, that but few reminiscences

character

it further,no

is yet
been in

grandest thoughts,are
more
ordinaryseasons, we

from
who, separated

men

in this life ?

the

astonishment

hundred

former

that you had seen

those places before?

swear

in

In

soul

persons,

been

moments,

with

the

had

source.

back

place for

no

closed bud, have you not seen

of which you were
ready to

of

are

of

so

class of

meat, lived in per

of nature, carried

the order

doubt, than others,as

learn from

we

the

and
example of Pythagoras,of larchas,of Apollonius,
and
how
remembered
what
others, who
distinctly
If we
times they had been in the world before.
many
but
two
see
are
blind, or can
steps beyond our
ought we therefore to deny that others may see
noses,
to the
a hundred
a thousand
or
degreesfarther,even
bottom of time, into the deep, cool well of the foreworld, and there discern everythingplainand bright
and

clear?"

To

this

last strain the listener

freelyconfess
my

known

are

ory

childhood

circumstances
been

in them

I seemed
were,

on

to you
to

and

I have

before.

I could
I have

dreams

sweet

the

also,among

youth.

of which

to have

the

me

that those

responds:

been

have
seen

an

old

of

I will
mem

of
experiences
in placesand

sworn

persons
lived before ; with whom

footingof

"

that I had
with whom
I was,

as

it

acquaintance."He

WRITERS

PROSE

then

his

which

explainthem

to

attempts

interlocutor

Have

with

answers

times, on

sudden, give

life.

former

to

utterance

dreams,
wonderful

more

will

that children

observed

never

you

returned

as

a
necessarily
requiring
impressions
"

77

REINCARNATION.

ON

some

ideas

which

of them ;
they got possession
other ideas and se
which presuppose
a long series of
break
forth like a full
cret
self-communings
; which
infallible sign that the
stream
out of the earth, an
from
few
not
stream
a
was
produced in a moment
raindrops,but had long been flowingconcealed be
neath the ground,and, it may
be, had broken through
make

wonder

us

contracted

rock, and

many

how

"You

know

the

law

defilements ?
many
which
of economy

probablethat the Deity

and progress of hu
the propagation
souls ?
He who has not become
ripein one form
humanity is put into the experienceagain,and,
time or other,must
be perfected.
Is it not

throughoutnature.
is guidedby it in
man

of
some
"

ashamed

not

am

the

on

of my

contrary, as far

great advocate

half-brothers

ogy
"

they are concerned, I am

of metempsychosis. I believe, for
they will ascend to a higher grade

of the whole

creation,
"

Godhead,
the two

human

harvest

overshine,we

less,we

lead them

selves.

Oh,

shiningcourse

that

what

stand
dim

a
a

of

how

can
any one
to have the anal

forth

the

other

onward

in

an

were

eye

of this divine

tribes and

they but

are

of incarnate

sexes

in its favor.

creation

All the life of nature, all the

animated

the brutes

as

that
certainty,
being,and am unable to understand
which seems
objectto this hypothesis,

We

rules

of
species
sparksof the
which

stars, among
like

and

sun

moon

figures,but, doubt

chorus

invisible to

given us
spark; to

our

to

trace

the

see

how

life

78

PROSE

WRITERS

ON

REINCARNATION.

life,and ever
impelledthrough all
refining,
wells up into a purer, higherlife.
veins of creation,

flows
the

to

And

"

yet Pythagoras,too, spoke of

Tartarus

and

Elysium. When
you stand before the statue of
a
Apollo,do you not feel what you lack
high-hearted
of beingthat form ?
Can you ever
attain to it here
below, thoughyou should return ten times ? And yet
that was
which
a dream
only the idea of an artist
breast
also inclosed.
Has the almighty
our
narrow
an

"

Father

heart

our

nobler

no

now

forms

for

and

heaves

those in which

than

us

The

groans

soul lies cap

tive in its

dungeon,bound as with a sevenfold chain,

and onlythrougha strong grating,
and onlythrougha
it breathe and see, and
can
pairof lightand air-holes,
alwaysit sees the world on one side only,while there
million

are

but

more

this

and

which
from

other

senses,

of

our

restless discontent

from

us

sides before

hut

narrow

That

other

the

and

body
shall

could
for

some

sense-life.

When

even

we

but

exchange

freer

prospect.

we

time

repeated sojournson
Father is training
for a
us

our

in us, had

and

us

release
finally
earth, through
completedivorce

at the sweetest

fountains

friendshipand love,we so often pine,thirstyand

sick, seekingunion and findingit not, what noble
soul does not lift itself up and despise
tabernacles and
wanderingsin the circle of earthlydeserts.
Purification of the heart, the ennoblingof the
and
soul, with all its propensities
cravings,this,it
is the true palingenesis
of this life,
to me,
after
seems
which, I doubt not, a happy,more
exalted,but yet un
known
metempsychosisawaits us."
5. Dr. Henry More, the learned
and lovable Platonist of the seventeenth century,wrote a charming trea
the "Immortality of the
tise on
Soul," in which
of

"

WRITERS

PROSE

(chapter xii.)he
lows
"

the
tain

ON

79

REINCARNATION.

for

argues

preexistenceas

fol

"

If it be

to

sooner

are

good for the souls of men

they are, the better. But we
the wisdom
and
goodness of

that

that which

is the best ; and

joy themselves
bodies, they
bodies.

before
must

therefore

they come

be

before

if

they

come

all,

at

most

God

cer

will do

they can

these

to

be

en

terrestrial
into these

For

nothing hinders but that they may live

before they come
into the body, as well as they may
after going out of it. Wherefore
the preexistence
of
souls is a necessary
result of the wisdom
and good
of God.

ness
"

Again, the

very
any

much

to

natural

so

thingsthat
as

from

seem

this

subsist in

face of Providence
suit with
and

there being not

opinion,
account
to be given of those
harsh

: that
hypothesis

other

state

in the affairs of men,

these souls did once

where,

in several

degrees,they forfeited the favor of

Creator,and so, accordingto that justNemesis

ners

He
and

and

has

interwoven

of their

seems

this

easy
the most

some

in the work

man

their
that

in the constitution of the universe

theyundergo several calam

ities and asperities
of fortune and
sad drudgeriesof
fate,as a punishment inflicted,
a disease contracted
or
from the several obliquities
of their apostasy. Which
key is not only able to unlock that recondite mystery
of some
men's
almost fatal averseness
from
particular
and virtue,their stupidity
all religion
and dullness
and
invincible slowness
to these things from
even
their very childhood,and their incorrigible
propension
of vice ; but also of that squalidforlornto all manner
and brutish barbarity
that whole nations for
ness
many
ages have

own

natures,

lain

under, and

many

do

still lie under

at

80

PROSE

WRITERS

REINCARNATION.

ON

this very

day : which sad scene

exceedinglycloud and obscure
Providence,
unless

and

make

thingsmust

the ways

needs

of Divine

them

let in

lightbe

some

of

utterlyunintelligible
;
from
the present hypoth

esis.
And

"

it also

is
hypothesis
of
gained the suffrage

this

as

ages, of any note, that

corporealand immortal.
of the

countenance
as

Let

pledge of
us

cast

the world
and

we

have

rational in itself,
has
so
all

held

eye,
will,that

and
literature,

of

truth

our

the soul of

in

man

has

general conclusion.

my

been

what

corner

for

famous

wisest- of

of this

better

few instances herein,

therefore,into

the

shall find the asserters

all

I shall add, for the

business,some

the

of
philosophers

those

of

wisdom

nations

you

opinion.

In

of all hidden sciences,

Egypt,that ancient nurse
in vogue
that this opinionwas
amongst the wisest
men
there,the fragmentsof Trismegistdo sufficiently
witness : of which
opinion,not only the Gymnosoof Egypt, were,
but also
and other wise men
phists,
of India, and
the Brachmans
the Magi of Babylon
and Persia.
To these you may add the abstruse phi
losophyof the Jews, which they call their Cabbala,
makes
of which the soul's preexistence
a considerable
"

part,as
"

of the Jews

all the learned

And

if I should

do confess.

in
particularize

opinion,truly they are such

depth of understanding,and
their testimonyalone might
down
man
any ordinarymodest

persons

of

this

for
great fame
abstrusest
science,that
of

so

seem

into

sufficient to
an

assent

to

bear

their

place,if we believe the

of the Jews, we
Cabbala
must
assignit to Moses, the
in the
was
greatest philosophercertainlythat ever
add Zoroaster,Pythagoras,
world ; to whom
you may
doctrine.

And,

in the

first

WRITERS

PROSE

ON

81

REINCARNATION.

Epicharmus, Cebes, Euripides,Plato, Euclid, Philo,

Marcus
Cicero, Plotinus,lamblichus,Proclus,
Virgil,
Boethius,Pfellus,and

several

others,which

it would

if it were
fit to add
long to recite. And
fathers to philosophers,
we
might enter into the same
list Synesiusand Origen ; the latter of whom
was
that ancient
surely the greatest light and bulwark
had.
But I have not yet ended my cata
Christianity
physicianJohannes Fernelius
logue ; that admirable
and is not to be so himself
is also of this persuasion,
only,but discovers those two grand-masters of medi
cine, Hippocratesand Galen, to be so, too.
Cardan,
also, that famous
philosopherof his age, expressly
be

too

concludes

that

ing from

the

exist before

it

but

friend

therewith
And

"

luck
same

to

that

that

the

it does

pre
Pomlastly,

body ; and
soul's immortality,
yet

safest way

can

it is also

to hold

acknowledgeher preexistence.
shall

we

believed

to be

to the

distinct be

into the

comes

confess

is both

of the world, and

soul

no
ponatius,

not

the rational soul

opinion,in

evince
more

that Aristotle,
that
than

the

of the

authors,was

most

his treatise 4De

c
use
says, for every art must
and every soul its body.' He

has

he
Anima,' where
instruments,
proper

its

speaks somethingmore

There
are
plainlyin his De Generatione Anima?.'
saith he, in the earth,and in the moisture
generated,'
thereof,plants and livingcreatures, and in the whole
'

universe

animal

an

heat ; insomuch
full of souls.'
We

all

places are
place still more
he

starts

of the

same

in

will add

manner
a

third

where
treatise,

that

souls,of the
concludes

clear,out

that

very questionof the preexistencyof

sensitive and rational especially,
and he

thus

lectual soul

It remains

that the rational

or

intel

only enters from without,as bein;"only of

82

PROSE

WRITERS

ON

REINCARNATION.

purelydivine ; with whose actions the actions

of this gross body have no communication.'
Concern
ing which pointhe concludes like an orthodox scholar
of his excellent master
Plato ; to whose footsteps
the
closer he keeps,the less he ever
wanders
from the
truth.
For in this very placehe does plainly
profess
what
would
have him
not
so
apertlyguiltyof,
many
that the soul of man
is immortal,and can
perform her
functions without the help of this terrestrial
proper
body."
6. Sir Thomas
Browne
explainsand defends his
the added
own
heresies,
by suggesting
heresy of re
a

nature

incarnation

"

For, indeed, heresies perishnot

"

with

their

au

river

Arethusa,though they lose

in one
their currents
place,they rise up again in an
other.
One
generalcouncil is not able to extirpate
one
singleheresy: it may be canceled for the present :
thors

like the

but

time

of

revolution

but

the

and

it,when
again. For, as

condemned

though there were a me

of one
man
passed into an

and the soul

tempsychosis,
other,opinionsdo find,after
that

like those

minds

and

aspects from

it will flourish till it be

will restore

heaven

like

certain revolutions,
men

first

begat them.

To

see

again,we need not look for Plato's year ;

is not only himself : there have been many
every man
and as many
Timons, though but few of
Diogeneses,
lived over
that name
are
again; the world is
; men
ourselves

now

as

there

was

hath

in ages
been
some

is,as it were,

and
1.
1

it

One

of the

ReligioMedici,

clines to this

same

past ; there

his revived

volumes

section

view.

vi.

none

then, but

since,that parallels
him,

one

rare

was

self." l
of the

Professor

See page

earlyeighteenth
Francis

108 et seq.

Bowen

in

84

PROSE

WRITERS

there,when

ON

encircled

he

REINCARNATION.

the force of the

deep,when
he established the clouds above, when
he appointed
the foundations of the earth, then I was
by him, as
one
broughtup with him, and I was dailyhis delight,
rejoicingalways before him, rejoicingin the habit
able parts of the earth,and my delights
with the
were
of men.'
It is visible that Solomon
sons
speakshere
of

time

when

time

the

innocent

was

rance

of the

ence

that

inhabited

this be

cursed

world, of

only by

pure,
said after the fall,
when

It is

only a profound igno

ancient,primitivetradition of preexistmake

mistake

men

the

true

sense

of

text.

Saviour

Our

creation of the

was

Can

can

this sublime
"

earth

race.

earth

the

after the

soon

existence in his

the doctrine of prewhen

to his disciples
they in

to approve

seems
answer

born blind : Master,

terrogatehim thus about the man
his parents, that he was
who did sin,this man
born
or
'

blind ?

'

It is clear that this

questionwould have
had
if the disciples
impertinent,

ridiculous and

been

sinned

be

that he
birth,and, consequently,
corporeal
in another
Our Saviour's answer
state.
preexisted

had

not

that

believed

the

born

man

had

blind

fore his

remarkable

parents

'

that

but

manifest

Neither

in him

neither

this

this

be said of

can

it

was

state of

neither

that

he

day

the

from

was

the works
'

no

for the

of

blaming and
1

sinned,for
meaning is,that

God.

Our

John

this

of his

man

in

parents,

to manifest

one

Lord, therefore,far

this
redressing

Gospel of

by

for those
order

that

mean

ever

sins committed

in

his

be made

should

of God

his parents had

mortal ; but the

nor
preexistence,
born blind, but

power

sinned,nor

man

Jesus Christ could not

nor

man

this

hath

is

error

ix. 2.

in his disci-

WRITERS

PROSE

in

pies,answers

that

way

this

opinion as
compatiblewith his wisdom to
authorize it ?
and
taciturnly
trine,which

was

had

looked

upon
been

it have

would

in

them

so
slightly,
pass it over
On the contrary, does

maxim

received

he

he looked

indicate that

his silence

not

to confirm

seems

preexistence.If
a
capitalerror,

the doctrine of

85

REINCARNATION.

ON

this doc
upon
of the Jewish

sin ?
of original
explication
St. Paul
speaking of the origin of
says, in
sin entered
mortal
and
physicalevil, By one man
into the world, and
death by sin ; and death passed

church,

the true

as

"

upon

in

Adam

all

then

sinned,
there

is

sin.

The

the
no

imputed to
God

for that

all men,

all have

have

of the

deliberate

act

If all have

of

for where

law:

eternal

will,there

be

can

no

sin was
say that Adam's
doctrine of imputation,
by which

Apostle does
Adam's

attributes

voluntarily
cooperatedwith

breach

all. The

sinned.'

not

sin

to

his innocent

posterity,

meaning of St. Paul, for,besides that

this doctrine
is incompatible
with the divine perfec
For as by one
man's disobe
tion,the Apostleadds :
dience many
made
were
sinners,so by the obedience
2
shall all be made
of one
Now it is certain
righteous.'
that men
can
only be made righteousby their per
with the
sonal,deliberate,and voluntarycooperation
of grace, or the second Adam.
The Apostleas
spirit
be

cannot

the

sures

the

us

in the

same

of

similitude

passage

that

'

all did not

sin after

Adam's

This
sin
transgression.'
in a preexistent
state by the in
was
reallycommitted
dividuals of the present human
The meaning
race.
is that one
pair gave the bad example,and all the
human

race

co-existent with

them

imitated this crime of disobedience

1

Romans

v.

12.

in

Paradise

againstthe
a

Ibid.

v.

soon

eternal

19.

86

PROSE

WRITERS

law, by the false love

sible

REINCARNATION.

ON

pleasure. St.

of natural

Paul

knowledge
confirm

to

seems

and

sen

this when

he says : 4 For the children being not yet born, having

neither done good nor
said unto Rebecca,
evil,it was
'

Jacob

I loved,but Esau

have

love and

hatred

depend
Since

of the creature.
and

hated

had

done

Esau

the

upon

God

moral

God's

dispositions

that he loved Jacob

says

before

and

born,

they were

ere

I hated.'

have

they

good or evil in this mortal life,it follows

in another state.
that they must have preexisted
clearly
This would
have appeared to be the natural sense
of
the text, if prejudices
imbibed from our infancy,
more
or
less,had not blinded the mind of Christian doctors
darkened
to the same
degree as Judaical prejudices
those of the ancient
"

If it be

Pharisees.

said that

these

is only drawn
preexistence
and that this opinionis not
express

words, I

answer,

immortalityof the
presslyin the sacred
tament,

but

soul

texts

from

them

revealed

that
are

obscure

are

the

in

all their morals

because

of

revealed

oracles of the Old

that

by induction,
Scriptureby

doctrines

nowhere

or

and

New

the
ex

Tes

doctrines

these great truths.

We
may
say
doctrine
is nowhere
of preexistence.The

are

founded

the

same

upon

expresslyrevealed, but it is evidentlysupposed,as

without it original
sin becomes
not
onlyinexplicable,
but absurd, repugnant, and impossible.
"

There

is

nothing in the fathers

nor

councils that

contradicts this doctrine ; yea, while the fifth general

council and all the fathers after the sixth century con
false idea of preexistence
in which the an
demn
a
cient tradition

adulterated

was

the
Priscillianists,

true

condemned

the

not

by

by

doctrine
church.

Origenistsand
was
preexistence

the

of

This

supposes

that

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

87

REINCARNATION.

speciescomposed of
created in Paradise,that they all
soul and body were
disobedience,partook of his
cooperatedin Adam's
justlypunished. This was the
crime, and so were
all the individuals of the human

constant

church, and confirmed

tradition of the Jewish

was
Scriptures. This opinionof preexistence
also very ancient in the Christian
church, ere the
spoiledit with the Pythagoreanand Pla
Origenists

the

by

tonic fictions.

againstthe impiousdegradationof trans

migration[through animal bodies]that the fathers
declaim, and not the true Scripturedoctrine of de
This the schoolmen
graded [human] intelligences.
of the
with the false disguises mixtures
confound
is the true key by
This great principle
pagans.
understand the meaning of several pas
which we
can
and the sense
of many
sublime ar
sages of Scripture,
ticles of faith.
Thus onlycan we shelter Christianity
"It

is

"

from

the railleriesof the incredulous."

Sev
on
Jenyns's Disquisitions
Praeexistent
eral
a
a
on
Disquisition
:
State,"from which we quote the following
had existed in some
That mankind
state previous
the opinionof the wisest sages of
to the present was
the
held by the
most
remote
antiquity. It was
of India,the
Gymnosophistsof Egypt,the Brachmans
of
Magi of Persia, and the greatest philosophers
Greece and Rome
likewise adoptedby the fa
; it was
thers of the Christian Church, and frequently
enforced
by her primitivewriters. Why it has been so littleno
ticed,so much overlooked rather than rejected,
by the
divines and metaphysicians
of later ages, I am
at a
loss to account
for,as it is undoubtedlyconfirmed
by
reason,
by all the appearances of nature, and the doc
8.

Among Soame
Subjects is
"

"

"

"

"

trines of revelation.

88

PROSE

In

REINCARNATION.

ON

WRITERS

place,then, it is confirmed by reason,

which
teaches us that it is impossiblethat the con
junctionof a male and female can create, or bringinto
being,an immortal soul : theymay prepare a material
"

the first

habitation

for

it,but

there

take

inhabitant readyto
preexistent
assures

son

us

that

an

be

must

immortal

immaterial

an

possession.Rea

soul,which

will eter

nallyexist after the dissolution of the body,must have

existed before the formation of it ; for what
eternally
has no end
have had
ever
can
never
any beginning,
but must

exist in

tion to time, to

fore,the
must

never

an

have

to exist in

benevolent

such

world

present

as
was

the first,
state of their existence,
a
with

rela

no

the past and

it
future life,

Reason

former.

omnipotentand

if the
with inhabitants,

connected

bears

incomprehensible
totally
; if,there

existed in

formed

which

manner

soul will continue

have

that

us

us

some

the

likewise
Creator

this,and
the

tells

would

filled it

only,or

even

which, if un
calcu
future,seems
state

understand
to our
intelligible
ings; neither of good or evil,of happinessor misery,
of virtue or vice,of reward or punishment,but a con
all together,
fused jumble of them
proceedingfrom no
and tendingto no end.
visible cause
But, as we are
certain that infinite power cannot
be employed without
infinite wisdom
without design,
effect,
nor
we
ra
may
conclude that this world could be designedas
tionally
awhile
than a prison,
in which we
are
nothingmore
confined to receive punishment for the offenses com
mitted in a former, and an opportunity
of preparing
ourselves for the enjoymentof happinessin a future,
lated for

no

one

purpose

life.

Secondly,these conclusions of reason

confirmed
ciently
by the force of nature
"

are

and

suffi

the ap-

PROSE

WRITERS

89

REINCARNATION.

ON

is
of things. This world
pearance
for a place of punishment as well

evidentlyformed
as
probation, a
"

prison,or house of correction,to which we

for a longer,and some
for
mitted, some
time ; some
to the severest
labor,others to

dulgent tasks
acter,
end

shall

we

for

; and

which

if

consider it under

was

durable

intended.

structure;

It is

com

shorter

in

more

this char

perceiveit admirably fitted

it

beautiful,and

we

are

for the

spacious,

it contains

many

apartments, a few very comfortable, many

tolerable,and some
extremelywretched ; it is inclosed
various

with

fence

it but with

so

the

impassablethat
loss of life.

none

can

Its inhabitants

surmount

likewise

in
exactlyresemble those of other prisons: they come
from
with malignant dispositions
and unruly passions,
criminals,they receive
whence, like other confined
great part of their punishment by abusing and injur
ing each other. As we may suppose that they have
not all been equallyguilty,
so
they are not all equally
miserable ; the majorityare
permittedto procure a
tolerable subsistence by their labor, and
pass through
their confinement
without
penalties,
any extraordinary
except from paying their fees at their dischargeby
death.
Others, who perhaps stand in need of more
severe
chastisement, receive it by a varietyof meth
tedious pains and
ods, some
diseases;
by the most
in their
and many
some
by disappointments,
by success
favorite pursuits
to situa
; some
by being condemned
tions peculiarly
unfortunate, as to those of extreme
poverty or superabundant riches,of despicableman
in a des
or
ners
painfulpreeminence,of galley-slaves
potic,or ministers in a free,country.
Lastly,the opinion of preexistenceis no less con
firmed
and
the appearby revelation than by reason
"

90

WRITERS

PROSE

ON

REINCARNATION.

for

perhaps,it is nowhere in
although,
the New
Testament
enforced,yet through
explicitly
of those writingsit is every
the whole
out
tenor
where
implied. In them mankind are constantly
rep
resented as coming into the world under a load of
criminals,the children of wrath,
guilt, as condemned
of divine
and objects
indignation,
placed in it for a
time by the mercies of God, to give them
an
oppor
their guilt
and regain
by sufferings,
tunityof expiating
ing by a pious and virtuous conduct their lost estate
of happinessand innocence ; this is styled
workingout
their condemnation, for
their salvation,
not preventing
their onlyhope now
is re
that is already past,and
demption,that is,beingrescued from a state of captiv
involved.
ity and sin,in which they are universally
of the Christian dispensation,
This is the very essence
in which it differs from
and the grand principle
the
religionof nature ; in every other respect they are
moral du
nearlysimilar. They both enjointhe same
the same
vices ; but Christianity
ties and prohibit
ac
quaintsus that we are admitted into this life oppressed
which we
for by
must
atone
by guiltand depravity,
its usual calamities,
and work off by acts of
suffering
virtue,before we can
hope for happinessin
positive
another.
state is
Now, if by all this a preexistent
in
not
constantly
supposed,in which this guiltwas
curred and this depravity
contracted,there can be no
meaning at all,or such a meaning as contradicts every
be con
that guiltcan
principleof common
sense,
that we
tracted without acting,
act without
ex
or
can
isting.So undeniable is this inference that it renders
state
totally
positiveassertion of a preexistent
any
of

ance

things;

"

"

useless ; as, if
into

new

at

man

country

was

the

moment

declared

of his entrance

criminal,it would

92

PROSE

"Seven

WRITERS

Pillars

REINCARNATION.

ON

which

on

the

Hypothesisof Preexist*

stands.

enee

1. All

designsand actions are carried

on
by pure and infinite goodness.
2. There is an
that runs
exact
geometrical
justice
through the universe,and is interwoven in the con
of things.
texture
"3.
Things are carried to their proper place and
this
state by the congruityof their natures
; where
fails we may
some
arbitrary
management.
suppose
4. The souls of men
are
capableof livingin other
"

the divine

"

"

bodies besides terrestrial ; and

body

or

never

in

act but

some

other.

5. The

in every state hath such a body as is

fittest to those faculties and operations
that it is most
"

soul

inclined to exercise.
"

6. The

and

powers

faculties of the soul

are

either

sensitive or plastic.
or
or
intellectual,
spiritual
"7.
By the same
degreesthat the higherpowers are
the lower are
abated, as to their proper
invigorated,
exercise."
"

Shelley (vol.i. p. 80),

the following
anecdote of the poet is quoted from his
friend
One
morning we had been reading
Hogg :
Plato togetherso diligently
that the usual hour of
exercise passed away
unperceived. We sallied forth
hour
before dinner.
to take the air for half an
hastily
In the middle
of Magdalen Bridge we
met
a woman
attentive
with a child in her arms.
Shelleywas more
10.

In Dowden's

"

Life of

"

at that instant

to

our

conduct

in

life that

was

past or

regulationof his behavior

accordingto the established usages of society.With
abrupt dexterityhe caught hold of the child. The
about to be
mother, who well might fear that it was

to

come

than

to

decorous

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

98

REINCARNATION.

bridgeinto the sedgy

waters
below, held it fast by its long train. 'Will
baby tell us anything about
preexistence,
your
voice and with a wist
madam
? he asked in a piercing
but perceiving
ful look.
made no answer,
The mother
that Shelley's
objectwas not murderous, but alto
gether harmless,she dismissed her apprehensionand
relaxed her hold.
Will your baby tell us anything
with un
madam
about
? he repeated,
preexistence,
said the
abated
He cannot
earnestness.
speak,sir,'
mother
seriously. Worse, worse,'cried Shelleywith
air of disappointment,
an
shakinghis long hair most
about his young
face.
But surelythe
pathetically
babe can speak if he will,for he is only a few weeks
old.
He may
fancy that he cannot, but it is onlya
He
cannot
have forgottenthe use
of
sillywhim.
speechin so short a time. The thing is absolutely
impossible.'It is not for me to disputewith you,
gentlemen,'the woman
meekly replied,'but I can
heard
him
safelydeclare I never
speak, nor
any
child of his age.' It was
fine placidboy. So far
a
from beingdisturbed by the interruption,
he looked up
and smiled.
Shelleypressedhis fat cheeks with his
his healthyappearance
and
fingers. We commended
his equanimity,
and the mother was
allowed to proceed,
for she would
doubtless
probablyto her satisfaction,
prefera less speculative
nurse.
Shelleysighedas we
walked
How
on.
provokinglyclose are these new
born
babes ! he ejaculated
but it is not the less
;
certain,notwithstanding
the cunning attempts to con
ceal the truth, that all knowledge is reminiscence.
thrown

over

the

parapet

of the

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

The

'

doctrine is far

Plato, and

as

muses

are

the

muses

was

ever

old

as

more

ancient than

the venerable

the times

allegorythat

of
the

daughtersof

of the
one
; not
memory
said to be the child of invention.'
"

94
11.

Hume's

skeptical
essay

"

of the Soul

REINCARNATION.

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

argues

thus

The

"

on

Immortality

of nature, and
course
Reasoningfrom the common
of the
without
su
interposition
supposing any new
from
which ought always to be excluded
cause,
preme
also be ungenwhat is incorruptible
must
philosophy,
"

erable.
fore

soul,therefore,if immortal, existed be

birth, and if the former existence noways

The

our

us, neither

concerns

will the latter.

metempsychosisis,therefore,the only system

hearken to."
of this kind that philosophy
can
12. Southey says in his published Letters
: "I
have a strong and livelyfaith in a state of continued
"

The

"

"

consciousness
shall

recover

and that we
this stage of existence,
lower stages
the consciousness of some

from

through which we may previouslyhave passed seems

not impossible.
to me
of all
existence seems,
The system of progressive
.

"

others,the

most

benevolent

and all that

we

do under

good,and all we do or do not,

and overwhelminglywonderful, that the
so
perfectly
benevolent system is the most
most
probable."
13. From
letter written by that curious
genius
a
Blake
William
(the artist)to his friend John Flax1
:
man
(the sculptor)
stand

is

so

wise and

so

"

In my
books and
"

brain

are

studies and

chambers

filledwith

picturesof old which I wrote and painted

life ; and these
mortal
in ages of eternity
before my
and studyof archangels.
works are the delight
You, O dear Flaxman, are a sublime archangel,
I look back
my friend and companion from eternit}^.
and behold our
into the regionsof reminiscence
an
cient days before this earth appeared and its vegetau

See Scoones's

EnglishLetters,p.

361.

PROSE

WRITERS

ON

95

REINCARNATION.

tive

mortal vegetatedeyes.
I see our
to my
mortality
of eternitywhich
houses
be separated,
can
never
though our mortal vehicles should stand at the re
motest

of heaven

corners

14.

In

the

from

each

other."
"

FortnightlyReview
William
Knight

"

1878, Professor

September,

for

writes

"

It

seems

that in the discussions of contemporary phi

surprising
losophy on the originand destinyof the soul there
has been no
revival of the doctrines of Preexplicit
existence
and
be
Metempsychosis. Whatever
may
their intrinsic worth
rank

the

doubted.

of
"

evidential value,their title to

roll of

hypotheses is un
philosophical
solution
a
They offer quiteas remarkable

on

of the

or

mystery which

all admit

Creation,Traduction,and
If we reject
the doctrine

Traduction

of

Preexistence
rival

born,

and
has

fewer

of time
not

"

sent

fall back

or

difficulties to

hypotheses. Creation

moment

we
Preexistence,

in

must
one

opposing theories of Creation

as
we
Extinction,we may
reject

two
;

rival theories

Extinction."

either believe in non-existence

other of the

the

as

multitudes
down

is the
of souls

from

face

than

or

and
find

the

theory that every

are
simultaneously

celestial

source,

but

freshlymade out of nothing and placed in bodies pre

pared for them by natural growth. To the Platonist
seemed
the theoryof Traduction
even
worse, as it im
pliedthe derivation of the soul from at least two
sources,

derived

from

"

both

parents,

"

and

substance

thus

apparentlycompositeand quasi-material.
Strippedof all extravagance and expressedin the
modest
of probability,
the theory has immense
terms
It is
speculativeinterest and great ethical value.
much
to have the puzzleof the originof evil thrown
was

"

back

for

an

indefinite number

of cvcles of

lives; to

96

PROSE

have

workable
accustomed

are

we

WRITERS

birth

untoward

REINCARNATION.

ON

explanationof Nemesis^ and of what

and the
to call the moral
tragedies
of

multitude

have

of

doctrine of

the

It is much

also

lightenedof

its difficulties ; to have

to

and

men

our

women.

immortality

immediate

out

by the doctrine that in the soul's eternity

The
and its future existence are one.
its preexistence
help the prospect."
retrospectmay assuredly
of it or not, we
make
Whether
use
ought to
we
Either
all
these.
realize its alternatives. They are
and resolved through an
life is extinguished
absorp
tion and reassumptionof the vital principle
every
where, or a perpetualmiracle goes on in the inces
of spiritual
ex
sant and rapidincrease in the amount
look relieved

"

istence within

the universe

and
vives, the intelligence
O

animals

"

sur

lower

affection of the

A.

Butler's

The

History of

Ancient

stronglytoward
of reincarnation
"

the

life

human

perisheverlastingly."
W.

15. Professor
upon

while

and

It must

endorsement

an
:

of

celebrated

lectures
"

Philosophy lean
Plato's philosophy

"

be allowed

that

there is much

in the

hy

pothesisof preexistence(at least)which might at

busied with the endeavor
tract a speculator
to reduce
the moral system of the world under
laws.
intelligible
The

solution which

and

fortunes of each

it at

once

furnishes

of

in
individual,as arising

the

state

some

un

known

but direct
voluntaryacts,
process from his own
though it throws, of course, no lighton the ultimate

questionof

the existence of moral

evil

(which

it

only
satisfy

singlestep),does yet contribute to

the mind as to the equityof that immediate
manifesta
tion of it,and of its physical
attendants, which we un
no
happilywitness. There is internally
greater im*
removes

WRITERS

PROSE

the

that
probability

97

REINCARNATION.

ON

be

present may

the

result

of

than that
wholly forgotten,
of
be followed by a future form
the present should
existence in which, perhaps,or in some
departments
if to
be as complete. And
of which, the oblivion may
that future state there are
alreadydiscernible faint
have
to
men
longings and impulses which
many
seemed to involve a direct proof of its reality,
hopes
that will not be bounded
by the grave, and desires
found within them, it
others have
that grasp eternity,
faint intimations scarcelyless impressive
would
seem,
of a
of the past,as if the soul vibrated the echoes
has told us
Wordsworth
harmony not of this world.
that such convictions seem
to be a part, though a neg
of our
race."
lected part,of the heritage
former

state

novelist Bulwer

16. The
of this truth

of

loftier

thus

Eternity
may
which men
migrations

of those
ments

almost

now

home

after

heights. Age

its tent, fated not

to

home,

and
activity

in

17. Pezzani, the

desire."
author

endless series

to fairer

after age
rest

an

opinion

call deaths,abandon

even

heathen, but carrying with

ments,

be but

"

his

expresses

and

spiritmay shift
dull Elysium of the

the

the
it

scenes

its two

evermore

ele

of

The

Pluralityof the
Soul's Lives,"2 writes :
The earthly
sojourn is only
a new
probation,as was said by Dupont de Nemours,
that great writer who, in the eighteenthcentury, out
strippedall modern thought. Now, if this be so, is it
not plain that the recollection of former
lives would
hinder probations,
seriously
by removing most of their
and consequentlyof their deserts, as well
difficulties,
of their spontaneity? We
live in a world where
as
"

"

Other

extracts

from

Bulwer

Piuis,186"-,third edition,p.

appear
405.

on

page

37.

98

PROSE

WRITERS

free-will is

ON

REINCARNATION.

the
all-powerful,

inviolable law

and

ment

progress
among
remembered, the soul would

importof
low

the trials which

indolent

and

If

men.

know
are

of advance

past lives were

the

and
significance

reserved

for it here be

careless,it would

harden

itself

of Providence,and
against the purposes
become
of masteringthem, or
paralyzedby the hopelessness
and more
even, if of a better quality
manly,it would
accept and work them out without fail. Well, neither
of these suppositions
is necessary ; the strugglemust
be free,voluntary,
safe from the influences of the past ;

the field of combat

exhibit and

may

must

has

learned

to conquer,

but in such

new,

so

that the athlete

his virtues upon it.

practice
alreadyacquired,the forces

periencehe
how

seem

him

serve

that he

manner

in the

does not

The
he

ex

has

strife ;

new

suspect it,for

imperfectsoul undergoes reincarnations in order

that it has alreadymanifested,
developthe qualities

the
to
to

free itself from

to
opposition

if all

pen

the

the

ascensional

remembered

men

order of the earth would

not

established

now

well

One

Method
cannot
we

on

of Nature

describe

know

that

")
the

law.

would

their former

lives ?

conditions.

The

least,it is

Lethe,

as

essays

("

The

We
paragraph:
historyof the soul,but

contains this

it is divine.

hap

the actual world."

earliest

natural

; at

in

are

What

such

Emerson's

of

faults wliich

be overthrown

is a law of
free-will,

as

18.

vices and

cannot

"

tell if these

to-dayin this mortal

in a
shall ever
in equal activity
frame
reassemble
similar frame, or whether they have before had a nat
ural history
like that of this body you see before you ;
did not
but this one
thingI know, that these qualities
sickbe sick with my
now
begin to exist,cannot
wonderful

which
qualities

house

100

PROSE

WRITERS

of the

ance

soul

REINCARNATION.

itself in this

science and

species.Thus
nor

ON

development of new
philosophywill cooperate,

will poetry hesitate to lend her aid."

of modern
20. The noblest work
times,and

prob

is a largevolume
ably of all time, upon immortality,
R. Alger, entitled
A
Critical
by the Rev. William
Historyof the Doctrine of a Future Life." It was
publishedin 1860, and still remains the standard au
This
thority
upon that topicthroughoutChristendom.
indebted to it. The author
little book is substantially
"

is

minister,who

Unitarian

devoted

half

his lifetime

undermining his health thereby. In the

first edition (1860) the writer characterizes reincar
nation as a plausible
delusion,unworthy of credence.
For fifteen years more
he continued studyingthe sub
and the last edition (18T8) givesthe final result
ject,
in heartily
of his ripestinvestigations
endorsingand
advocating reincarnation. No more
strikingargu
to

the work,

for

ment

fact.

the

That

doctrine

could

be

advanced

than

this

Christian

clergyman,making the prob

lem of the soul's destinyhis life's study,should
be
come
so
overpoweredby the force of this pagan idea
is
of his scholarship
to adopt it for the climax
as
the result is reached
And
by
extremelysignificant.
of reasoningthat the seminaries
such a sincere course
in all denominations
are
compelledto accept his book
of the supplemental
the masterpiece.From
one
as
:
chapterswe quote the followingby his permission
a

"

"

Besides

own,

every

the
reason

distinctive arguments of its

for the resurrection holds with at

various

equal force for transmigration.The argument

from
analogy is especially
strong. It is natural to
of incarnated life
from the universal
spectacle
argue
the variety
that this is the eternal scheme everywhere,

least

WRITERS

PROSE

of souls

findingin

series of

adventures

being,as

Paul

of

of flesh of

kind

of

another

of men,

present lack

Our

on.

of worlds an everlasting
variety
in appropriate
organisms; there

the

said,one

beasts,another

101

REINCARNATION.

ON

birds,another

angels,and

of recollection of

so

past lives is

disproofof their actuality.Every night we lose

reawaken
all knowledge of the past, but every day we
of the whole
series of days and nights.
to a memory
life we
So in one
forgetor dream, and in another
may
from
the be
the whole thread of experience
recover
ginning.

no

"

In every

the

event, it

thoughtfuland

future

life none

has

be

must

refined
had

confessed

forms

of

extensive

so

the
and

of all

that
belief

in

prolongeda
the majority,

prevalenceas this. It has the vote of

having for ages on ages been held by half the human
with an
of conviction
almost without a
race
intensity
strikingfact about the
parallel.Indeed, the most
doctrine of the repeated incarnations of the soul,its
embodiment
form
and experiencein each successive
by its merits and demerits in the
being determined
of that
preceding ones, is the constant
reappearance
faith in all

"

Another

is that it
of

world

strikingfact
to be

seems

oriental

the

hold

permanent

great nations.

certain

on

its

parts of the world, and

only

in

connected

native and

world, but
scattered

with

this doctrine

ineradicable

appears

growth

in the

instances,and

western

rather

as

thought. In the growing freedom

of thought,
which, no less than its doubt
liberality
characterize Christendom, it seems
denial, now
exotic form

of

the full time

thetic

had

on
hospitality

Hindus.

The

for

come

the

advocates

greater mental

part of Christians
of

and

an

and
and
as

if
aes

towards

the resurrection should

102

PROSE

their attention

confine

not

aspects of

dicrous

REINCARNATION.
to the

the lu
or
repellant
but do justice
to
metempsychosis,

its charm."

its claim and

After

ON

WRITERS

the evidences in
reviewingand strengthening
The
pluralbirths,Mr. Alger continues :
"

favor

of

above

translation

of the ecclesiastical doctrine of the

and rec
credible,
scientifically
tenet of transmigration,
onciled with the immemorial
in
fanciful speculation,
a mere
to some
a
seem
may
It is not propounded
tellectual toy. Perhaps it is so.
It is advanced
with the slightest
dogmatic animus.
be true,
illustration of what may
an
possibly
as
solely
as
suggestedby the generalevidence of the phenom
the facts of experience.The
of historyand
ena
thoughtsembodied in it are so wonderful, the method
of it so rational,the region of contemplationinto
is so grand,the prospectsit
which
it lifts the mind
of such universal reach and import,that
are
opens
the studyof it bringsus into full sympathy with the
and of a
sublime scope of the idea of immortality,
uncovered
vindication of Providence
to
cosmopolitan
resurrection into

form

It takes us out of
every eye.
and
themes
and selfish affairs,

the littleness of

makes

petty

it easier for

us

have
ever
hopes mankind
the most
known.
It causes
magnificentconceptions
to the
of human
simplyproportional
destinyto seem
native magnitude and
beauty of the powers of the
mind which can conceive such things.After traversing
the grounds here set forth,we
feel that if the view

to

believe

based

on

in

the

them

be

vastest

not

the truth,it must

be because

sequelgreater and love

hitherto/'
dream
than our
lier,not meaner,
brightest
for May, 1881, Pro
21. In the
Princeton Review
fessor Francis Bowen
pub(of Harvard University)
God

has

in

reserve

"

for

us

"

WRITERS

PROSE

ON

103

REINCARNATION.

article on
Christian Metemp
very interesting
in which he urges the Christian acceptance
sychosis,"

lishes

"

of reincarnation.

By

his

portionof it,because it is
adoptionof this truth,from
:
a Christian
standpoint

consent
so

we

able

both

quote

large

appeal for the

metaphysicaland

an

"

"

Our

life upon

plineand
hereafter.

earth

is

for
preparation
But

rightlyheld to
a
higher and

if limited to the duration

be

disci

eternal

of

life

single

body,it is so brief as to seem

hardlysufficient
for so grand a purpose.
Threescore
and
ten
years
for eternity.
must
surelybe an inadequatepreparation
have we that the probationof the
But what assurance
soul is confined within so narrow
limits ?
Why may
it not be continued,or repeated,
through a long series
the same
of successive generations,
animat
personality
of tene
ing one after another an indefinite number
into each the
of flesh,and carryingforward
ments
it has received,the character it has formed,
training
in the
the temper and dispositions
it has indulged,
stage of existence immediatelypreceding? It need
while bearingthe
its past history,
not remember
even
of that historydeeplyin
fruits and the consequences
How
long pas
grainedinto its present nature.
many
life are
now
completelylost to mem
sages of any one
to build
ory, though they may have contributed largely
man
one
up the heart and the intellect which distinguish
another ! Our
from
responsibility
surelyis not les
We
still accountable
sened by such forgetfulness.
are
for the misuse of time, though we
have forgotten
how
what we
wasted
it. We
or
on
are
even
now
reaping
the bitter fruits,
throughenfeebled health and vitiated
desires and capacities,
of many
forgottenacts of selfand
sin
willfulness,
indulgence,
forgottenjust be-

mortal

"

104

PROSE

they

cause

were

ON

so

REINCARNATION.

Then

numerous.

future

in another frail body upon

this earth may

state of justand fearful retribution.

even
a

WRITERS

"

Why

should

it be

should

inhabit

soul

same

of mortal

number

thought
in

incredible

succession

bodies,and

thus

an

life

well be

that the
indefinite

prolongits experi

probationtillithas become in every sense

ripe for heaven or the final judgment? Even dur
ing this one life our bodies are perpetually
changing,
though by a process of decay and restoration which is
so
gradual that it escapes our notice. Every human
in many
bodies,even
being thus dwells successively
fact seems
duringone short life. This physiological
to have been known
by Plato,as in a well-known pas
ence

sage

and

its

of the

PhaBdo, a clear
of Cebes, who

the mouth
fact affords

the soul.

'

of it is put into

statement

argues, however, that this

sufficient proofof the immortality
of

no

You

say with

may

reason,'Cebes

is made

and the body weak

lasting,
and short-lived in comparison. And
every soul may
in the
be said to wear
out
bodies,especially
many
of a long life. For if,while the man
is alive,
course
and decays,
the body deliquesces
and yet the soul al
her garment anew
and repairs
the waste,
ways weaves
the soul perishes,
then of course, when
she must have
her last garment, and this only will survive her ;
on
but then, again,when
the soul is dead, the body will

to argue,

that the soul is

at last show

cay.'

its native weakness

And

death, the
exist,and

again:
souls
will

that there is
hold
may

out

and

still be

'

of

Suppose we
some

be born
natural
be

born

inclined

and

soon

admit

pass into de

also that,after

and will
existingstill,
and die again and again,and
strengthin the soul which will
are

times, for all this,we

many
to think that she will be weary
"

in the labors of successive

in

cumb

of her deaths

one

105

REINCARNATION.

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

births,and
act of

If every birth were

an
the introduction to life of

absolute

new
entirely

an

might reasonablyask why different

We
constituted at the outset.
variously
we

start

fair in the

suc

creation,
creature,

souls

are

do not

us, and

that is set before

race

last

l
perish.'
utterly

and

"

at

may

so

all

there

brief
at the close of one
expected,
to reach the same
mortal
goal,and to be
pilgrimage,
of
the penalties
or
equallywell fitted for the blessings
be

fore all cannot

fixed

assures

that

us

ties and

evil which

the

other,on

the

with

limited

capaci

wayward disposition,
strong pas

temper

almost

observation

commonest

sure

that

to be

contrary,seems

he has

tendencies

to

developed. An
happilyendowed from
soon

and kind,
onlyamiable,tractable,
and precocious,
a child of many
hopes.
quick-witted
while the other has
seems
a perverse
one
goblin,
earlypromiseof a Cowley or a Pascal. The dif

the start

The

sullen

are

The

child is born

one

perhaps

sions,and

but

hereafter.

state

he is not

ferences of external condition

also

are

so

vast

and

ob

from
the merit
to detract much
they seem
life and from
of a well-spent
the guiltof vice and
in a Christian
crime.
is so happilynurtured
One
that
home, and under so many
influences,
protecting
the path of virtue lies straight
and open before him,
walk
the blind could safely
so
indeed,that even
plain,
therein ; while another
born to a heritageof
seems
of one
misery,exposure, and crime. The birthplace
is in Central
Africa,and of another in the heart of
civilized and Christian Europe. Where
lingerseter
nal justice
then ?
How can such frightful
inequalities
vious that

"

be made
and

to appear

goodnessof
1

JowetCs

consistent with

God

the infinitewisdom

Am.
translation)

ed. vol. i. p. 416.

106

WRITERS

PROSE

If

"

ON

metempsychosisis

is born

into the

state

his

previoushistory.He

one

from

him
or

stage of existence

one

he has

into vice and

which

he has
carries

to another

the

has

formed, the disposi

the passions
which he has
indulged,
has voluntarily
allowed to lead him

chastised,but

not

which

tendencies

tions which

own

of

dis
difficulty
this point of

from

earned by
fairly
habits

in the scheme

altogether.Considered

view, every
with

included

of the world, this

the divine government

appears

REINCARNATION.

crime.

No

he

active interference of retrib

for the place

is needed, except in selecting
justice
birth a home with appropriatesurround
of his new
ings perhapssuch a home as through his evil pas

utive

"

is a hard lesson to be
its consequences
submit with enforced resignation
to the

ited sin and

We

learned.
stern

decree,corroborated

as

it is

servation of the
that the

ordinarycourse
of the fathers
iniquity

the children

But

doctrine of inher

The

for others.

sions he has made

even

by

day'sob

every

of this world's

affairs,

shall be visited upon

to the third and fourth generation.

and en
complainof the dispositions
which
dowments
he has inherited,
to speak,from
so
himself ; that is,from
self in a previous
his former
he has neglected
stage of existence. If,for instance,
in
his opportunities
and fostered his lower appetites
his childhood,if he was
then wayward and self-indul
and
vicious,it is right and
gent, indolent,deceitful,
and old age, he should expe
justthat,in his manhood
of his youthfulfollies.
rience the bitter consequences
If he has voluntarily
made himself a brute, a brute he
no

must

one

can

remain.

The

often inherits from

an

awful

him

meaning,if we

the solemn

is father of the

child

announcement

sad

man,

patrimony.

will but

of the

take

it to

angel in

who

There

is

heart,in

the apoca-

108

WRITERS

PROSE

change, accordingto the

themselves,not an atom

rapid chemical
the materialists

generatedor

ever

from

ness, is

to enter

soul,which, as

the human

the

was

In this

doctrine

of the

resurrection

only escapes
Then

conscious

sense

we

to ani

easily
accept
body. Our

can

of the

while

not

rate

its home

on

the

present
this world's affairs continues,to be

of

administration

is

from

once

body.

life is not, at

of matter

another.

know

another

future

of

indivisible,
onlypasses

after the dissolution of what

mate

admission

it

upon

we

and

one
absolutely

be

to

ceases

ever

combination

one

REINCARNATION.

ON

any

being. It
merelyspiritual
will be clothed againwith a body, which
may or may
which it has just
with the one
not be in part the same
di
left. Leibnitz held that the soul is never
entirely
vorced
from
some
portionof
matter, but carries on
what was
its earthly
coveringinto a subsequentstage
of existence.
We
can
easilyimagineand believe
of some
is a representation
that every person now
living
another
who
lived perhaps centuries
one
ago under
inconceivable

some

in another

name,

form

down

torn

He

same.

and

has

come

tion,bringingwith
a

hindrance

which

bation,and

not

him

new

so, tell

what

namely, the
and

he has entered

in it he has

he there formed

ter which

one

and

and
me

the

him

with

same

character.
of

house

same

His

sur

has

flesh

rebuilt ; but the tenant is stillthe

down
from some
former genera

he there formed

retribution

upon

yet

being and essential

changed; the old

roundings are
been

be not with the

country, it may

line of ancestry, and

in his inmost

of

now

be either a help or
may
tendencies
and
character

nurtured.
a

upon
to

And

new

stage of pro

learn what

leads
naturally

perhaps broader
born
are
why men

theatre.
with

is

herein

the charac

to when

tried

If this be
characters

so

WRITERS

PROSE

far

depraved. In a sense
intended
literal than was
by the poet,it may
that
of every country churchyard,

and

unlike
more

be true
'

with

Some
Some

tendencies

Milton there may

rest,
inglorious
Cromwell
of
his
country'sblood.5
guiltless

of their former
for the

new

stillthe

duct, in

the

so

mute

They bringwith

are

109

REINCARNATION.

ON

them

life,as

part

would
unfit them
memory
they have to play. But they

such

which

of

and modes
principles
springsof action,which

in the

same

inmost

gotten incidents

recollection of the incidents

no

of

their

life have

former

the

con

for

developed

in all the es
strengthened.The}'are the same
sential pointswhich made
them formerlya blessing
or
whom
to all with
a
curse
immediatelyin
they came
contact, and through which
they will again become

and

of

sources

weal

woe

or

chastised

their

tendencies

these inborn

course,

to

may
the lessons of

environment.

Of

be either exagger

experience,
and by habitually
heeding
by the exercise of reflection,
But
or
they
neglectingthe monitions of conscience.
and as such theymust
stillexist as original
tendencies,
either the upward or the downward
make
path more
to reach
a goalso
natural,and more
likely
easy, more
ated

or

nant
tween

otherwise

that it would

remote
"

by

To

make

this

distinction
what

new

be unattainable.

refer to the preg

admirably illustrated by Kant be

more
so

he calls the

clear,let

me

Character
Intelligible

and

the

The former is the

Empiricalor acquiredCharacter.
primitivefoundation on which the latter,which di
rectlydetermines our conduct for the time being,is
To a great extent, though not entirely,
built.
are
we
what we
are
through the influence of what have been
our
surroundings through our education,our com
panions,our habits,and our associations. But these
"

110

WRITERS

PROSE

influences must

not

germs,
these
more

fest

more
or

had

have

less amenable

more

REINCARNATION.

primitivebasis to work
can
onlymodify the operationof the native
change their nature ; and they will modify
less profoundlyaccordingas they are
or

and

upon,

ON

less

or

What

another.

to outside

influences and

decidedlya

bias in

the future

plant

one

will

mani

direction
be

or

depends

of the seed which

is
nature
specific
than on the fertility
of the soil into
barrenness
or
sown
The
which it is cast.
latter only determine whether
it shall be a vigorousplantor a weak one, whether in
fact it shall grow at all or only rot in the ground ; but
direction of its de
they do not determine the specific
velopment,whether it shall be an oak, a willow,or an
ivy-bush. The Empiricalor acquiredCharacter,as it
is a phenomenon ; it is what
is open
to observation,
much

more

on

the

under
appears to be, or what he has become
the shapinginfluence of the circumstances to which he

the

man

Character,the
Intelligible
is a noumenon,
and es
inmost kernel of his real being,
judgeof its nature
capes external observation ; we can
from its effects ; that is to say, from
only indirectly
the conduct which it has cooperatedto produce. A
change takingplacein any substance must be the joint
result of two factors ; namely,its proper cause
operat
nature
own
ing upon it from without,and the thing's
Thus
the same
internal constitution.
or
degree of
different substances,
heat acts very differently
upon
iron, water, clay,or powder. In like
wax,
say, on
a
given motive, say, the desire of wealth,
manner,
when
actingon different persons, thoughwith the same
lead to very dissimilar re
strengthor intensity,
may

has been

exposed.

sults ; it makes

renders

one

one

envious

But

man

the

thief and

and another

another

energeticand

miser,
indus-

it forms a fixed habit,

indulged,
frequently
element in the acquiredor empir
becomes
an

If

trious.
thus

and

Ill

REINCARNATION.

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

ical character.

Kant,

Now

"

the bias of

with

necessitarian,
places

in the realm of
responsibility
Intelli
to our
them exclusively
attributing
noumena,
As to the acquiredcharacter when
gibleCharacter.

and

freedom

our

formed, he

once

our

says

we

in accordance

act

must

accountable

with

for the

partic
could not help.
ular act to which it led,since that we
of lyingor stealing,
formed
After I have once
a habit
should an
opportunityand temptationrecur, I must
it,and therefore

we

repeat the offense.

are

But

not

our

inborn

character,which

lies out
reallyare, as a noumenon,
expresses what we
and therefore can
side of time, space, and causality,
led

be

not

astray by temptationor

external

circum

free.
Herein
entirely
solelyconsists
merit or our
our
guilt. Hence Kant would make us
not for the particular
crime, which we
responsible
but for beingsuch a person
could not helpcommitting,
We
to be capableof that crime.
accountable
are
as
is

stances, but

for what

not

to

for

punishednot

be
a

do, but for what

we

rogue,

or

thief in

stealing.
.

"

I know

there

is

not

we

are.

We

are

to

this horse,but for being

stealing
inclined
grain,for beingnaturally

how

it may

seem

to

others,but

to

me

and
in
something inexpressibly
consolatory
spiringin the thoughtthat the great and good of other
their earthlycareer,
days have not finally
accomplished
have not left us desolate,
but that theyare still with us,
in the flesh,
though we know them not, and though
in one
sense
themselves,be
they do not reallyknow
life in
of a former
cause
they have no remembrance
which they were
trained for the work which theyare

112

PROSE

WRITERS

But

doing.
they have

now

for

fore,and

limited to

intellect and

same

in

these

notion of

our

unwillingto
there

the

believe that

them

beings,

same

character

be

as

respects is all that

two

personalidentity.We are
their beneficent activity
was

short life on

one

REINCARNATION.

the
essentially

they are

sameness

constitutes

ON

earth,at

the close of which

eternitywithout change,
without
farther trial or action,and seeminglyhaving
other purpose
than unlimited
no
enjoyment. Such a
of immortality
is exposedto Schopenhauer's
conception
that if effort and progress
are
only
possible
sarcasm,
in the present life,
be
and
want
or
can
no
suffering
of sin,there remains
endured except as the penalties
An
for heaven only the weariness of nothingto do.
either of reward
or
punishmentwould seem
eternity
earned by one
brief periodof pro
to be inadequately
opened

to

It is far

bation.

future life which

an

reasonable

more
we

are

lar to the present one,

believe that

to

the

taught to expect will be simi

and will be spent in this world,

though we shall carry forward to it the burden or the

Besides
entailed upon us by our past career.
blessing
the spiritual
meaning of the doctrine of regeneration,
besides

the

there
Spirit,'

words

of

he cannot
"

group

the
see

birth which

new

'

of the

and

of water

meaning in the solemn

be born again,
Saviour, Except a man
the kingdom of God.'
may

be

literal

'

be sorry to believe that that remarkable

of excellent scholars,
thinkers,and divines,the

I should

three

the

upheld

who
Port-Eoyalists,
for

is

quarters of

spiritof

be

Tillemont

of

Jansenism

passed
finally
contrary, if anywhere in

century, have

from
the
earth.
On
away
these later times the model of

historian could

cause

Christian

might well
againin him.

found, we
lives

scholar and
say that the

If

we

could

WRITERS

PROSE

find
of

in himself

united

who

one

113

REINCARNATION.

ON

all the best

Christian teacher, stainless in heart

be admitted

that

it

that

might well believe

For
earthlyform.

either Pascal
should

we

and

Lancelot

was

not

qualities
life,we

in another

Arnauld, it must

or

know

where

to look ;

are
yet in this world, they must be in
spirits
of some
obscurity
lowlystation.1
I repeat, is completely
All this speculation,
fanci

if their
the
"

ful, and

can

serve

if the doctrine

even
we

two

of

successive

surelycould
than

he

knows

of

show,

to

We

earth.
appearances
upon
of him in this respect any

know

not

than

were
true, that
metempsychosis
able to identify
one
person in any

not

his

purpose

of

should

be

other

no

more

alreadysaid,the
total break in memory
at the beginningof every suc
cessive life must
prevent the newly born from recog
of his own
being with any former
nizingthe oneness
existence in an earthlyshape.
is
Curiouslyenough this want of self-knowledge
in which we
have a direct
confessed in the only case
assertion in Scripture(if language is to be inter
pretedin its ordinaryliteral meaning and not strained
into a figurative
sense),that one of the heroes of the
olden time had
reappearedupon earth under a new
of a new
the forerunner
as
dispensation.At
name,
himself; and,

as

"

to have
there appears
generalexpectationamong the Jews that the

Saviour

of the

the time

of the Messiah

of

ance

upon

earth

tion

being

founded

hold, I will send

of the

coming
1

page

See

Matthew

168.

to

was

be

the
upon

been

coming

by the reappear
prophetElijah,this expecta
heralded

the text

in Malachi

'

Be

Elijah the prophet before the

great and dreadful day of the Lord.'
you

Arnold's

poem

upon

his

father, Dr. Arnold,

114

PROSE

Early in

ON

WRITERS

REINCARNATION.

the

we
publicministryof John the Baptist,
read that the belief prevailedamong
his hearers that
fulfilled in him.
But when directly
this prophecywas
asked, Art thou Elias ? he replied,I am not. Art
He had
he answered, No.'
thou that prophet? And
'

'

'

of his former life under

that name
; and
memory
of the popularbelief
though he must have been aware
no

his

between
of the

he

own

career

worshipof

the

true

to

claim

honest

too

was

know
positively

not

of the many
pointsof similarity
and that of the great restorer

and
subject,

the

upon

to

God

at

an

earlier

period,
he did

which
authority

an

belongto

him.

twice
subsequently
declared,in very distinct language,that Elijahand
and the same
John the Baptistwere
one
really
person.
Jesus
still alive but in prison,
Once, while John was
told the multitude who throngedaround
him, Among
"

Yet

that

learn

we

our

Lord

that

them

greater

than
to

on

goes
which

are

was

after John

of

born

John

there hath

women

the

Baptist;

'

and

risen

not

he

directly

assert, If ye will receive it,this is Elias,

'

(Matt.xi. 14.)

for to come.'
was

beheaded, Jesus

And

said to his

again,
disciples,

they knew him not, but

Then
him whatsoever they listed.'
have done unto
them
of
that he spake unto
understood
the disciples
John the Baptist.'(Matt.xvii. 12, 13.) Stillagain,
Behold
of Transfiguration.
in the scene
the mount
on
*

Elias

is

come

alreadyand

'

'

there

and
were

talked

with

him

two

men,

which

were

Moses

who
Elias ; and it is said of the three disciples
with Jesus that, ' When
then in company
they
'

that
gloryand the two men
stood with him.'
(Luke ix. 30, 32.) That the com
been
have
not
mentators
willingto receive,in their
obvious and literal meaning,assertions so direct and
were

awake, they saw

his

116

PROSE

This

"

WRITERS

doctrine

clearer and
otherwise

also

and

Adam

the

man,

through

to me,

seems

than would
explanation
satisfactory
of the fall of man
possible
through dis

its consequences,
interpreted
by St. Paul.

and

it

suggests,as

more

be

obedience

of

each

Certainlythe primeval
of

one

absolute

command,

to

in

when

us,

of Deity
inspiration
into a paradise,
born
an

purity and innocence, and

There
directlywith God.
through his conscience the

in Genesis

narrated

as

the

soul,'was

an

REINCARNATION.

ON

became

'

of entire
he

state

also

given

revelation of

first

living

Eden,

that

was

he

talked
to

divine law,

this blessed

preserve

him

state

his appetites
and lower impulses
throughrestraining
to action,and
making the love of holiness superior
to the love of knowledge. But man
even
was
tempted
by his appetitesto transgress this law ; he aspired
be at
after a knowledge of good and evil,which can
of evil,and he thereby
tained onlythroughexperience

innocence

fell from

into

sarily
corruptedhis
of

disobedience

has

The

stain

self

darker
We

human

no

future

self

continuingand
from

down

inveterate

more

to

reason

by

transmitted

our

to

ourselves

us

former

The

is,from

the

is what

by others,but
that

The

same

habit
person

multiplyingpower.

complainof

act.

own

in the

neces

life becomes

in the life that follows.

nature, for the world

it to be

sin,which

being.

formed, sin

once

carried

and

have

from

whole

of

state

our

have

we

has not

burden
has

of
corruption

been

former

made
been

inherited

selves.

Re

effort thus became

own
demption from it by man's
impossible.This is death, moral death,the onlydeath
of which a human
soul is capable.
Thus
far we
have considered
metempsychosisas
of retribution ; that is,of awarding to each
a means
"

which

life upon
either of weal
that compensation
future

soul in the next

117

REINCARNATION.

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

woe

or

it is

entering

which

it has

entailed
necessarily
its conduct in the life which it has just
upon itself by
be
of souls may
completed. But the transmigration
that portionof the
as
regardedalso in another light,
for itself, has

earned

divine

"

government

in

fact

affairs which

of this world's

main

since,throughits agency, in
justice,
of condition and favoring
the long run, all inequalities
be compensated,
or
may
unfavoringcircumstances
share
have his or her equitable
and each person
may
for good and of the requisite
of opportunities
means
view be con
and improvement. If our
for discipline
fined within the limits of a single
earthlylife,it must
is glaringenough,so
be confessed that the inequality
of the
doubts
that it seems
the honest
to justify
while it has offered a broad mark
tremblinginquirer,
tains distributive

for

the

scoffs

and

of

declamation

the

confirmed

un

believer.
"

This

other

and

hypothesis

character

"

than

that

I do
of

not

claim for it any

highlyprobableand

consolatory
hypothesis also throws a new and wel
come
lightupon the deep and dark problem of the
originof evil. In the first place,accordingto the
views
which
have
been
now
taken, the sufferings
which are the immediate
and punishment
consequence
of sin are properly
left out of the account, since these
evince the goodnessof God no less than the happiness
from virtue,the purpose
in both cases
resulting
being
man's highest
to advance
interests by the improvement
of his moral character ; justas the affectionate parent
rewards
the obedience
and punishesthe faults of his
him
to adopt either
child,love equallyconstraining
And
how
of the evils borne
both
course.
by
many
"

118

WRITERS

PROSE

individuals

and

rectlyto their
regard of the

by

REINCARNATION.

ON

communities

are

attributable

di

misconduct, to their willful dis

own

monitions

conscience!

of

The

body

languid from inaction through sloth,

and enfeebled or racked by disease,
might have been
and
sound, prompt to second every
active,vigorous,
and
to his enjoyment
wish of its owner,
ministering
And
could we
and limb.
know
throughevery sense
all,could we extend our vision over the whole history
is

which

of

our

now

would

self,how

former

our

estimate

of

this

purely retributive character of our present suffering

then be evident
be enlargedand confirmed ! It would
And
of it is gratuitous
that no portion
or
purposeless.
is now
with civil dissen
torn
the community which
in an
sion, desolated by war, or prostrated
unequal
strife with its rivals,
afflu
might have been peaceful,
if rulers and ruled had heeded
ent, and flourishing,
the stern calls of duty, instead of blindly
following
their own
tumultuous
passions. And as nations,too,
have a continuous
life,like that of a river,througha
constant
change of their constituent parts, many of
attributable to the misdeeds of
their woes
are
clearly
their former

selves.

Once

admit

the

great truth

that

is man's
happiness,
highestinterest,and
of the pains of this life indicate the goodness
most
and justice
of God quiteas much
its pleasures.
as
But accordingto the theorywhich we are now
con
from the
deduction
must be made
a still larger
sidering,

virtue,not

"

amount

of

the world.
which
of all
and
upon

time visible in
any one
All the inequalities
in the lot of mankind,

apparent evil

at

have

prompted what
and have
complaints,

J. S. Mill
divine

as

reason

in
justice

the

perhaps the bitterest

like Hume
served skeptics
for the darkest imputations
are

government

of the

world,

WRITERS

PROSE

the

disappearfrom
only what we
All
equalities.
through the same
sooner

more

or

sin, there

same

vicissitudes of

and

peasant, bond

are

weal

all must

with

each

tions

from

at

there

woe

after

Prince

and

future

some

But

other.

or

no

in

point,and journey
existence,exhausting

free, barbarian

alike whatever

because

the

from

start

less

later all varieties of condition.

or

share

119

REINCARNATION.

picturealtogether.Excepting
just considered, the retributive

have

of

consequences

ON

cultured, all
is in the

time

these

and

world,

change places
largededuc

two

the amount

complainedof,what remains ?
which
cannot
even
Very little,
we
now
see
certainly,
through; that is,which we cannot assignan adequate
for ; and to the eye of faith nothingremains.
reason
The

world

blot

becomes

shadow

or

Governor.
what

we

life

Death

remains

call death

life than the

which

is

one

; but

if this be

not

vision is of

evil,than

now

the

remember

our

vors,
ment

which
to

the

is

each

present range

of im

more

in itself
of

injury to

Our

and no more
importance,
correspondingfact that we do not
previousexistence in antecedent
no

alone,or
ages. Death
the antecedent
dread
apart from

better

fact that the subse

the
our

to another

fault.

own

necessary
other from

considered,apart

it which
the

feelingsof

consequence

which

so

to the fruit."

from

and
is irrational,

the survi

of that attach

much

of

our

piness springs,is not even

an
apparent evil ;
mere
change and development,like the passage
the embryonic to the adult condition,from the
som

and

evil,for

no

higherand

justended, it is our

reallycontinuous,and
quent stages of it lie beyond
an

that is

introduction

only the

life is

mediate

reflects without

the infinite goodnessof its Creator

earth, and

on

mirror

hap
it is
from
blos

120

WRITERS

PROSE

22. In

REINCARNATION.

ON

and other Essays,"

Spirit,
by
Professor Frederick Henry Hedge, the twelfth chapter,
Human
The
Soul," stronglyadvocates rein
upon
carnation.
consent
we
reprintthe
By the publishers'
to it :
pages referring
"

of the

Ways

"

We

"

with

back

reach

our

find

recollection and

Who

of

no

knows

anything
first two years of earthly
life?
he first said
the time when
No one
remembers
1,'
or
thought I.' We began to exist for others before
we
began to exist for ourselves. Our experienceis
does not
not co-extensive with our
being,and memory
comprehend it. We bear not the root, but the root us.
call it soul.
Our soul,
We
is the root ?
What
it is not ours, but we
call it ; properlyspeaking,
we
beginningof existence.
except by report of the

us

"

its.

are

It is not

which

article in

one

root

of

and

other than

self.

we

are

are

part of

inal,but

product,
We
individuality.
a

never

into self.

as

"

bear
And

an

self does

conscious

The

which

we

that is,than

"

time after the birth of the

an

us, but

inventoryof articles
but the
togethermake up our individuality,
that individuality.
It is largerthan we
are,

It is not

it.

part of

not

countless

suppose

product,which

the soul which

before that blossom

conscious

begin until some

individual.
It is not aborig
it were, the blossomingof

may

this

our

does

so

never

blossom

souls

blossom

exists

unfolds.

How

to say ; whether
long before,it is impossible
individual is the
the birth,for example, of a human
soul is fur
soul's beginningto be ; whether
new
a
nished to each new
body, or the body given to a pre
existingsoul. It is a questionon which theology
which
and
throws
no
light,
psychology but faintly
"

illustrates. But

so

far

as

that faint illustration reaches

WRITERS

PROSE

it favors

the

positionseems
existence

of preexistence.That
supposition
sup
the supposedcontinued
best to match

of the

soul

Whatever

hereafter.

it should

ginning in time,

eternal destination

The

121

REINCARNATION.

ON

must

seem

faith

which

had
in

end
ascribes

eternal
an
origin. On
presupposes
of the soul were
hand, if the preexisteiice
soul

the

be

time.
to

the

other

assured

it

of

immortality.
often urged against
and one
objection,
this hypothesis,
is the absence of any recollection of a
previouslife. If the soul existed before its union with
recall any
this present organization,
why does it never
of its former
state ?
circumstance,scene, or experience
There have been those who
a
professedto remember
regarding those pre
past existence ; but without
tended
reminiscences, or regardingthem only as il
that the previousexistence may
not
lusions,I answer
carry the
An obvious

would
"

have
would

been

have

assurance

conscious
been

existence.
recorded

no

that

case

and
experience,

there
conse

existence

antecedent

conscious
a
suppose
to the present, the soul could not

preserve

the

of

quentlynothing to

new

recall.

In

record

with
organization

its

But

organization.The
entries must
necessarily
For memory
depends on

former
new

efface the record of the old.

When
the thread
of
continuityof association.
is broken, the knowledge of the past
that continuity
is gone.
If,in a state of unconsciousness,one were
taken
entirelyout of his present surroundings; if
fallingasleep in one set of circumstances,like Chris
in another,
to wake
topher Sly in the play,he were
conditions ; especially
if
to entirely
to wake
were
new
to undergo a change,
during that sleephis body were
lose on
-he
would
waking all knowledge of the
former life for want
of a connecting link between
it

the

122

and the

And

new.

'

in

REINCARNATION.

this,accordingto the supposition,

has

what
is precisely
The

ON

WRITERS

PROSE

happened

the soul at

to

birth.

the death of the old,

birth into the present was
The soul went
to sleep
sleepand a forgetting.'
"

in

body, it woke

one

sleepis a gulfof

The

new.

the two.

oblivion between

it is
happy thing,if the soul preexisted,
for us that we
remember
nothing of its former life.
be a drag on
of a past existence would
The memory
the present,engrossing
attention much to the pre
our
judiceof this life's interests and claims. The back
ward-lookingsoul would dwell in the past instead of

And

"

of life.
the present, and miss the best uses
"
of a former
But though on
the supposition
the

ence

of that

record

the

soul

effect.

would

be

not

likelyto

existence,it would

It would

not,

on

preserve

take
and
of

its present
Its
before been.

assuming

as

intellectual

its former

from

character

of

the growth
positions,
the moral

and

themselves

assert

limits of
to

law

life of

"It

is

or

and

And

dis
thus

transcendingthe
reachingon from life

retributions

and

that there
"

are

different

education

to be innate.
they seem
ascribed to organization.But
same

the world

native

propensi

wholly explainedby difference of

education.
They show themselves

circumstances

where

moral

of the soul would

nature

differences of character in men,

circumstances

If

previouslife.

singleexistence,and
the pilgrimsoul.
commonly conceded

ties,tempers, not

it would

certain tendencies

the moral
with

state.

bring into

being,it would

its present destination

the

retain

nevertheless

though it had never

would
modify it ;
essentially
past experience
be
conditions,

exist

These

have
are

been

the

sometimes

organizationis

not

124

PROSE

for

ogy

which

have

be

its succession

life,and
the

changes

of

death

and

The
.

of

infinite

and

The

fore two

of

recollections
are

years,

the

lost ;

soon

yet

type^

its

history
the

retain

we

be
to

infant

from

intellect is

change, according to a certain law, and

only of those changes which may
memory
The
child
us.
forgets what
happened
womb.

as

to which

of

life

immortal

dreams

birth

whole

human

and

sleep and

of

it is liable.

nature

connected

type

as

past existences

infinityof

an

been

regarded

REINCARNATION.

ON

believing in

must

may

of

WRITERS

useful

to

it in

the

likewise, be
of

many

habits

the

acquired in that age are retained for life. The senti

ent principlegains thoughts by material
instruments,
and its sensations change as those instruments
change ;
falls asleep,to
in old age the mind, as it were,
and
awake

in

ization

the

new

existence.

With

of

is

intellect

man

its

present

organ

naturallylimited

and

its material
machin
depends upon
im
be
in a higher organized form
it may
ery, and
It does
higher powers.
infinitely
agined to possess
of
improbable to me that some
not, however, appear
the more
refined machinery of thought may
adhere,
for
in another
even
state, to the sentient principle,

imperfect,but

are

sometimes

value

may

be

less

imagine

that

many

of

have

been

fined

clothingof

to

have

to

some

former

sensation, the

gross

called

instinctive
the

of

of

source,

those

belong

being."

and

the

destructible,and

to

which

powers

the

more

spirit.Conscience, indeed,

indefined
state

and

nerves

destroyed by death, yet something

ethereal

more

of

the organs

though
brain,

this

may

bear

re
seems

relations

V.

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION

LITERATURE.

IN

WESTERN

Poets, the
Poets

are

Poets

utter

derstand.
Poets
should

the

truest

HORACE.

"

diviners

of nature.

wise

things which

and

great

BULWER-LYTTON.

"

they do

themselves

not

un

PLATO.

"

should

and

should

but

insult,

lyric inspiration

boldest

is, the

that

lawgivers;

be

chide

not

of mankind.

first instructors

and

announce

lead.

"

EMER

SON.

We

call those

Through

earth's

Who

in

see

While

who

poets
dull

the

mist

only

dawn,

the

pale spark

first

day is gone.

that

note

of

coming

the

twilight's gloom

others

mark

first to

are

HOLMES.
O

Nor
Look

Worthy

from

song

Truest

Seers

Singers

and

The

chosen

The

noble

Greater
Their

Speak

of

Heard

"Bear
I

me

or

witness
am

your

Thenceforward
The

message

of men,

BROWNING.

My

peak

covenant

and

unheard

then,"
Lord,

bid

spake
and

through
of the

ye

light,
and

score

his

my

word
or

such

as

Allah,
heralds

all lands

mystery

pierces heaven

with

known

men,

might

of

sons

unborn

band.

which

thousand

ten

those

viewless

in

wisdom

unto

command,

solemn

teachers,

was

took
' '

MRS.
morn

and

born

mountain

number

Saying,

those

lesser

Allah

Then

at

came

ranged,

that
and

in

beauty.

by the Lord's

souls

army

Around

fairest

Poets

Sinai, summoned

To

truth
!

soul

earnest

the

Truth,

spirit of the

The

the

Speak

high poetic duty

in

Hold,

Godward

up

whole.

the

with

falsehood

mix

nothing,

back

poets, keep

brave

seven.

own,

receive.

unknown,
will

"

believe."

souls

dear,

most

of mine."
his

Poets

bear

divine.
EDWIN

ARNOLD.

V.

WESTERN"

IN

REINCARNATION

OF

POETRY

THE

LITERATURE.

THE

poets

work

the

are

They

them.

forest

common

they

catch

the

long

their

day

trating

into

seldom

descend

it is

thoroughly

in

and

only prophets
pleasantry

to

pendently,

collect

is worth
may

dreamy

are

where

whose

pro

and

below,

divine

pene

whisperings

expression,
They

days they
Therefore

their

are

is

it

testimony

accord

deep

is that

their

namely,

that

conclusion
"

the

mere

unusual

inde

working

upon

the

almost

an

upon

that, though

in

not

the

always

are

received

message

modern

in

their

harmonious.

something

means

of

forms

it is found

they

the

which

sunbeams

currents

have.

we

inevitable

the

spiration

It

these

When

theme.

tion,

the

above

crowd.

the

to

through

exaltation,

limits

the

upper

voicing

prophets
mount,

rare

diverse

of

latest

and

beyond

far

transmitted

extraordinary

an

earliest

the

However
heart

to

they

understood

not

reason,

best

where

pines towering

tall

few

the

are

Their

race.

heights

merely

but

by themselves,

even

beyond

truths

conveying

dwell,

the

intuitional

the

from

comes

of

seers

reincarna
in

common

their

gospel

receiving.
be

objected

effusions

along

that
the

these
same

poems

line

of

are

merely

lunacy,

with

128

POETRY

THE

OF
to the

real attachment

no

men

not

found

contribute

to

to the

the poets believe

All

inexperiencedpeople
poetry

centres

upon

and airyof
logical

"

heart."
ture

to

abounds

life's mystery.

immortality,
though
demonstrate

cannot

deride

the

fact

the theme

of Love

sentiments.

But

by

it.

that

nearlyall

the

"

Some

il

most

the

deepestsense
certaintyof these

the

of reincarnation

in

poets may

known

in oriental

demonstrate

the

that

the

poetry.

prevalenceof

idea

But

as

the

same

of reincarnation
our

purpose

own

to the

spontaneous

utterances

is to

thoughtamong
whollyindependent

are
poets, most of whom
shall here confine
eastern
influence, we

tion

unaided

give us courage to confide

are
own
impressions,for "all men
poets at
What
they have dared publishwe may ven
believe and will find a source
of strength.
of the

It is well

of

that

So the presence

truths.

the creed
our

solution of

is nourished

the world

"vague

in

observation

and

reason

our

which

upon

they are kinks in

intellects of genius displaying
the weakness
of
otherwise strong. But so universal a feeling
can
be disposedof in that way, especially
when
it is

the

in

solid foundations

poetry is based

all wholesome

of

REINCARNATION.

of

our

American

atten

and

European poets. We shall find that the great major

ityof the highest occidental poets lean toward this
it.
of them
avow
unhesitatingly
thought,and many
divide our
For convenience
we
study into four parts,
comprising forty-twoauthors.
Part

I.

II.
III.

IV.

American

Poets, (thirteen.)

British Poets,

(seventeen.)
Continental
Poets, (six.)
Platonic Poets, (seven.)

POETRY.

AMERICAN

I.

PART

129

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

PREEXISTENCE.
HAMILTON

PAUL

BY

HAYNE.

throughthe
sauntering

WHILE

Albeit

shore

mortal

no

upon

That

face,methinks,hath smiled before.

Lost

in

I tremble
Set to

at

festal

song
golden bars

in other stars.

heard

have

aisles I pause

In sacred

throng

tender

some

air whose

an

I must

and

gay

street

face I meet,

half-remembered

Some

crowded

to

share

of a priestly
blessingprayer,

The

the whole

When
In

some

As

one

strange mode
whose

every

greets mine

which

scene

eyes

recognize,
mystic part

prefiguredin my heart.
I calmly stand
sunset
as

I feel
At
A

stranger

Familiar
Seems

the

my

childhood's

long stretch

ship sails toward

And
I

as

alien strand

an

on

what

can

she

foretell.

Springsfrom
O

comes

some

me

of

home
and

wave

o'er the
to do

and

foam.

bay
say

lore
prescient
life outlived of yore.

swift,instructive,
gleams
startling

Of
For
But

dreams
: not
as
deep soul-knowledge
and die,
aye ye vaguely dawn
oft with

lightning
certainty
Pierce throughthe dark oblivious brain
To make old thoughtsand memories
plain:

130

bewilderingtrack

the wild

Of countless

travel back

perchancemust

Thoughts which
Across

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

seons

memories

far

pallidstar,
whose
flickering
seen,
grace
Unknown, scarce
Faints on the outmost
ringsof space.
High reaching as

yon

MYSTERY.

BY

river hemmed

THE

Wound
A

WHITTIER.

with

through the

leavingtrees

meadows

low

blue line of mountain

The

open

One

sharp tall peak

showed

them

all

sunlight
sprang,

mountain

The

dreams,

that I sang.

clue of memory

No

above

the river of my

saw

green,

pinesbetween.

Clear into
I

G.

J.

led

me

on,

But

well the ways I knew,

feelingof familiar things

With

Yet

every

ne'er before

Was
Never

before

Walked

mine,

eyes had crossed

line.
mountain

strange at
with

skirts of

Trailed

feet of

mine

broken

presence

The

that river's rim

pressed by

That

footstep
grew.

some

me

as

once

my

and known

guide,

forgottenlife

noiseless at my

side.

132

POETRY

THE

only feel

We

And

And
In

that

have

we

been

ever

shall be.

evermore

unfurled
know, by memories
a nameless
moods, and many
sign

thus I
rarer

That

and

in Time

once

was

instinct

Of that slow life which

And

I became
A

voice for

made

Rolled

down

Gentle

or

At

the gorge

stern

every

sad

or

that tore

doom

Whether

by

of

Yet

stillthat life

Its

airyanthems,

Till earth
With

Thence

am

or

whisperswhence arose
from my placeof pride,
me
that load the

storms

Or hands

or

rhythmicchant
surgedabout the hill,
jubilant,

season's will.

longermemory

The

piercedthe rind
and high,
me
straight

harp for every wind,

every sky.

thus for centuries my

And

snows,

I died.

men

awakens, bringsagaki
and

I made

resonant

poet ; thence

brain

sprung
of the soul that reach

shadowy motions
Beyond all grasp of art, for
Is ignorant
of speech.
"

if

peak with

long,
fillmy
and sky transfigured
rhythmicsweeps of song.

Those

And

in the world

somewhere

toweringpine.

blind harmonic

Some

No

REINCARNATION.

OF

are

which

the soul

harmony
full-gathered
Rolls its unbroken
music throughmy line,
There lives and murmurs,
though it be,
faintly
of the pine.
The spirit
some

wild

POETRY

THE

POET

THE

THE

poet

When
The

East

air,

in the

she seemed

the poet knew

His soul

TAYLOR.

dressed for

was

So young

EAST.

THE

to the land of the

came

springwas

East

And

IN

BAYARD

BY

133

REINCARNATION.

OF

weddingfeast
fair,

and

the land of the East

native there.

was

All

thingsto him were the visible forms

Of earlyand precious
dreams,

Familiar

visions that mocked

Beside the
Or

western

must

we

PREVIOUS
L.

BY

More

streams,
unrolled

the

OF

INTIMATIONS

Methinks

quest

goldof the clouds

sunset's dyingbeams.

gleamed in
In the

his

E.

EXISTENCE.

LANDON.

have known

some

former

state

present,and the heart

with dim memories, shadows left

than
glorious

Is haunted

our

pine
By past magnificence
; and hence we
With vain aspirings,
hopesthat fillthe eyes
bitter tears for their

With

Remembrance

makes

own

vanity.

the poet : 'tis the

Lingeringwithin him, with a

of
Than is upon the thoughts

keener
common

past

sense

men,

Of what has been, that fillsthe actual world

With

unreal likenesses of

That

were

The

more

The

more

We

are

Whose
And

lovely
shapes
and are not ; and the fairer they,
their contrast with existing
things,
his power, the greateris his grief.

then fallen from

consciousness is as

we

Only to

feel
know

some
an

nobler state
unknown

capableof happiness
it is not of

our

sphere.

curse,

134

THE

POETRY

THE

METEMPSYCHOSIS.
BY

KNOW

Strewn
The

the

on

T.

I brood
Before
And

husks

"

all the

on

I reach

shapes I

the

burnished

being,

my

divine.

was

breezy continents

veine'd shells and

Enclosed

ALDRICH.

B.

creation

own

my

REINCARNATION.

OF

see

scales which

that had

their

use

Perfect,which

For

The

deserts,and the

am

God,

is

in the

caverns

attain

must

my dream, and let the,rabble go

of the mountains
and the sea,

dream

once

earth,

fragmentsof old worlds.

the mountain-tops,
I was
on
a spirit
a simoom
perfume in the valleys,

The

catacombs

On

and

deserts,a nomadic

arid

the

Roaming

wind

universe,a tireless Voice.

was

ere

Romulus

and

Remus

was

ere

Nineveh

and

Babylon ;

I was,

and

am,

and

never
Progressing,

shall

evermore

be,

the end.

reachingto

hundred

The

slopeon

Ida

in the

Moved

Grecian

The

Under

the

for

lone

hundred

purplegyre
women

strew

years

of those dark
upon

flowers

the dead.

earth,in fragrantglooms,I dwelt;

in the veins and

Then

On

in the grass,
years I trembled
delicate trefoil that muffled warm

were

sinews

isle,where, from

of

the

pine

Cyclades,

mighty wind, like a leviathan,

Ploughed throughthe brine, and from those solitudes
Sent Silence,frightened.To and fro I swayed,
Drawing the sunshine from the stoopingclouds.
A

Suns

came

and went, and

many

mysticmoon.

THE

POETRY

OF

135

REINCARNATION.

Orbing and waning,and fierce meteors.

Leaving their lurid ghoststo haunt the night.
I heard loud voices by the soundingshore,
The

and from fluted conchs

stormy sea-gods,
Wild
music, and strange shadows floated by,

Some

moaning

Clustered

about

down

Let

and

singing. So

some

the years
of God

tillthe hand

me,

the

from a sultry
lightning
sky,
the pine and split
the iron rock ;
Splintered

And

from

odorous

my

prison-housea bird,

I in its bosom, darted

and

Free
Far

so

and

tree

from

high wave,

one

sea-godsleft

the air from

as

flew,

we

brittle edge of

Turning the
Island

the tumult

to the

daybreak ; and beneath

Vineyards,and rivers that
through the

And

here

and

there

And

here

and

there

like silver threads

gold of pasture-lands,

hamlet,

white

rose,

slim

city,whose

flew,

I beheld

me

and

green

zone

quietgates

Of

Ran

to

zone

behind

spires

and swollen domes

palace-roofs
uprose
in the sun ;
Like scintillant stalagmites
I saw
huge navies battlingwith a storm
By ragged reefs along the desolate coasts,

And

the blue enamel

Over

India

To
A

century

What
A

the

or

is

I circled

and

to

an

sea

"

and
nearer,

immortal
And

price,

near

of the

icy Labradors.
as
a single
day.

more.

no

all

Beyond
Nearer

day

breath,

was

crawled, like flies,

that

lazy merchantmen,

And

yet I hold

that hour
nearer

soul ?

when

to the

tillI brushed

chattered

That

foamed

Fled

through the briony,and

over

one

hour

from

the

sky

earth,

wings

my

where
Against the pointedchestnuts,
and

"

stream,

pebbly shoals,
with

shout

186

THE

POETRY

OF

Leapt headlongdown
Gatheringwild-flowers
Wandered
Than

woman

REINCARNATION.

precipice
; and there,

in the cool

divinelyshaped

more

of the creatures

any

of the

Or

restless
or
river-goddesses,

Of

noble

air,

shades

in their time

marvellous

matrons

ravine,

For

I
beautyand great suffering
; and
sung,
I charmed
I gave her dreams, and then
her thought,
Down
from the dewy atmosphereI stole
And
nestled in her bosom.
There I slept
From
while in her eyes a thought
to moon,
moon
Grew sweet
and sweeter, deepeninglike the dawn
A mystical
the stream,
forewarning! When
Breakingthroughleafless brambles and dead leaves,
Piped shriller treble,and from chestnut-boughs
The fruit droptnoiseless throughthe autumn
night,
I gave a quick,low cry, as infants do :
"

We

when
we
weep
So was
it destined
To

walk

To

suffer

born, not when

are

and

the earth and

thus

came

here,

the form

wear

die !

we

of

Man,

bravelyas becomes my state,

God.
step,one grade,one cyclenearer

One

IDENTITY.
BY

SOMEWHERE

in desolate

"

bade

who

are

I know
"

you ?

"

the

not,"said

only died

land,

face to face

other stand.

each

Shudderingin

wind-sweptspace

no-man's

hurryingshapesmet

And

"

ALDRICH.

"

Two

And

B.

twilight-land, in

In

"

T.

cried

agape,

gloaminglight.

the other

last

one

shape,

night."

POETRY

THE

and

THOU

One

G.

CHARLES

BY

land
spirit

I in

years ago,
beat on
the waves

Ceaseless ebb and

Vowed

to

One

love and

thousand

I in

and

Nine

the

strand,

flow,
love,

ever

years

ago.

greenwood shade

hundred

years ago
the wild dove in the

Heard

Murmuring

soft and

glade

low,

to love for evermore

Vowed

hundred

Nine

ago.

years

I in

and

Thou

LELAUD.

thousand

Watched

Thou

AGO.

YEARS

THOUSAND

ONE

137

REINCARNATION.

OF

yonder

Eight hundred

star

years ago

lightafar
In wildest beautyglow.
All thingschange,but love endures
Now
as
long ago.
Saw

strange forms

Thou

hundred
the warden

Heard

"

Ton

sera

amors

Seven

Thou

and

hundred

I in

Six hundred
Then
"

years
on

his trumpets

Loud

I bound

True

halls

I in Norman

and

Seven

of

ago

the walls

blow,

tojors,"
years

ago.

Germany,
years ago.
the red cross

love,I

must

go,

on,

138

THE

But

part to

we

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

again

meet

In the endless flow."

Thou

Syrianplains

and I in

Five hundred

years ago
Felt the wild fire in our veins
To

fever

glow.

thingsdie,but love
Now
as
longago.

All

and I in shadow

Thou

Four

lives on

land

hundred

years ago
bloom
flowers
strange

Saw

the

strangebreezes blow.

Heard

love
ideal,

In the

on

is real,

This alone I know.

and I in

Thou

hundred

Three

years ago
in faith and died for

Lived

Felt the

Ever

and I

on

hundred

Two

true,

ever

hundred

Three

God,

glow,
fagots
and

new

Thou

Italy

years ago.

Southern

seas

years ago

perfumedeven-breeze,
Spoke in Spanishby the trees,
Felt the
Had

no

Life went

care

woe.

dreamilyin

hundred

Two

or

song,

years ago.

and I 'mid Northern

Thou

One hundred
Led

an

And

years ago
iron silent life

were

gladto

flow

snows

strand,

140

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION.

Saying, Lord of all creation thou shalt be,"

How
they haunt me and elude
How
they hover,how they brood
On the horizon,fadingyet dying not !
is the final thought?
What
"

"

"

What

if I

In the lowest
A

did dwell

once

dust

germ-cell,

faint fore-hint of life called forth of

God,

Waxing and struggling

on,
Through the longflickering
dawn,
The

awful while His

What

if He

And

feet earth's bosom

shaped me

caused

trod ?

so,

life to blow

my

Into the full soul-flower in Eden- air ?

!

Lo

And

now

I stand

Callingto

in

Him

(and yet He

What

myriads of

What

countless

And
A

yet from

cold

I may
What

Not

thought?

years up from
ages back from
to

man

God,

the germ
man

is the

now

brow

Him

not !

last,
from

so, there

worm

highestthought?

at

answer

to

oh, help me

"

my
know
seeing

Him, and

see

not):

answers

despairis beadingon

So comes,
The

solitude,

is the final

What

good,

not

am

is

the Vast.

rush

of

wings

Earth

"

feels the presence

of invisible things,
Closer and closer drawn

In rosy mists of dawn

!
One dies to conquer
Death
And

to burst the awful

tomb

Lo, with his dying breath

He

blows

love into bloom

"

POETRY

THE

is the

Death

of it !

scorn

God

is the final

Love

"A

FROM

POEM

what

stranger in

It

bringsan

For

And

N.

P.

WILLIS.

of various

frame

wondrous

and

new

instinct from

its fine

senses

with the unconscious

It calls and

sphere,

all,

habit of
The

they obey.

powers
world.

other

some

familiar

are

it not,

UNIVERSITY."

BROWN

mystery this erringmind

within

It wakes

heed

thought.

AT

READ

BY

BUT

love,

love,and, though we

life is

And

is

above

thrills the heavens

It fillsthe earth and

And

of it !

is born

! Faith

Love

141

REINCARNATION.

OF

dream

priceless
sight

Springsto

its curious organ, and the ear

strangelyto detect the articulate air

Learns

In its unseen

and the tongue

divisions,

Gets its miraculous

And

in the midst

lesson with the rest,

of

Of

well trained

To

search the secrets

FROM

throng

ministers,the mind

FROM
BY

obedient

an

of its new

goes

found

forth
home.

"BEYOND."
J.

her

T.

own

TROWBRIDGE.

fair dominions

Long since,with shorn pinions

banished.
was
My spirit
But

above

Ethereal

her stillhover
voices
visitants,

That

Of

in

and

forever remind

somethingbehind

Long

and
vigils

vanished.

gleams

her
her

dreams

142

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION.

Through the listening

night
With mysterious
flight
Pass winged intimations ;
heaven,their

Like stars shot from

Far

and

still voices call to

departing
theysignaland call to
Strangelybeseeching
me,
Chidingyet teachingme

me

me,

Patience.

FROM
BY

H.

SUMMER."

IN

RAIN

"

W.

LONGFELLOW.

the seer, with vision

THUS

Sees forms

appear and
round
In the perpetual

clear,

disappear
of

strange

Mysteriouschange
death, from

From

birth to

From

earth to

Till

glimpsesmore

Of

heaven, from

The

his

heaven

as
universe,

an

reveal

"THE

JAMES

SOMETIMES

Which

Of

time.

TWILIGHT."

RUSSELL

LOWELL.

breath floats by me,

odor from Dreamland
sent,

And

Of

wheel

immeasurable

Turning for evermore

In the rapidrushingriver of

BY

makes
a

the

ghost seem

somethingthat

life lived

In what

birth,
to earth,

sublime

wonderingeyes

FROM

to

before

thingsunseen

Unto

death

came

nighme
and

somewhere, I know

diviner

sphere:

went,
not

OF

POETRY

THE

that

Of mem'ries
music

Like

heard

once

by

it

make

go not

an

ear

shame

somethingtoo

it,

name

As

thoughI

had

lived it and

As

though I

had

acted and schemed

Long

it

show.

vague, could I
For others to know :

it ;

cannot

To

dreamed

it,
it

ago.

yet,could I live it over,

And

Could

stirs in my brain ;
and lover,
I be both maiden

Moon

and

This

As

Life which

Could

to have

I but

been, once

speak and

show

baffles and
world

would

Such

lures

me

so,

lack

not

In the ages

"FACING

it,

"

poet,

it had

as

Long

again,-"

sharp than pain,

more
pleasure

Which

The

tide,bee and clover,

seem

This

FROM

and

not

come

forgetor reclaim
somethingso shy,it would

That

143

REINCARNATION.

glad,

ago.

WEST

FROM

CALIFORNIA'S

SHORES."
BY

FACING

west

from

WALT

WHITMAN.

California's shores,

tireless,
Inquiring,
seekingwhat
I, a child,very old,over
the
ternity,
Look

For

waves,

land of

yet unfound,

towards

the house of

ma

look afar,
migrations,

off the shores of

my
circled :
westward
starting
Kashmere,

is

from

Western

sea, the

Hindustan,from

circle almost

the vales of

144

THE

POETRY

the

Asia, from

From

north, from

the

God,

the

sage,

and

the

spice

hero,

the
the

From

REINCARNATION.

OF

south, from

the

flowery peninsulas

and

islands,

Long

wander'd

having

since, round

the

earth

having

wan-

der'd,
Now

I face

home

(But

where

is what

And

why

is it

I started

yet unfound

FROM

KNOW

this

orbit

whether
sand

can

to

or

come

ten

of

GRASS."

OF

WHITMAN.

mine

be

cannot

by

swept

car

;
to

in

to-day, or

own

my

million

cheerfully take

thou

ten

years,

it

now

or

with

equal

cheerfulness

wait.

can

As

ago

?)

WALT

penter'scompass
And

long

so

joyous.

deathless.

am

that

I know

for

LEAVES

"

BY

pleas'd and

again, very

Life, I reckon

you,

you

the

are

leavings

of

many

deaths.
No

doubt

Believing

shall

thousand

Births

died

I have

have
births

myself

ten

again

come

times

thousand

upon

the

earth

before.

after

five

years.

brought
have

us

richness

brought

us

and

richness

variety, and
and

variety.

other

THE

POETRY

145

REINCARNATION.

OF

STANZAS.
THOMAS

BY

"

We

WE

such

are

have

And

W.

are

we

We

fancynew

But

all has

have

we

begin,
happened longago.
life'spoem

verse

At times returns

childish

grief

The

hope in

manhood's

The

doubt

the

"

the

flows,

by

men,

close,

again.

comes

The

"

marked

the constant

Still the old chorus

boyishfear

"

breast that burns

transport,and the

oft
mood, each impulse,

Before

of."

been,

littleknow

we

still,
though seldom

Each

made

are

events

Through many
But

dreams

as
stuff

forgotwhat

what

PARSONS.

tear

;
"

returns.

mine

infant eyes had hailed

new-born
gloryof the day,

The
When

the firstwondrous

The

world
breathing

The

same

Folded
The

that round

strange darkness
its close

unveiled

morn

lay;

me

o'er my

brain

mysteriouswings,

ignoranceof joy or pain,

That

each

recurring
midnightbrings.

Full oft my feelings

make
me
start,
Like footprints
on
a desert shore,
As

if the chambers

Had

heard

their

of my

shadowy step before.

So

lookinginto thy fond

Strangememories come

Somewhere
J had

"

adored

heart

eyes.
to me,

perchancein
thee

longao-o.

as

though

Paradise

"

146

OF

POETRY

THE

"INTIMATIONS

FROM

OUR

birth

WORDSWORTH.

is but

Hath
And

cometh

And

God

From
Heaven

he

the

Must

by
on

the

length

And

fade

who

in

whence

light,and

the vision

the

it flows

from

the

East

priest,

splendid

attended.

man

into the

"W. Gosse
"

come

infancy ;
begin to close

our

joy.
dailyfarther

perceivesit
lightof

treats

way

poet, acknowledging the

the

in

us

we

home.

our

growing boy

his way

At

Intimations

is

travel, still is nature's

And
Is

glory do

it in his

sees

youth

afar.

prison house

beholds

He
The

who

of the

Upon
But

of

lies about

Shades

setting,

nakedness

clouds
trailing

But

life's star,

our

forgetfulness

in utter

not

forgetting
;

us,

its

from

in entire

Not

Edmund

elsewhere

had

'

sleep and

soul that rises with

The

"

IMMORTALITY."

OF

WILLIAM

BY

POETRY.

BRITISH

II.

PART

REINCARNATION.

die away

day.

common

the idea of Wordsworth's

directlyoppositeto the older

previouslife,but rejoicingin

of it,in
speedy forgetting

these

verses

"

148

THE

POETRY

REMEMBRANCE.

when

remember

can

All soft and

ALFORD.

DEAN

BY

METHTXKS

REINCARNATION.

OF

my couch, and I
child,with fair white flesh

flowerywas

littlenaked

wings all goldbedropt,and

hanging and
Brightfruits were

o'er my head
tall balmy shrines

And

Shed

odorous

around

gums

seemed

Bore

as

But

infused

it wandered

of

I know

not

"

lay

of

each

melodies

is not

breeze

there,

delightwas
touch

sightor

which

air

glory,and
One

not.

feelingor
now

with

by, sweet

whence, I knew

Whether

and

me,

in that wondrous

Sleepingand waking
Which

shade

in this

earth,

and all-beautiful,
Something all-glorious

Of which

language speaketh not,

our

Flies from
doth

All

knowledge

To

search

the shade

graspingof my thought
of a forgotten
dream.
I, but

had

into my

blessed

I knew

all their hidden

And

how

was

so

the form

their

symmetry

all,but thoughtnot

not

played
restingwas,
me

knew,

into the
on

then

it thence.

that around

is linked

soul,
"

it then,

happy.
And

draw

all,and where

And

it

I cared

soul and

creatures

them

I knew

which

the eager

As

The

and

once

upon

time

brightbeaming shapes
Fair-faced and rosy-cinctured
and gold-winged
to me
Approach upon the air. They came
chalice silver brimmed
And
from a crystal
Put sparkling
potionto my lipsand stood
saw

an

army

of

All around

Shedding

blooming shades,

in the many

me,

where

into the centre

minglingof soft light; and

Songs of the land they dwelt

lay
then they sang

tillnow

Lingereth even

and

Holy
For

thy

the last

and

mine

ear

blest
of

thy rest,
of

chamber

Shall be dark

In

the dark

In

the

sleep
deep ;

and

dig thee a tomb

deep womb,

shall

They

in

upon

calm

the

Be

149

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

womb.

dark

warm

Spread ye, spread the dewy mist around him,

Spread ye, spread tillthe thick dark nightsurround him,
him
Till the dark long nighthas bound
Down

all before

bindeth

Which

nether

the

upon

is

The

first cloud

The

next

The

third cloud

And

it stretches away

cloud

beaming

is dim

ye. twine

Twine

ye,

and

the

in

cold

sight,
into gloomy night.
mystic threads around him,
to

upon

fate hath

all before

bindeth

the nether

The

first thread

The

next

The

third thread

And

it stretches away

thread

is

bound

Which

Down

bindeth
upon

beaming

is mellowed
is dim

to

into

all before

the nether

him

earth.
and

bright,
in light,
sight,

gloomy night.
around

damp sleephath

warm

him,

their birth

Sing ye, sing the fairysongs

Sing ye, sing,tillthe dull warm
Till the

bright.
light,

twine, till the fast firm fate surround

Till the firm

Down

earth.

is mellowed

Twine

Which

their birth

sleepsurround
bound

their birth

earth.

him,
him

him,

150

THE

POETRY

The

first dream

The

next

The

third dream

And

is

dimness

Was

is dim

o'er

be

RETURNING

BY

As

R.

M.

Are

cast

We

ofttimes

by

of Dream

have

an

can

of which

Continue
Of

we

they
in

them

Or

are

part, and

recognize
experienceof

had

awake

sleepingor

Our

universal

Dream,

The

incidents

of

An
That

of

know

But

act

in the

things

of Mortal

anterior

dream,

Life,

dreara,

good

"

of

earthlythings,
immediate
sympathies,

by chance, that claim

acquaintance
singlerandom

at

stranger'sbosom

these
and

things are

follow

as

the

so,

to
we

Dream

our

once

looks

"

bare

We

those

at

come

old

an

dailyflow

Instincts
Places

stress

intrude
be, Existence, noiselessly

it may

Into the

even

Thus

Or

mystic shades

can

have

we

whose

action,though no

after memory

That

earth.

mystic substances,
unreflecting
sense,
of some
thingspast,
wholly comprehend

silent consciousness

Others

I woke

(LORD HOUGHTON).

still more

So clear that

that song

DREAMS.

MILNES

in that world

and

me,

the nether

pilgrimon

gloomy night.

when

me

light,

sight,

to

into

away

bright,

in

passed upon

sounding

To

and

beaming

is mellowed

dream

it stretches

Then

REINCARNATION.

OF

eyes

ask
goes

not
on.

why,

PROFUNDIS."

"DE

FROM

151

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

BIRTH.

of the

OUT

Whirled

for

million

deep,

the

be, in all that

to

was

was,

thro' the vast

aeons

eddying light
of the deep,
of changelesslaw,

of multitudinous

dawn

Waste

child,out of

deep, my

all that

Where

TENNYSON.

ALFRED

BY

"

deep, my child, out

Thro' all this changing world
of ever
life,
And
heightening
every phase
of ante-natal gloom,
nine long months
And
of the

Out

Thou

comest.

Tennyson also
For

writes in

Two- Voices

The

I for certain hold

should

how

"

is so
memory
in human
Thab.I first
was
Because

It may

be that

Which

only to

Falls

off,but

no

engine bound
cyclesalways round.
one

legend of

Some

Tho'

if

all

nobler

place,

fallen

race

of my

disgrace.

throughlower

lives I

came

"

experiencepast became

Consolidate

might hint

Alone

mould?

life is found

But, if I lapsedfrom

Or,

cold,

my

and

in mind

might forgetmy

weaker

first year

For

is not

The

haunts of memory

our

frame

lot

"

forgot?
echo

not.

"

"

152

THE

POETRY

Some

OF

draughts

As

old

The

touches

Like

glimpses

has

when

And

To

states

Ever

to

mystic gleams,
dreams

"

I know

the
that

in

hath

Although
Methought
each

from

we

is

the

later

and

muse

early

an

editions

brood

seem

confused

when

dream

or

stirs

more

and

hath

I know

been

answer

gave

each

I knew
that

more,

before,
or

upon

each

each,

to

in what

I had

often

in other's

time
met

face
so

true,

"

or

place,

with

mind

where

your

reflectingeach

not

lived

chair

when

not

first I looked

mirrors

had

hems

all this

been,

thoughts

Opposed

Tennyson,

life, or

waxeth

say,

So, friend,

declare.

may

eyes

or

wonder

this

where

not

mystical similitude,

speaks

we

here

"

former

back

of

state.

seems,

forgotten

downcast

far

but

one

poetry

into

ebb

lapse

And

or

omitted

been

with

To

Our

of

language

no

as

collected

As

All

with

me

something done,

which

So

is

state

interesting still,from

sonnet

await,

something felt, like something

Such

If

doth

from

something

That

Of

his

Lethe

slipping through

Of

of

of

mythologies relate,

Moreover,

More

REINCARNATION.

and

you,

speech.

THE

POETRY

LIGHT.

SUDDEN
BY

But

when

I know
The

before,
I

how

or

beyond

keen

smell,

The

sighingsound,

You

have

But

mine

Some

neck

before,

"

turned

veil did

Then,

we

mine

not

eyes your tresses

have lain
lie as we

"CATO'S

Through
Through

break

never

ON

THE

SOUL."

what

dreadful thought,
pleasing,
varietyof untried being,

what

new

"

thou

and

scenes

dangers must

prospect lies before

wide, th' unbounded

But

shadows, clouds,and darkness

FROM
BY

dreams

not

"

THE

PHILIP

life more

Since first into this world

Erreth

the chain ?

ADDISON.

JOSEPH

The

WHO

shake !

sake,

SOLILOQUY
BY

ETERNITY

it all of yore.

I knew

"

sleep,and wake, yet

FROM

soar

so,

fall,

for Love's

Thus

perchance again !

now,

round

Shall

the shore.

lightsaround

know
I may
not
at that swallow's

justwhen

the

the door,

long ago

Your

And

been

tell ;

cannot

the grass
sweet

How

ROSSETTI.

G.

D.

here

been

HAVE

153

REINCARNATION.

OF

much, may

be.

rest

upon

pass ?

we

me,

it.

MYSTIC."

JAMES

BAILEY.

yearfulthan

the hours

he wept his way

Called of God, man's

soul

154

POETRY

THE

REINCARNATION.

OF

comet-like,
periods,
patriarchal
and
all spheressuccessive,
Ranges, perchance,

In

nobler powers

With

Set

endowed

and

"A

RECORD."

in each

new

senses

bideth.

season

FROM

NONE

Ascends,

sweep

deep
life-depths

the soul from

free,

unless,mayhap,when

"

each

With

upward

the slow and

sees

which

By

SHARP.

WILLIAM

BY

death

new

backward

we

The

of
longperspective

Our

multitudinous

our

past lives
in

The

followingoccurs
Philosophy :

see

race

trace.

Tupper's "Proverbia]

"

OF

BE

ye

Whose

MEMORY.

minds,
imaginative
my judges,
into the sun,

thoughts the chemistryof

grosser natural
hath sublimed,

Have

ye not confessed
and vague,

That

ye have

gone

to
full-fledged

to

wisdom

consciousness
a
feeling,

this way

dailylife,
Trackingan old routine,and
Where
bodilyye have never

before,and

on

some

walk

soar

strange

again your

foreignstrand,

stood, findingyour

foot

own

steps?
Hath

not

at

times

some

recent

friend looked

out

an

old

familiar,
Some

circumstance

newest

memories
A

sudden
startling

And

then

it

or

placeteemed

as

with ancient

?
flash

lighteth
up all for an
is quenched,as in darkness,and

cold spirit
trembling.

instant.

leaveth the

156

THE

Doubt

you if,in some

felt clearly,

POETRY

and

moment,

an

fleets againfor ages

hence

And

such

existed,here

soul

Ages past the

REINCARNATION.

OF

'tis

age
;

she

as

while

fixed me,

she

resting
merely,

the true

end, sole

single,

It stops here

is,this lone way, with

for

other soul

some

to

mingle.

In Dr.

Leyden'sbeautiful

is this stanza

Ah,

Hindoo

as

music's tones

When
The

left

beneath
our

the

which

he

brain does that

Seem

forms

to

composed

mourn.

for the

On

"

the birth of

"

son

mere

"

strange fancy roll

yet this robe of flesh

lived,ere
my

sweet

heavy looks

(As

with such

We

If

idea

homeward

as
perplexthe soul
feelings
have
in her sleep: and some
Self-questioned

Mixed

same

the present (whilethe flash does last)

unknown
of some
semblance
past,

makes
a

morning star,

his fondness

journeyupon hearingof

Which

life return,

parent climes afar,

Coleridgeconfesses
sonnet

swell

the bosom

in mortal

Immured

Oft in my

"

legendstell,

of former

scenes

Ere sunk

in the

Scottish Music

to

"

sure,

We

"Ode

sometimes

baby

should

! when

tell me

through excess

1 think that I should

Thou

wert

to
spirit,

Sentenced

Pidst

we

some

I reach my door
thou art dead
of

hope

to
struggle

this nether
more

wore.

fear),

believe

sphere

venial crime

to

grieve;

springto meet Heaven's quickreprieve,

wept idlyo'er thy littlebier.

then

scream,

While

for

we

said

POETRY

THE

The

of the

one

has

followingpoem

work

of

child,

Emma

beautiful

most

157

REINCARNATION.

OF

peculiarhistory. Though

of

the

entire

In

seventeen-year-oldgirl.

attracted

Tatham,

the

it is the

group,

1846

attention

this
of

clergyman as a poeticgenius,and she read to

him, at his frequent visits,her phenomenal composi
devoid
of all affectation
tions, with playfulfrankness
consciousness
of brilliancy. She was
or
very delicate,
but
of ruddy countenance,
and
her
bright winning
simplicitycarried no suggestionof a sicklyprodigy.
London

But

she

was

intimate

an

through their books, and her

works
was
surprisinglymature
of

age

sixteen

rapidlywrote
1854

until

would

of

critical

judgment

and

the

best

poets

of their

From

keen.

and

seventeen

abundance

an

modesty

extreme

of

that

to

friend

the

half, she

Her
exquisitepoems.
permit their publication

of
not

later.

Issued

in the

quietest
by a provincialpublisher,they met with a singu
way
lar unanimity of applause, though the extreme
youth
of their author
unknown.
Her
rich religious
was
expe
rience directed most
of them
into the vein of loftypiety,
the
but
The
general press, and even
Athena3um,"
that
of new
severest
censor
writers,spoke commendThe
first edition sold in a few weeks.
ingly of them.
seven

"

years

"

An

exceptionallybrilliant

the

poet, but

young

of her

nouncement
"

The

volume,
here

Dream
from

entire

miliar

to few

of
which

(from

in

less

career

than

was
a

year

predicted for
from

the

an

book, she died.

Pythagoras," the
the
the

Americans.

collection

fifth

initial poem
of the
is named, is given

edition, 1872),

as

it is fa

158

POETRY

THE

THE

OF

DREAM

OF

soul

The

united

to

through

was

not

air,rise

to the

mortal

gross

stars, and wander

eve,

summer

favonr'd

it

as

now

it was

vehicle to fly

all the

groves,

sat ; whilst the sacred

at his feet

it is

body, as
served

regionsof immensity."
PYTHAGORAS, in Travels of Cyrus.

over

amidst Crotona's

PYTHAGORAS,
And

luminous, heavenly, ethereal body, which

the

One

TATHAM.

imprisoned in

then

PYTHAGORAS.

EMMA

BY

"

REINCARNATION.

few

reclin'd,
entranc'd,

to his great teachings.O'er their heads

List'ning
oak spreadout his hundred
hands
A lofty
Umbrageous,and a thousand slant sunbeams
Play'do'er them ; but beneath all was obscure

that,as the sun went down,

tremulous sunbeam, stealing
in

And

solemn, save

One

paleand

the unconscious leaves her silent way,

the forehead of Pythagoras

Through
Fell

on

radiance ; all else wrapt

spiritual
In gloom delicious ; while the murmuring wind,
Oft moving through the forest as in dreams,
Like

Thus

Then
the
melancholy music.
spoke :
My children,listen ;

Hear

her

Made

"

and
mysteriousorigin,

Her

backward

And

yet from
substance

path to
shadows

heaven.
may

sage

let the soul

trace

'Twas

but

learn the

we

dream

shape

of

undying truth. Methought

In vision I beheld the first beginning
And
of my soul.
O joy!
after-changes
She is of no mean
but sprang
origin,

And

From

loftier source

Yea, like

than

small and

stars

or

sunbeams

know.

feeble rillthat bursts

mountain's
everlasting
coronet,
And, windingthrough a thousand labyrinths
From

Of darkness,

Yet

never

deserts,and drear solitudes,

dies,but, gaining
depth and power,

POETRY

OF

at last with

uncontrollable

THE

Leaps forth

Into immortal

Of boundless

sunshine

the Eternal, and

From

Was

first abode

my

like

in

beam

Gloriously
throughthe
Of

out

of light,
wherein,
particle

pure

Shrined

soul.

so

"

might

the breast

and

is this my
I felt myselfspringlike a sunbeam
ocean,

159

REINCARNATION.

I did
crystal,

ride

firmament

wings

flowers,ethereal
floating

Of vernal rainbows.

on

and

gems,

wreaths

I did

painta rose
With blush of day-dawn,and a lily-bell
With mine own
I dipt
essence
; every morn
My robe in the full sun, then all day long
Shook
be

To

its dew

out

earth,and

on

content

was

umnark'd, unworshipp'd,and unknown,

Live

Thus did
only lov'd of heaven.
like her Source.
'T was
spotless

The

palacesof nature,

Her

hidden

And

Her

cabinets,and.

joyoussecrets.
purityI I flew

Of

and

my soul
mine to illume

explore
read
raptur'd,

O return, thou life

from

mountain-top
mountain, buildingrainbow-bridges
up

To

From

hill to hill,and

over

boundless

seas

Ecstasywas such life,and on the verge

Of ripeperfection.But, alas ! I saw
And
envied the bold lightning,
who could
And
startle nations,and I long'dto be
A

conqueror

and

Methonght

it was

To

shut

And

and

have

"

blind

like to him.
destroyer,
a glorious
joy,indeed,

open

heaven

as

he did,

the thunders

And

for my retinue,
tear the clouds,and blacken palaces,

And

in

And

earth

Beautiful

moment
:

as

Despoil'dme
A

dark

and

whiten

therefore
it was,
of my

sky,and

I murmur'd

and

that

glory.

one

sea,

at my

lot,

murmur

I became

tyrant cloud driven by the storm,

160

THE

Too

earthlyto
drop in

To
And

mercy

I would

not

She could

rank

not

me

Springrefused

me,

Her

rainbows

nature

Incapableof

could do

One

who

And

number'd

for she could not

cold

good.

no

among

me

blueness,for, she said,

Autumn

tears.

scorn'd

and so
golden fringe,
in her sparklingtrain.

Soft

on

felt

was

Summer

Fair
her

her

wear

me.

came.

from

spurn'dme

And

lov'd

blot where'er

too hard of heart

bright,
land ;
the thirsty
on

be

creature

no

so

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

paint

mine,

as

despised
Dark

Winter

frown'd,

his ruffian host

I fled
unceasingly
Despairingthroughthe murky firmament,
Like a lone wreck athwart a midnightsea,
of the storm,
Chased by the howling spirits
At last,one
And without rest.
day I saw
In my continual flight,
a desert blank

Of

Then

racers.

beneath

And

broad

And

there I mark'd

Dying

me,
a

where

weary
stretched
a
ll
for thirst,

water

no

was

antelope,
out

on

the

sand,

her poor trembling

lipsin agony
Press'd to a scorch'd-up
spring; then, then, at last

With

My
My

hard

heart

terrible

broke, and I could

race

Into the desert's

was

and
stopp'd,

quench'dthe

once

I did melt

heart,and with my

thirst of the poor

So having pour'dmyselfinto the
I

At

weep.

tears

antelope.
dry

desolate waste, I sprang up a wild flower

In solitary
beauty. There I grew
Alone and feverish,for the hot sun burn'd
And

And

Came

parch'dmy
from

tender

the winds.

Of fire,and

had

leaves,and
I seem'd

not

lo !

sigh

to breathe

resign'd
myselfto death,

dewdrop fell
solitary
Into my burning bosom ; then,for joy,
rush'd into my lovelyguest,
My spirit
When

an

air

POETRY

THE

I became

And

Carried

me

And

hung

Was

robed

for
joyous,

life was

My

up

jewelin

in

Obedience

is

mark

; and
nobility

Humilityis glory;
Is base

kinglysun

So did I learn

sky.

firstgreat lessons

The

more,

rainbow, and my soul

brightcolors,and became

seven

the

the

once

into the firmament.

in

me

Then,

dewdrop.

161

REINCARNATION.

OF

them, my

ye
meek

sons.

self alone

pride is pain; patienceis power ;

first brought
Beneficence
is bliss. And
now
To know
myself and feel my littleness,
I was
to learn what
greatness is prepar'd
For virtuous souls,what mighty war
they wage,
What
vast impossibilities
o'ercome,
What
kingdoms,and infinitude of love,
And
harmony, and never-ending
joy,
;

and

And

converse,

And

gloriousMind unknown,
godlikesouls.

And

and

communion

"

And

shook

from

me

with the

Therefore

depths of

Down

the coral citadels,and

to

ocean

Through crystalmazes,
And
To

lovelyburied
find the

Sweet

babes

saw

then

arose,

where

hung,

I dived

roved

pearlsand

among

creatures, who

jewelof
I

the winds

the rainbow

Into the

given to high

are

"

great

had

gems,

sunk

eternal life.

clasp'din

their mothers'

arms

Kings of
Pale

the north, each with his oozy crown

;
maidens, with their golden streaminghair

Floatingin solemn beauty,calm

In the deep, silent,
tideless wave

and
;

still,
saw

Young beauteous boys wash'd down from reelingmasts

By sudden storm ; and brothers sleepingsoft,
Lock'd

in each

other's

And

curlingweed,

And

moulderingmasts,

and

arms

and

countless

treasur'd knots of
and

gianthulls

wealth,

hair,

that sank

162

POETRY

THE

With

thunder

REINCARNATION.

OF
and

sobbing;

blue

palaces

hand, did dance

To the soft music of the surgingshells,
Where

moonbeams,

Where

all else

with

me

Calm, calm, and hush'd,

at rest.

was

those hidden

stormless,were

And

in

hand

deeps,and

clear

crystal.There I wander 'd long

In speechless
dreamings,and wellnighforgot
My corporalnature, for it seeni'd
Meltinginto the silent infinite
and I peacefully
Around
me,
began
To feel the mighty universe commune

And

as

pure

And

with

converse

One

note

me

in nature's

and

soul became

my

So

harmony.

sweet

soothingwas that dream-like ecstasy,

and roll'd
into a wave,
I could have slept
forever,
Away throughthe blue mysteries
Dreaming my soul to nothing; I could well
Have
drown'd
spark of immortality
my
And

In drunkenness

of peace

I knew

The

warrior life of virtue,and

And

honourable

And
To
For

strife and

not

the

storm

yet

high

that cleanse

pinions. I was now

made
learn the rapture of the struggle
and truth ; therefore
immortality
exercise her

The

toss'd

ocean

me

to his mountain

chains,

Bidding me front the tempest ; fires of heaven

Were
dancingo'er his cataracts, and scared
thunders roll'd
His soundingbillows ; glorious
Beneath,above, around ; the strong winds fought,
Liftingup pyramidsof
Then
As

dashing them

feathers

on

the

to foam.

monuments,
starting

And

the

And

snatch'd down

waves

saw

great ships

openingsepulchres

And

gaunt

tortur'd waves,

leap'dup like fountains fierce.

clouds,then shouting fell,
frighten'd

their tops,
on
again. I, whirling
ships,
Dizzy flew over masts of staggering
And

rose

"

164
I

the

am

And

OF

POETRY

THE

of wisdom, love,and
Spirit
to claim thee

come

I
My guiding,

will

power,

if tliou

obey

givethee thy desire,

ceas'd,and then
i

angelspoke.

second

The

and

eternal life.' He

Even

REINCARNATION.

not, O soul !

Ask

and know
thyself,
hast the fount of life in thy own
Thou
breast,
And
need'st no guiding
: be a child no
longer;
and with me
off thy fetters,
Throw
enjoy
and assert
Thy native independence,
Thy innate majesty; Truth binds not me,

My

name

yet I

And
A

I bid thee free

immortal

am

be thou, too,

god unto thyself.'

"

I had

But

learn'd

and gazed
My own deep insufficiency,
face,
Indignanton th' unholyangel's
And
knowing well
piercedits false refulgence,
Obedience only is true liberty
form'd to obey ; so best theyreign.
For spirits
the base rebel fled,and, ruled by Truth,
Straight
I roll'd unerringon my shiningroad
Around
centre ; free,though bound,
a glorious

Because

love bound

life and

My

nature

Pure

visited
spirits

That

shone

To

and

my

light

and serv'd
infinitude,

across

I sang
danced
we

and
starry sisters,
the throne of Time, and wash'd

all my

Around

my law became
lustrous orb
a

wore

wanderers.
guidereturning

With

Of

and

me,

the base

highEternitylike golden sands.

There

first my

That

soul drank

melody is part

of

music, and

was

heaven, and lives

In every heaven-born spirit

like her breath
There did I learn,that music without end

Breathes,murmurs,
And

Is the

and
swells, echoes,and floats,

throughcreation,and in
celestial language,
and the voice

thunders

taught

truth

peals,

POETRY

THE

Of love
The
I

and

To

to learn

lesson

There,

more

diamond

"

So did I fall from

night,beneath

as

severe

darkness, and the deeps

Of sordid earth.
into

soul

my

shine alone in

Far

heaven

the mountains'

base for utterance.

The

of impatience,
stirrings
piningsore

For

freedom, and communion

Then, alas ! I felt

with the fires

of heaven, with
majesties

walk'd, their equal. I had

That

roots,

burningamidst things

Too

And

165

REINCARNATION.

began to speak
immortality.But yet

now

speech of

was

OF

whom

erewhile

yet learn'd
appointedplaceis loftiest.

our

not

However

lowly. I was made to feel

The dignity
of suffering.O, my sons !
Sorrow and joy are but the spirit's
life ;
Without these she is scarcely
animate ;
Anguish

and

bliss ennoble

either proves

The

and expands
greatness of its subject,

Her

nature

Beats
To

into power ; her every pulse

into new-born
force,urgingher on

conqueringenergy.

Into hot fires and

Deep

Then

"

I cast

was

flaming furnaces,

in the hollow

there did I burn

globe;

in

Deathless

agony, without murmur,

Longing to die,until my patientsoul
Fainted

into

: at
perfection

I
Being victorious,
To
A

away

I became

date-tree in the
life in dumb

Obedience
The

For

desert,to pour
and
benevolence,

to each

traveller

Asking for

To

hour,

snatch'd

was

yet another lesson.

My

Her

that

no

came

wind
"

reward

shelter to my

of heaven

I gave
;

full
that blew.
all my

shade,

the lost bird flew

branches,and

among
my leaves
rest their hot and
weary
nest

him

out

I hid

the sunbeams
feet awhile

ask'd

166
On

THE

me,

POETRY

and

REINCARNATION.

OF

spread out

my every arm
T' embrace
them, fanningthem with all rny plumes.
shade the dyingpilgrim
fell
Beneath
my
Praying for water ; I cool dewdrops caught

his

I gave

my fruit
the faint stranger,and I sang
To strengthen
in nought
Soft echoes to the winds, living

And

shook

them

on

lip;

For

self ; but in all thingsfor others'

The

storm

arose,

and

I
patiently

good.

bore

yieldedto his tyranny ; I bow'd

to his angry
blast,
My tenderest foliage
suffer'd him to tear it without sigh,
And

And

And

scatter

The

my all of wealth.
o'erwhelm'd
me, yet I stood

the waste

on

sands
billowing

Silent beneath
And

them

they roll'd

; so

my roots, left me
the wilderness.

rendingup

Upon

"

'T

away,
wreck

thus,my

was

sons,

I dream'd
As

wander'd, tillat length,

my spirit
desolate I mourn'd
woe,
my helpless

My guardianangeltook me to his heart,

well tried and true
And
thus he said :
Spirit,
ConquerorI have made thee,and prepar'd
the palm
For human
life ; behold ! I wave
Of immortality
before thine eyes :
'T is thine ; it shall be thine,if thou aright
Acquitthee of the part which yet remains,
*

And

teach what

thou hast learn'd.'

This

"

And
Thus

gentlylaid
all was

This

soul in vain

in my

me

far the vision

And

mother's

broughtme

silence.

Ah

"

! 't was

said,he smil'd,

arms.

then it fled,
but

dream

for purity
;
struggles
This self-tormenting
essence
may exist
For ever
joy can beinggive
; but what
! vainlydo I seek
Without
perfection
That bliss for which I languish.Surelyyet

The

Day-springof

Mournful

We
For

Thus

OF

POETRY

THE

wait that

we

grovelin the dust

ever
seeking,never

midnightgrope,

satisfied."

seer,

then

sigh'd,
pausing,

OF

DEW.

darkness.

For all was

DROP

BY

ANDREW

Shed

the bosom

from

Into the
Yet

MABVELL.

the orient

See how

For

in

"

come

until then

dawning ;

solemn

spakethe

is to

nature

our

167

REINCARNATION.

dew,

of the

morn

blowing roses,

careless of its mansion

the clear

new

born,

'twas

regionwhere

in itself encloses

Round

extent
in its littleglobe's

And

Frames,

as

it the

How

its native element.

it can

splendidflower

does

it lies

Scarcelytouchingwhere
gazingback

But

Shines with
Like
Because

so

light,

mournful

its own

tear,
from

long divided

Restless it rolls and

warm

sun

So the soul,that

it back

drop,that

Of the clear fountain

Could

impure,

its pain
pities

to the skies exhales

And

its sphere.

insecure,

Tremblinglest it grow
Till the

skies,

the

upon

slight,

again.
ray

of etern.il

it within the human

day,

flower be seen,

Lamenting stillits former height,

Shuns
And
Does

The

the sweet

flowers and

the radiant green,

its own
light
recollecting
in its pure and circling
thoughtsexpress

greater heaven in the heaven less.

168

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION.

Dr.

Donne, in a long poem called The Progress

of the Soul," traces
the Pythagorean course
of an
immortal
being throughan apple(by which Eve was
tempted),a plant,a sparrow, a fish,a mouse
(which
climbed an elephant's
to the brain,
proboscis
"

"

And

gnawed

the soul's

bedchamber,

the life-cords there like

whole

Till,undermined, the slain beast tumbled

With

Then
woman

him

the

the murderer

soul enters

Themech,

"

Mortimer

down

dies,whom

envy

sent

wolf,an

ape,

and

the sister and

Collins's poem,

Meetings,"is

town

"

kill.")

to

at

last

wife of Cain.

The

Inn

of

Strange

of reincarna
interesting
expression
tion, but it is too long to reprinthere. Similar
in Byron, Pope,
glimpses of this thought occur
Southey,Swinburne, and others,but it is difficult to
select from them
continuous
distinct and
a
wording
an

of it.

PART

EVER

III.

since the

CONTINENTAL

time

of

POETRY.

whose
Virgil,

sixth .ZEneid

(verses724-) contains a sublime version of reincar

nation, and of Ovid, whose
Metamorphoses beauti
fullypresent the old Greek mythologiesof metemp
this theme
has attracted
European
sychosis,
many
poets beside those of England. While the Latin poets
obtained
their inspiration
from
the East, through
to
Pythagoras and Plato, the Northern singersseem
with
unless it came
to them
express it independently,
the Aryan cradle of the
the Teutonic migrationfrom
shifted its form with all their people's
wanrace, and

OF

POETRY

THE

deringsso

that it has lost all traces

its Indian

source.

guisesof

many

old Norse

The

169

REINCARNATION.

of connection

with

legends teem

with

soul-journey
ing. In sublime

stories,ballads, and

and

lovely

epics,these vikings and

their

in
perpetuatedtheir belief that the human
travels through a great series of embodi
dividuality
reveal the spiritual
character.
ments, which physically
The Icelandic Sagas also delightin these fables of
and stillfire the heart of Scandinavia
transmigration,
It permeated the Welsh
and
Denmark.
triads,and
this thoughtanimated
their
the earlySaxons
among
kindred

Druid

scripturesof
found

in the German

descended

with this

same

their noblest

literature.

The

whom
Tacitus
magnificentraces
manliness
whose
forests,
intrepid

those

mistress

conquered the
are

and

ceremonies

of the

modern

the

doctrine.

world, and

rulingrace,
The

treasures

from

whom

inspired

were

of these ancient

but a sug
writingsare buried away from our sight,
gestionof their grandeuris found in the heroic quali
ties of the
beautiful
gorean

nations

German

Latin

verses

who

were

version
on

bred

of Giordano

A
them.
upon
Bruno's
Pytha

the relation of the soul to the

Carriere's Weltan
body is contained in Professor
schauung (p. 452). Calderon, the Spanish poet,
Life is a
touches
fondlyon this idea in his drama
Dream."
Bjornsenhas written a superbDanish poem
called
on
Sulme," but it has never
transmigration
translated.
been
The followingselections are
rep
"

"

resentative of the

chief

branches

of Continental

Eu

is
Boyesen,althoughan American
citizen,
reallya modernized
Norwegian. Goethe stands for
the Teutonic
Schiller keeps him good com
race, and
Victor Hugo and Beranger speak for France,
pany.
and Campanellarepresents Italy.
ropeans.

170

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION.

TRANSMIGRATION.
BY

MY

HJALMAR

wrestles
spirit
With

HJORTH

fancies that

ghostwho

anguish
will not depart;

borrowed

my semblance
hid in the depth of my heart.

Has

in

BOYESEN.

dim, resistlesspossession
forever

Impels me
The

phantom deeds

That

The

From

I think

hoary
gloom ;

seem

strange,as if echoed

long in

centuries

Methinks

that e'en

Oft trembles

the tomb.

laughter

through my

strain of dread

ghostof laughter
shivering
That

My

phantom

laden with dust and

voice sounds

of this

lived ages ago.

thoughtsthat

And

My

to do

is loth to rise from

tear has

And

its fount in dead

choked

with

ages,
their dust is my

I weep for the pale,dead

Of the wraith that once

Ah, Earth ! thou

With

the dead.

art

sorrows
was

I.

old and

weary,
weight of centuries bent ;

creative gladness
Thy pristine
In

youthfulasons

Perchance,in

was

spent.

the distant ages,

My soul,from

Nirvana's

frost,

sigh;

172

THE

POETRY

Seek

for

OF

REINCARNATION.

in the

me

Descend

home,

release !

to my

My depths of

bird's

sea

shadows

cavernous

Illume, angelof

dumb

peace

nightbringsforth

As

the rosy morn,

'tisheaven's law

Perhaps

thy mystic smile

gloryI ne'er saw.

That

is born

from

world

In this dark
I

scarce

can

As

fair

my

now

stay

myself;

see

soul shines

radiant

Thy

where

on

my

way

guidingelf.

beckoninghand
Thou
say'st,Beyond the night
catch a glimpseupon the strand
Of thy mansion
gleamingbright."

With

and

lovingtones
"

Before

came

I know
For

My

I lived in
as

ages

Has

Do

was

Upon

To

once

present sadness.
a

heavenlydove.

heaven's

pinionfrom

domains,
above

this bird's remains

Yes, 'tismy
To

my

thou,in

Let fall a

gladness
angel. Birth

an

caused

soul

this earth

upon

hang

dire misfortune
between

two

now

ties,

hold within my furrowed

brow
The earth's clay,and the skies.

Alas

Of

the

pain of being man,

dreaming

o'er my

fall,

OF

POETRY

THE

Of

Of

findingheaven
Yet being but
like
toiling

To

flyunto

Of

galleyslave,

load

God

my

above

of heaven

rave

black with

trailing
garments
I, son

span,

pall;

burdens, while I

Of human

Of

within my

carryingthe

Of

173

REINCARNATION.

rust,

being only graveyarddust,

Love,
is
E'en though my name
"

OF

TRANSMIGRATION

THE

SOULS.

(LA METEMPSYCOSE.)
STRANGER.

BY

night,as idlyI was lying,

transmigrate,
methought there could be

mood,
philosophic

IN

That souls may

last

no

denying :
So, justto
I drew
"

know

soul into

my

thee

thou in

Yet

not

"

"

Yes," she continued,"

More

"

"

In humble

chat

so
propensities
strong,
our
gossiplasted long.
observed, well might I claim

owe

being hadst remained a cipher,but for me :

I when
first in thee enshrined."
a virginsoul was
littlesoul,thus much
that I should find
suspected,

For

! I

she
offering,"

votive
from

Ah

to what

I wreathed

ivy was

subtle next

yes, of old

the

essence

"

I recollect it now

thickets made

"

a joyousbrow.
many
that I essayedto warm,

round
was

bird's,that could salute the skies,a littlebird's my

Where

pleasantshade, where

form

shepherdesses

strolled,
I fluttered

round, hopped

trolled j

on

the

ground, my

simple lays I

174

THE

My

POETRY

still I

flew

in

littlesoul,thus
suspected,

much

that I should

wind."
! I

Medor, my

"

whilst

pinionsgrew

Ah

REINCARNATION.

OF

freedom

the

on

"

I next

name,

The

guardian of

The

trick of

became

his sole

blind man,

poor

dog of

find !

wondrous

tact,

support in fact

holdingin my mouth a wooden bowl I knew

master
through the streets,and begged his living

I led my

"

too.

Devoted

to the poor, to

Gleaning,as
spare
good I

Thus

! I

Ah

for

sustenance
;

did,since

breathe

to

my care,
others well could

what

one,

to

good

deeds

littlesoul,thus
suspected,

Next,

"

pleasethe wealthywas

dwelt

I inclined."
many
that I should find !

so

"

much

life into her

charms, in

girlI

young

There, in soft

prison,snuglyhoused, what happinessI felt !

of Cupids entrance
a swarm
gained,
hiding-place

Till to my
And
after
Like

remained.
it well,in garrison
pillaging
there the rogues all sorts
campaigners,

old

of mischief

did:
And

nightand day,whilst

stillI

How

oft I

fire I

! I

Ah

"

saw

the house

on

layin
scarce

that I should

Some

lighton thy propensities

may now
remark
more
pritheehark ! one

But

"

would

'T is this

too

God

upon

"

find.

thee break

still,"
says

havingdared

day

one

with Heaven

to make

free,

for my punishment resolved to shut me

up in thee :
what with sittings
up at night,with work and woman's

And

art,
Tears
A

Ah

and

poet is a
! I

despair
"

very

for I forbear

some

hell for soul thereto

littlesoul,thus
suspected,

much

secrets

to

she,

make.

that

"

hid,

call to mind."

can

much

littlesoul,thus
suspected,

littlecorner

impart

"

consigned!
that I should find.

THE

THE

SONG

OF

THE

FAUST."

"

soul of

THE

man

Is like the water

To

And

thence

It must

once

to

earth,

changing.

SECRET

OF

FROM

REMINISCENCE.

SCHILLER.

unveils to

WHAT

cometh,

mounteth,

at

back

Forever

THE

it

heaven

it

heaven

From

SPIRITS.

EARTH

GOETHE'S

IN

175

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

the

yearningglow
Fix'd forever to thy lipsto grow ?
What
the longingwish thy breath to drink,
In thy Being blest,in death to sink
me

When

Slaves

As

when

To

the Victor

So my

without

in the

Senses in the

O'er the

bridgeof

Why

Or

do sever'd brethren

Were
Was

our

thou

they from

my

the

yonder

yield

stand'st before

their Master

seek their home

meet

me

roam

again,

Body's heavy chain,

Where
?
thy foot hath lighted

Beings once

it therefore

fly
tumultuously

Life

Do

Castingoff

resistance

me

moment

should

Senses

look steals o'er

battle-field,

When

Speak

thy

"

that

togethertwin'd ?
bosoms
our
pin'd?

176

POETRY

THE

Were

in the

we

In the

OF

REINCARNATION.

lightof

suns

days of rapture long since fled,

Into One

Aye,

dead,

now

we

were

so

thou

"

united

link'd with

wert

that has ceas'd to be

In ^Eone

On

the mournful

By

my

Muse

read

were

me

of vanish'd

page

time,

these words

sublime

Nought thy love

can

sever

in

twin'd and fair,

Being closely
I too wondering saw
it written there,
We
then a Life,a Deity,
were
And

"

"

And

seem'd

the world

order'd

'Neath

And,

forever

And

Thou

By

Our

and

the seal of

this

"

Deity hath flown,

"

I his ruins

are

alone

thirst
lost

still

Things,
brightsunny hills our wings
Joyouslywere
soaring.

to Truth's

Laura, weep

forever.

forth their blissful rill;

broke

Forciblywe

to lie

sway

us, nectar-fountains

to meet

Pour'd

our

then

unquenchablewe
Being to embrace ;
Turns

our

're driven
"

tow'rd
gaze

Heaven

imploring.

Therefore,Laura, is this yearningglow

Fix'd

forever

thy lipsto grow,

And
the longingwish thy breath to drink,
In thy Being blest,in death to sink
When
thy look steals o'er
And
To

as

Slaves

the Victor

to

without
in the

resistance

yield

battle-field,

me

POETRY

THE

do

Therefore

bridge of

O'er the

Senses

ravish'd

my

fly
tumultuously,

Life
When

do

Therefore

do my

Casting off

their Master

Senses

seek

me

roam

their home

the

Body's heavy chain,

long-sever'dbrethren kiss again,
Hush'd
is all their sighing!

Those

And

thou,

What

too

each

when

"

disclos'd

Tow'rd
As

stand 'st before

thou

they from

Therefore

177

REINCARNATION.

OF

on

cheek's

thy

deep-purple dye

draws

Were

BY

near,

flying?

then

not

we

CAUCASUS.

ON

SONNET

eye,

other, like relations dear,

exile to his home

an

fell thine

me

CAMPANELLA.

T.

race
by my death the human
Thus
I do not die.
Would
gain no vantage.
So wide is this vast cage of misery
That flightand change lead to no happier place.

that

FEAR

All

worlds, like

Go

where

I may
Who

what

knows

silence

Or peace

Philipin
Stay

worse

three

These
we

as

feel

doom

is mine

nay,

I know
in

me

God

this my

The

not

some

but

cry

disgrace.

hath

"

decrees

and

old

an

case

in agony

sunk

are

prisonme
days past

God

sorrier

many

with

was
a

ours,

will,we

we

forgetlike

Keeps

risk

pains,we

Shiftingour

Omnipotent

whether

strife

earlier life.

pent
not

without

doth

no

God's

ill.

will.

178

THE

POETRY

PART

OF

IV.

REINCARNATION.

PLATONIC

POETS.

of all western
largest
inspiration
thought is
nourished
Not only idealism,but
by the Academe.
the provincesof philosophyand
literature hostile to
Plato are really
indebted to him.
The noble loftiness,
the ethereal subtlety,
the poeticbeautyof that teach
ing has captivatedmost of the fine intellects of mediseval and modern
to trace
times,and it is impossible
the invisible course
of exalted thought which
has
this
radiated from
greatest Greek, the king of a
nation of philosophers.
all
Adopting Emerson's words, Out of Plato come
thingsthat are stillwritten and debated among men
of thought. Great havoc makes
he among
our
origi
THE

"

nalities.

We

have

reached

all these drift boulders

the

learned

young

for
who

man

eration,is

some

vernacular

his

were

the mountain
detached.

says fine

reader

thingsto

to

be his

men

"

Bible

of Plato
.

of

brisk

each

reluctant gen
into the
translating

How
good things.
is incessantly
sendingup out

nature

The

which

twenty-two centuries,every

men

from

many
of the

Platonists ! the Alexandrians, a

great

night
con

genius; the Elizabethans, not less ; Sir

Thomas
More, Henry More, John Hales, John Smith,
Lord Bacon, Jeremy Taylor,Ralph Cudworth, Sydenham, Thomas
Taylor. Calvinism is in his Phaedro.
draws
all its
is in it. Mahometanism
Christianity
in its handbook
of morals, the Akhlak-yphilosophy,
Mysticism finds in Plato all its
Jalaly,from him.
stellation of

180

POETRY

THE

REINCARNATION.

OF

Henry More's
("Psychozoia").
From

"

PhilosophicalPoems

"

singthe preexistency

I would

live

souls and

Of human

o'er

once

again

recollection and

By

quickmemory
is passedsince first we

All that

all

began.

be my wits to scan
pointand mind too dull to climb

all too shallow

But

So

deep a

So dark

But

matter.

thou

than

more

man

Aread, thou sacred soul of Plotin dear,

Tell

what

me

Tell what

are.

ray of divinity
with earthly
fogs,and

spark or
Clouded

mortals

of old

clad in

preciousdrop sunk from eternity

Spilton the ground,or rather slunk

For

then

fell when

we

stealth of

By

our

Uncentering ourselves
Which

And

that

Enacts
And

and

then

selves
from

our

one

enters

by

sense

been

great stay,
did deem.

soul
preexisting
bodies

and

can

here

below

leave this

motion

moul,

they may

know

thingstransacted be
Upon the earth,and when they best may show
Themselves
to friend or foe,their phantasmy
Moulding their airyarc to gross consistency.
Milton

than

somethingto

new

entire unhurt

In which
Better

we

the

how
fitly

Show

away.

did ween,
liberty
prankrightjollywits ourselves

rupture

from

clay,

'gan first t' essay

we

own

theywere.

what

we

imbibed

earlyfondness
losophynourished
an

and

he expresses

in his

"

Comus

collegefriend Henry More

for the study of Plato,whose
phi
of the fine spirits
of that day,
most
the Greek sage's
opinionof the soul
from

"

"

his

by oblivion,
tillshe quitelose
her first being ;

soul grows clotted

and embrutes
Imbodies

The

divine

The

property of

gloomy shadows damp

in charnel vaults and sepulchres
Oft seen
Lingeringand settingby a new made grave
As loth to leave the body that it loved.
Such

those thick

181

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

as

Milton's Platonic
On

"

poem

thou that

Forsook

the hated

And

Or

cam'st
wert

Or any
Let

down

of

visit us

that sweet

Or

wert

As

if to show

once

"

before

once

earth,0 tell me

other of that
in

who

in his

"

Fair Infant

justmaid,

againto

thou

also shown

are
proclivities

the Death

Wert

and

sooth,
?

more

smilingyouth?
heavenly brood

cloudy throne

the world

to do

good ?

some

of the

golden-wingedhost,
in human
Who, having clad thyself
weed,
To earth from thy prefixedseat didst post,
And
after short abode flyback with speed
thou

what

Thereby to
To

In

scorn

the

heaven

creatures

set the hearts

the sordid world

of

and

on

unto

heaven

old

we

fire,

men

libraryof poetry known

is a Miltonic poem
Collection,"
by an
tonist which is very interesting,
and as
access

breed

doth

as

aspire.
u

Dodsley's

Plaanonymous
it is difficult of

quote the best part of it.

PREEXISTENCE.
IN

Now
Above

had
the

IMITATION

OF

th'

archangeltrumpet, raised sublime

walls of heaven, begun to sound ;

All aether took the blast and

Shook

MILTON.

with celestial noise

fell beneath
th'

almightyhost,

182

THE

POETRY

OF

REINCARNATION.

with

and reekingwith the blood

pursuit,
cherubs smeared
in sulphurous
Of guilty
dust,
Pause at the known
command
of soundinggold.
At firstthey close the wide Tartarean
gates,
folds on brazen hinge
Th' impenetrable
Roll creakinghorrible ; the din beneath
Hot

O'ercomes

the

war

of

flames,and deafens hell.

throughthe solid gloom with nimble wing

;
They cut their shiningtraces up to light
Returned
upon the edge of heavenlyday,
thinnest beams
Where
play round the vast obscure
with eternal gleam drives back the night.
And
Then

They

In crime
Yet

troops less stubborn,less involved

find the
and

ruin,barr'd

the realms

of peace,

to baleful beats of woe,

uncondemned

suppliant
; all the plumes of light
Moult from their shuddering
wings,and sicklyfear
Shades every face with horror ; conscious guilt
Rolls in the livid eyeball,
and each breast
Doubtful

Shakes

and

with the dread

'T is here the wide

Opens

in two

Voluminous,

vast

of future doom
circumference

gates,that inward

unknown.
of heaven
turn

jaspercolumns

hung
By geometry divine : they ever glow
With
; they arise by turns
livingsculptures
To imboss the shining
leaves,by turns they set
To givesucceeding
argument their place;
In holyhieroglyphics
on
theymove,
The gaze of journeying
as
they pass
angels,
Oft lookingback, and held in deep surprise.
Here stood the troops distinct ; the cherub guard
Unbarred
the splendidgates,and in they roll
Harmonious
sits
; for a vocal spirit
Within each hinge,
and as they onward
drive,
In justdivisions breaks the numerous
jars
With
symphony melodious, such as spheres
Involved

on

in tenfold wreaths

are

said to sound.

Out flows

183

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

glory: for on high

the moving throne of God.

blaze of

Towering advanced

throne,th' ideas heavenly bright

Of past, of present,and of coming time,

Above

Fixed

the

landscapeof

An

endless

To

where
sightcelestial,

Are

lost in

Boundless
Millions
With
And

A
"

abode, and there present

their immoved

prospect ;
and

created

things

angeliceyes

for the

shinyrange

various in its bosom

of full

bears
beheld

worlds,
proportioned

arise to view,
steadfast eyes, tillmore
further inward scenes
start up unknown.

vocal thunder

Servants of God
We

approve
Blessed from

rolled the voice of God.

! and

great in arms,
your faithful works, and you return
the dire

virtues

pursuitsof

rebel foes

Resolved, obdurant, theyhave tried the force

righthand, and known almightypower

Transfixed with lightning,
down
they sunk and
and deep they plunge
Into the fierygulf,
the burningwaves,
Below
to hide their heads.
Of this

"

fell

throngthat lately
joined
you, ye guilty
In this sedition,
since seduced from good,

For

And

caughtin

Superiorin

trains of

their order

guile,
by sprites
malign

you

accept,

Trembling,my heavenly clemencyand

When

the

long era

once

grace.

has filled its orb,

You

shall emerge
and humbly here
to light
Again shall bow before his favoringthrone,
If your own
But all must

virtue second
have their

races

my

decree

first below.

See, where below in chaos wondrous deep

A speck of light
dawns
forth,and thence throughout
The shades,in many
a wreath, my
forming power

184

THE

POETRY

OF

There

turns
swiftly
Absorbingall crude

REINCARNATION.

the

burningeddy round,

matter

its brink

near

next, with subtle motions, takes the form

Which

pleaseto stamp, the seed of embryo worlds

in embryo, but ere long shall rise
All now
Variouslyscattered in this vast expanse,
I

Involved

in

pointa globeof

middle

Shall hold, which

Where'er

the

circles brush

Of outward
The

winding orbs,until

the brims

heavenlygates.
curlingfire
its genialheat

it sheds

round

I kindle life the motion

In all the endless

grows,
this machine

orbs,from

infinite vicissitudes that roll

And
About

the restless centre

In those meanders

for I

rear

turned, a dustyball,

all o'er with woods, whose

shaggy tops
Inclose eternal mists,and deadlydamps
within their boughs,to cloak the light
Hover
;
of horror,tillreformed
Imperviousscenes
To fields and grassy dells and flowerymeads
Here Silence sits
By your continual pains.
In folds of wreathymantlingsunk obscure,
And
in dark fumes bendinghis drowsy head ;
An urn
he holds,from whence
a lake proceeds
smooth and Lethe named
Wide, flowinggently,
;
each soul must
Hither compelled,
drink long draughts
Of those forgetful
streams, tillforms within
Deformed

And

all the

great ideas fade and die

thoughtshould play about a mind

Inclosed in flesh,
and draggingcumbrous
life,
and beatingin the mournful
Fluttering
cage,
It soon
would break its gates and wing away :
For

if vast

'T is therefore my decree,the soul return

from off this beach, and perfectblank
Naked
To

visit the

new

Itself in crude
The

dreadful

world

and

wait to feel

consistence
monument

closelyshut,
of justrevenge

Immured

by

heaven's

185

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

hand, and placed erect

own

all imprisonedround
matter
fleeting
With walls of clay; the ethereal mould

On

chain of members,

The

deafened

Blinded by eyes, and trammeled

Here
anger, vast ambition and
And
As

all the

And

hope

and

love and

sudden

As

run,

skim

Unsatisfied,shall

ear,

hands.

rise and
the

tear

all the calmer

fall,
soul,

turns

gildedshapes,

o'er deluded

leads the dance

matter

an

disdain,

neighboringatoms

Of easy hours, in their gay

With

by

haughty movements

of

storms

with

shall bear

but

minds,
desire

one

thousand

joys.
of beings,that shall first advance,
The
Drink deep of human
life,and long shall stay
rank

"

this

On

of

great scene

That

longerfor

Less

penance

In those

From

cares.

the destined

I expect, and

different rocks

all the rest,

body wait,
short abode

paledreamy kingdoms

has his lamentable

Each

On

ten

mar

lot. and

will content

all

abide the

pains of life.
takes the lonelygrove ;
The pensivespirit
Nightlyhe visits all the sylvan scenes,
far remote, a melancholy moon
Where
and shorn of beams,
Raising her head, serene
"

Throws

here

and

there

her

glimmeringsthroughthe

trees.

The

sage

And

view

In horrid

shall haunt
the dismal

this

solitary
ground

landscapelimned

shades, mixed

with

within

imperfectlight.

Judgment, blinded by delusive

Contracted
through the cranny of an

Here

sense,

eye,
Shoots up faint languidbeams" to that dark seat,
Wherein
the soul,bereaved of native fire,
Sets

"

in mistyclouds obscured.
intricate,

Hence

far removed,

different

being race

186

POETRY

THE

REINCARNATION.

OF

frequenttake

In cities full and

their seat,

oppressed
gratitude
With
hopes of gain,that raise within
swelling
A tempest, and driven onward
by success,
of a day
For creatures
Can find no bounds.
's crushed, and

honor

Where

Stretch their wide

penurioussoul,while empty

Starves their

Fills the ambitious

Pining with
To

tympany

martial

"

There
And

that shall

instruments

with

shrink,

ever

Brightin arms
he fiercely
leads

hero, out

throng,his

sound

while this shall swell

enormous.

fillthe world

To

endless cares,

shines the

Here

to ages ; full increase

cares

of rage,

death, and thin mankind.

in one
common
savage nature
feels its share of hunger,care,

lies
and

pain,

by flying
they tear
prey ; and now
Their pantingflesh ; and deeply,
darklyquaff
when
Of human
even
theyrudelysip
woe,
The flowingstream, or draw the savory pulp

Cheated

Of nature's freshest viands

fragrantfruits
in danger sought.

and
Enjoyed with trembling,
limits of a law
But where the appointed
of the world,
Fences the generalsafety
loads
: the blended
No greater quietreigns
Of punishmentand crime deform the world,
and throes
And
; with pangs
giveno rest to man
"

He

enters

on

the

And

infant cries

And

all is

one

tears
stage ; prophetic

preludehis

continual

future
of

scene

woes

gulf

Till the sad sable curtain falls in death.

world
of the living
the gay glories
Shall cast their empty varnish and retire
"

Then

Out of his feeble views

Of wild
Before

the

dance
imagination
his eyes obscure

root
shapeless

and

play

tillall in death

188

THE

POETRY

As

the

As

OF

REINCARNATION.

the
lightning

weak

vapor,

moth, the taper ;

Death, despair;love,sorrow;
Time

both

to-morrow
to-day,
;
steel obeysthe spirit
of the stone,

As

In the

depthof

Like

the veiled

Like

the

deep,
Down,

the

Like

lightning
asleep,

diamond

the dark

which

wealth

shines

of

is treasured
spell

down

spark nursed in embers,

last look Love remembers,

The

On

Down, down

mines,

but for thee

Down, down
The last stanza

symbol of
I

human

life :

is Shelley's
Platonic

"

the

daughterof earth and water

And
the nursling
of the sky,
pass throughthe pores of the ocean
I change,but I cannot
die.
am

For

after the rain when

The
And

of
pavilion

the winds

Build
I

Cloud"

of "The

up

And

out

of the

I arise and

Another
refers to
Ye

is

my

unbuild

poem,

shores,

stain

with their convex

gleams

air,

cenotaph,

own

of

rain,

womb,

like

ghostfrom

the

tomb,

it again.

entitled

"

Fragment,"certainly

:
preexistence
"

gentlevisitants of

calm

Moods

like the memories

Which

come

Like

and

bare,

of

caverns

the

never

sunbeams

the blue dome

child from

with

heaven

and

laugh at
silently

Like

alone,

stars

thought,
of happierearth

arrayed in thoughtsof

in clouds

by

weak

winds

littleworth

enwrought.

RETREAT.

THE

HAPPY

those

Shined

in my

Before

white

mile

when

celestial thought;
above

walked

not

from

two

or

race,

fancy aught

soul to

yet I had

When

second

for my

taughtmy

But

earlydays

angel-infancy,
this place
understood

Appointed
Or

VAUGHAN.

HENRY

BY

189

REINCARNATION.

OF

POETRY

THE

love,

first

my

And, lookingback, at that short space,

Could

see

When

glimpse of

on

some

brightface

gildedcloud

or

flower

would

an

hour,

My gazingsoul

dwell

in those weaker

And
Some

shadows

Before

of

tongue

with

the black

had

glories
spy
eternity
;

taughtmy

conscience

My
Or

his

sinful sound

art

to wound

to

dispense

several sin to every sense,

dress
But felt through all this flashy

Brightshoots
Oh,
And

tread

That

From

might once

more

track !

reach

soul with too much

ah ! my

Is drunk

Some

And

long to travel back

again that ancient

that

plain

shady cityof palm-trees.

That

But

everlastingness.

train ;
first I left my glorious
the enlightened
whence
sees
spirit

Where

But

how

of

men

by

when

and
a

stay

staggersin the way.

forward

backward

motion

love,

steps would

move,

this dust falls to the urn,

In that state I came,

return.

190

POETRY

THE

REINCARNATION.

OF

Emerson, the Plato

In

of

nineteenth

the

feelingof the Greek seems

glorious
development.Many of

reflected in its

the whole
most

his poems

suggest the influence of his Greek

"

"

"

Threnody upon
in
The
Sphinx

the

"

pear

which

these

clearly

teacher,as

of his young

death

century,

son,

stanzas

two

his

and
ap

"

To

vision

profounder
Man's spirit
must
dive
His aye-rolling
orb
At no goalwill arrive

The

heavens

With

Once

for

Now

him

untold,
new

spurneththe

Eterne

draw

now

sweetness

found

He

that

heavens

old.

alteration

flies,
And
under pain,pleasure
Under
pleasure,
pain lies.
follows,now

"

Love

works

at the

centre,

Heart-heaving
alway;
Forth speed the strong pulses
To the borders of day.
Mrs.
and

Elizabeth

of Dr. Isaac

Rowe, the friend of Bishop Ken

Watts, has left this allusion to pre-

existence in
A

Ye
Here

HYMN

ON

HEAVEN.

starrymansions,hail ! my

native skies !

in my

state
happy,preexistent
(A spotless
mind) I led the life of Gods,
But passing,
I salute you, and advance
To yonderbrighter
realms,allowed access.
Hail, splendid
cityof the almightyking,

Celestial salem, situate above, etc.

POETRY

THE

of

Some

the

pre

by

their

idea

is

of

Biblical

by

perpetuated

"

'm

but

"

"

My

Ain

This
Is

is

Heaven

"

The

"

Jerusalem,

has

instance

been

and

heaven

fatherland,

my

it

sage,

here,

stranger,

and

is

heaven

where

grief

Christian's

the

home-land,

my

blessed

happy

and

is

native

sin

my

my

abideth,
clime."

home-land."

home."

with

the

fondly

are

that,

while

nourished

directly

"

Countrie."

world

not

Greek

For

glow

thought

any

origin,

the

reincarnation.

plies

hymns

existence,

without

Christians

sung

and

Platonic

of

enthusiasm

church

common

191

REINCARNATION.

OF

home.
home."

im

VI.

ANCIENTS.

REINCARNATION

AMONG

THE

The
to the

body

body through
as

Search
after

and
theologists

ancient

in

certain

sepulchre.

thou

the

prieststestifythat

PHILOLAUS,

"

of

path

the

again

the

to

soul, whence

Death

has

That,

when

Seeks

110

its present

Inspiresanother
So

with

Poured

forth

shield

this

In Juno's

The

lone, eternal One,

And

of the

From

that

With

Nor

atoms

being,

vague,

bear

Quite lost,but

slay,
might

light.

war.

in DRYDEN'S

[Plato]spoke

dwells

who

spear.

lately saw

of that

of Him

above,

through
spirit,

of

all the

grades

till it mix
dark.

corruptibleand
in

the

earthly dross,

touch

its ethereal

tasting of

fountain

still

bright river, which has rolled along

of gold
of flowery light and mines
Through meads
When
poured at length into the dusky deep
As

some

Disdains
But

to

take

at

once

keeps unchanged

Or balmy

freshness

its
awhile

of the

Ovid.

descent

yet ev'n thus, though sunk

Corrupted all,nor

ZOROASTER.

Atrides'

soul's untraceable

intellectual

way,

shalt

in conflict drear

He

Of

thou

clay,

to

PYTHAGORAS,

fount

what

recall),

beneath

shrine, a trophy

high

or

speed,

"

unlessened

and

did

arm

in this

begirt Troy's holy wall,

blood

my

fell.

life and

the past

Euphorbus

brave

came,

soul to

turns

with

the fierce Greeks

Was

The

frame

myself (well I

When

body

and

home,

conjoined

it is buried

sacred

she

th' immortal

power

fresh

she

with

whence

state

same

that

soul is

(a Pythagorean.)

serving-the body, by joiningwork

raise her

and

punishment,

the

briny taint,
the

scenes

lustrous

tinge

it left.
MOOKE.

196

AMONG

REINCARNATION

Max

Mailer's

THE

translations

ANCIENTS.

have

opened to the
Englishrace the charming thoughtof this primordial
people,whose great child-souls found objectsof rever
distinct gods,but
in all things. There
were
no
ence
divine,arid through all they saw the
everythingwas
life. Graduallyan
ecclesiasti
flow of ever-changing
this religion,
cal system climbed
clothing,
up around
and
at last buryingthe vital organism,until
stifling,
into vigorous
Sakya Muni's reaction started Buddhism
growth as the beautiful protestagainstthe disiigured
About
and decayed form.
Buddhism, too, there has
but every breath
arisen a heavy weightof lifeless ritual,
and

slumberingmother and daughter

their existence is perfumed with the roseHow
reincarnation.
they have since contin

of lifewith which
continue
attar

ued

of
to

the

disseminate

the

idea

of

is sug
of to-dayis essen

reincarnation

gested in chapterix, for the East

a sculptured
pictureof what has been monoto
tially
nouslyenduringfor twenty centuries.
learn through Pliny,
Of the ancient Indians we
Strabo, Megasthenes,Plutarch, and Herodotus, who
ascetic
describe the Gymnosophistsand Brachmans
as
liv
who made
a studyof spiritual
things,
philosophers
like the
much
ing singlyor in celibate communities
later Pythagoreans. Porphyry says of them :
They
riches or wives.
live without either clothes,
They are
held in so great veneration
by the rest of their coun
trymen that the king himself often visits them to ask
"

their advice.
reluctance

Such

are

they endure

their views of death

life

as

piece of

that with
necessary

bondage to nature, and haste to set the soul at liberty

in good health, and
from the body. Nay, often,when
them, they departlife,
evil to disturb
advertising
no
it beforehand.

No

man

hinders them, but

all reckon

REINCARNATION

happy,and

them

their dead
of

AMONG

THE

send commissions

alongwith

So strong and firm

friends.

197

ANCIENTS.

them

to

is their belief

future life for the soul,where

they shall enjoyone

another,after receivingall their commands, they de
liver themselves to the fire,
that they may separate the
soul as pure
as
possiblefrom the body,and expire
singinghymns. Their old friends attend them to
a

death

with

more

ease

than

other

their fellow-citi

men

state
longjourney. They deploretheir own
for surviving
them
and deem
them happy in their im
Alexander
the Great
first pene
mortality."When
trated their country he could not persuade them
to
appear before him, and had to gratifyhis curiosity
about their life and philosophy
by proxy, though he
to

zens

afterward

witnessed

them

surrender

themselves

to the

flames.
II. Herodotus

that the doctrine of metemp

sychosisoriginatedin Egypt. "The
Egyptians are
asserts

the first who

propounded the theorythat the

and that where
the body
imperishable,

soul is

dies it enters

one

be

ready to

round

of all created

it ; and

that this

placein

three

of the Greeks

later,as

more

other

some

receive it,and

air,then it once

ers

into

creature

that when

forms
enters

human

of any
that may

it has

the
gone
and
in
land, in water

on
a

human

body

born for

cycleof existence for the soul takes

1
thousand
He continues, Some
years."
oth
some
adopted this opinion,
earlier,

if it were

"

their own."

The

Egyptiansheld that the human race began after

the pure gods and spirits
had left earth,when
the de
who were
inclined had revolted and in
mons
sinfully
troduced guilt. The gods then created human
bodies
1

It will be noticed later that Plato

thousand

years.

reduced

this term

to

one

198

REINCARNATION

for these demons

to

ANCIENTS.

THE

AMONG

inhabit,as

of

means

expiating

the present men

are
spirits
of purifica
and women,
whose earthlylife is a course
codes
tion. All the Egyptian precepts and religious
The
to this end.
are
judgment after death decides
If not,
whether the soul has attained purityor not.
the soul must
to earth in renewal of its expia
return
animal or plant.
tion either in the body of a man,
or
its connection
As the spirit
believed to maintain
was
with the material form
as
long as this remained, the
of embalming was
designedto arrest the pas
practice

their sin,and

these fallen

The

of the soul into other forms.

sage

balming is also
three

thousand

would

return

em

opinionthat after
from
the body the soul
body provided it be pre
the
If it is not preserved,

years away
to its former

destruction.1

soul

enter

the

of

with their

connected

served from
would

custom

most

convenient

habitation,

They maintained,
might be a wretched creature.
inhabited the bodies of
too, that the gods frequently
animals,and therefore theyworshiped animals as in
divinities. The sacred bodies of
carnations of special
also embalmed
these godly visitants were
of
as
a mark
class of deities. For they
respect to their particular
placedcertain gods in certain animals,the Egyptian
Apollochoosingthe hawk, Mercury the ibis,Mars the
which

the cat, Bacchus

the goat, Hercules
fish,Diana
but a
colt,Vulcan the ox, etc. This conceit was
cialization of their

generaltenet

the
spe

of

pantheism,
insisting
that all life is divine,that every living
thingmust be
should be
venerated,and that the highestcreatures
most devoutlyworshiped.
1

We

disagreeas
Egyptologists
select the

trines of the

to the real

best
explanations

Egyptians.

adapted

intent of
to the

embalming.
doc
theological

REINCARNATION

The
the

by

of the
and

of reincarnation
as
shaped
Egyptianconception
priesthoodis displayedin their classic, Kitual
u

which

Dead,"

describes

it

of

copy

199

ANCIENTS.

THE

AMONG

opens with
the God of

mission.

the

is

of their chief sacred

one

of

course

the soul

after

depositedin each mummy

sublime
dialoguebetween

death.

whose

Hades, Osiris,to

the threshold."

the

As

It

realm

soul and
ad

he asks

but
Fear nothing,
says,
he is dazzled
the soul enters

FinallyOsiris

case.

was
a

books

"

cross

with

gloryof light. He singsa hymn to the sun and

takingthe food of knowledge. After fright
goes on
ful dangers are
passed,rest and refreshment come.
Continuing his journey he reaches at last heaven's
in profound mysteries.
he is instructed
gate, where
the

Within

the

mals

and

plants. After

the

body

for which

tant.

embalming

critical examination

the subterranean

the soul is reunited

this

careful

different ani

into

gate he is transformed

tests

his

was

so

to

impor

right to

cross

Elysium. He is conducted
by Anubis througha labyrinthto the judgment hall
of Osiris,
where
forty-twojudges questionhim upon
his whole past life. If the decisive judgment approves
him

he enters

river to

heaven.

If not, he is sentenced

to pass

throughlower forms of existence accordingto his sins,

is given over
of dark
to the powers
or, if a reprobate,
for purgation. After three thousand
ness
years of
this he is againconsignedto a human
probation.
III. Of
tain

the old

Persian

faith,it

trustworthystatement,

is difficult to ob

except what

is derived

The Magi,
the Parsees.
present form among
Zoroaster's followers,believed that the immortal
soul

from

its

descended
a

mortal

again.

from

body
When

on

to

high for a short periodof

and to then
gain experience,

the soul is above

it has

several

lives in
return

abodes,

200

REINCARNATION

AMONG

luminous, another

one

and

the

ANCIENTS.

filled with

some

lightand darkness.
body from the luminous

Sometimes

it sinks

abode

after

life returns

if

of

mixture
into

dark,

THE

virtuous

above

; but

and

coming

from

the

region,it passes an evil life and enters a worse

The
to her conduct until purified.
placein proportion
of these fire-worshipers
dualism
reincarnation
gave
than the other oriental
a briefer periodof operation
religions.
IV. Pythagorasis mentioned
by a Greek tradition
dark

as

of the Greeks

one

of Alexander.

Egypt

and

tion which

visited India before

who

It is almost

received there
he

taughtin

certain

he went

to

doctrine of

the

the

that

the age

transmigra
Greek citiesof lower Italy

He spent twelve years

(B. c. 529). Jamblichus says:
in
at Babylon,freely
conversingwith the Magi, was
structed in everythingvenerable
them, and
among
learned the most perfect
worshipof the gods." He is
said to have represented
the human
soul as an emana
tion of the world soul,partakingof the divine nature.
At death it leaves one
body to take another and so
Ovid's
goes through the circle of appointedforms.
of the
Metamorphoses contains a long description
are
taken,
Pythagorean idea,from which these verses
"

"

"

as

translated

by Dryden

Souls

die.

"

And

cannot

in

new

bodies

They

"

leave

former

dwell, and from

them

home,
roam.

Nothing can perish,all thingschange below,

For spirits
and go.
through all forms may come
Good

beasts shall rise to human

If bad, shall backward

turn

Thus, through a thousand

And

But
the

forms, and

to beasts

men,

again.

shapes,the soul shall go

thus fulfillits destiny

below."

it is very difficult to determine

exactlywhat
views of Pythagoraswere.
Plato, and
Aristotle,

THE

AMONG

REINCARNATION

201

ANCIENTS.

Diogenes Laertius say he taughtthat the soul when

released by death must
pass through a grand circle of
again. From
livingforms before reachingthe human
aphorismsof
Pythagoras himself we have only some
his
and
; from
symbolic sentences
practicalwisdom
all devoid of the grotesque
a few fragments
disciples
Although his
hypothesisgenerallyascribed to him.
of human
with the transmigration
is synonymous
name
souls through animal
bodies,the strong^probabilities
him it was
from
that if this doctrine came
entirely
are
truth of reincarnation.
the inner
exoteric,concealing
of
the author
Some
of his later disciples,
especially
"

the

work

denied

is attributed

which

to TimaBus

taught it in any literal sense,

meant
merely to emphasize the

that he

that

by

men

are

it he

assimilated

Locian,

the

and

said

fact that

in their vices to the beasts.

(See

Chapter xii.)
V.

Plato

is called

by

Emerson

the

synthesisof

Europe and Asia, and a decidedly oriental element

pervades his philosophy,
givingit a sunrise color. He
had traveled in Egypt and Asia Minor
the
and among
Pythagoreansof Italy. As he died (B. c. 348) twenty
years

before

Alexander's

that

invasion

of

India

he

missed

ideas.
opportunityof learningthe Hindu
In the great
of Phaxlrus, the
myth," or allegory,
classic description
of the relation of the soul to the
material
world, what he says of the judgment upon
mankind
and
their subsequent return
to human
or
animal
bodies
coincides substantiallywith the Egyp
tian and
Hindu
religions.But his theory of preexistence and of absolute knowledge seems
to be orig
inal. It grows
doctrine (and that
out of his cardinal
of his master
Socrates)concerning the realityand
"

202

REINCARNATION

AMONG

THE

ANCIENTS.

of truth,in oppositionto the skepticism

of
validity
who claimed that truth is mere
contemporary sophists,
troweth.
subjective
opinion what each man
The PhaBdrus
myth is evidentlysuggestedby the
which closed the Athenian
splendid
religious
procession
festival. With
nearlythe whole
ceremony
gorgeous
in this crowning glory
city'spopulationparticipated
of their most sacred holiday. The
wound
procession
through the finest streets of the cityand then up the
of the Acropolis,
whose
in
precipitous
steep ascent
for a foothold.
cline kept the horses struggling
That
elevated
site commanded
view of the busy city,
a
the plainsbeyond, and the distant mountains
and sea
of the Greek
under the deep blue canopy
sky,pre
of the
sentingto the worshipers'sight a panorama
changingaspectsof human life and a type of heaven's
From
this picturethe poet-philosopher
con
repose.
jures up a sublimer processionmarshalled
by the
king of gods and men, moving throughthe heavenly
orbits of the soul's progress, until they ascend the
celestial dome
the soul may
whence
itself,
gaze upon
the unspeakableglories
of spiritual
Truth.1
The Socrates of the dialoguefirst likens the soul to
of
In the case
and their charioteer.
a winged team
the gods both horses and
charioteer are all good and
of good breed ; those of the rest are
And
mixed.
first of all,
charioteer drives a pair; in the next
our
place,the one is good and noble in itself and by
in both regards.
breed, while the other is the opposite
"

"

And

so

the

management

of the chariot

must

needs

be

difficult and
which
1

See

is

harassing.Just how the livingbeing

from
immortal is distinguished
that which is

the

article

September,1877.

on

"

Pre-existence,"in the Penn

Monthly^

204
his

REINCARNA

TION

work, and

own

THE

AMONG

whoever

stands aloof from

and

can

ANCIENTS.

will follows,for

the choir of the

gods.
But whenever
they go to banquet and to feast,
the lofty
then theyproceed all togetherup towards
the chariots of the gods,being
Now
vault of heaven.
well balanced and obedient to the rein,proceedeasily,
For the horse that par
but the rest with difficulty.
takes of evil slips
downward, sinkingand gravitating
towards the earth,if he has not been properlybroken
in by the charioteer.
Then
it is that toil and exenvy
"

conflict press hard

tremest

souls which
the

are

called

the soul.

upon

immortal, when

go forth and
convex] of the heaven, and

summit,

stand
as

they stand

[of the sphere]carries them

they behold the things which

around
are

those

they

reach

[the

the back

upon

tion

But

the revolu
with it,and
of

outside

the

heaven.

place which is above the heaven

it deserves,nor
as
earthlypoet has ever praised
"

will

Now

the

but

it is thus.

For

dare

must

to

no
ever

tell the

I am
when
truth,especially
talkingabout Truth. The
colorless,
formless,and intangible
Being which is Be
ing,is visible only to the Reason (nous), which is the
of the soul. Round
about this [pureBeing]
governor
is located the true sort of knowledge. Since then the
of God
intelligence
as

"

it is to receive what

like that of every

best befits it

"

soul in

so

is nourished

far
on

Knowledge, in beholdingat last the

Being it loves it,and in contemplatingthe Truth is
nourished and gladdened,until the revolution [ofthe
sphere]brings it round again to its starting-place.
be
And
in this circuit it beholds Righteousness
itself,
not
beholds Knowledge
holds Temperance itself,
that which differs in the
that which has origin,
nor
Reason

and

pure

"

AMONG

REINCARNATION

THE

205

ANCIENTS.

thingsto which we ascribe existence,but

Knowledge which has a real being in that which is
other equallyreal existences she
And
Being indeed.
the
and is feasted upon, and then reentering
beholds
different

she

heaven

And

homeward.

returns

the charioteer,
thither,
stayinghis
with ambrosia, and
fodders
them
stall,

horses

come

with
"

But

gods.

which

souls,that

them

best follows

like Him

lifts up the head

to the placeoutside the heaven, and

is most

and

God

to the other

as

charioteer
ried around

the revolution with

disturbed

Him,

has

at their

waters

this is the life of the

And

nectar.

she

when

of the
is

car

indeed

beholdingthe thingswhich have

lifts up the head
Another
true being with difficulty.
it in because compelledby
at times,at others draws
by

the

the

horses,and therefore beholds

the

rest

horses, and

and

one

all desire and

being able
submerged beneath

above, but
around

not

and not others ;

some

follow that which

is

it,they are carried

the heaven, they tread and

to reach

fall upon each other, each tryingto

and
the other.
Noise, and rivalry,

get precedenceof
sweat

to the

last

in their
degree ensue, whereupon many are maimed
all of
And
wings by the fault of their charioteers.
them, after longtoil,
departuninitiated into the vision
of Being, and when
they have gone are fed on the
food of opinion. Whence
then
that great desire of
theirs to behold the plainof Truth ? Is it not because
the

pasturage

which

happens to grow in
the wing by which

befits what
that
the

meadow,
soul

is best
and

soars

the

in the soul

growth

is nourished

of

with

this?
"

And

this is this law of Adrastea

[or Nemesis, the

inevitable

with

God,

true

in

Order] : whatsoever soul has shared

beholdingany of those things that are

206

REINCARNATION

and

real,is unharmed

AMONG

until

the

THE

ANCIENTS.

next

period,and

if

But
always able to do this,is alwaysunhurt.
follow on to know,
"should it happen that she cannot
and
by any mischance grows heavy through being
and faultiness,
and
filled with forgetfulness
through
she is

beast in the first

any
the soul that has seen
most

birth],but
the birth of
of

or
artist,

of

lawful

statesman,

of affairs ; the

fourth,of
is to be

who

one

or
soothsayer,

and

musician

some

third,of

is to be

who

man

[tothe birth]of

some

take

some

or

of

her

upon

shall

to

come

or
philosopher,

lover ; and

king,or

earth,

generation[or

of

the nature

the

shall not

the law is that this soul

then

falls to the

loses her feathers and

that heaviness

the second,

warrior and

ruler ;

or
financier,

some

an

man

toil-loving
gymnast, or of
the life
plrysician
; the fifth,
function ; to
hierophantic
a

other sort of
poet, or of some
mimic, will be suitable ; to the seventh, that of an

the

sixth,the life of

artisan

or

or
sophist

husbandman

in

whoever

self

rightlyreceives

"

No

demagogue ;

And

haves

otherwise,a

any

to

the

eighth,that

the ninth,that of

of these
better

but

tyrant.

conducts
positions
lot

of

him
be

whoever

worse.

soul arrives at that

for ten thousand

to

years,

placefrom

except

it be

whence
that

one

it came
who

is

has a share of
lover who
or
a
honestlya philosopher,
philosophy. These in the third periodof a thousand
they have chosen this
years, if thrice successively
have
thus received their wings,
of life,and
manner
departthither in the three thousandth year. But the
rest, when
they have finished the first life assigned
them, undergo a judgment. And after the judgment,
the
under
of them proceed to the prison-house
some
earth and receive punishment; and the others,having

by

the

pass their time

lived in human

in

been

"

And

that has

form.

lots and

year, they come

of their second

choice

she

whichever

chooses

human

judgment to a placein the heaven,

a
manner
worthy of the life they

when, in the thousandth

castingof

each
a

raised

soul

207

ANCIENTS.

THE

AMONG

REINCARNATION

been

life,

And

thereupon

beast

from

becomes

man

life of

the

to

comes

wishes.

to

and

beast

one
man

again.
"

will

But
never

that

has

soul which
into

come

this

beheld

never

[human]

form

the Truth
the

under

standingof generaltruth collected from many percep

tions into unityby rational thought is an essential of
humanity. And this is the recollection of those things
when
which our soul has once
seen
accompanyingGod,
and disdaining
those thingswhich
we
now
speak of
heads
true Be
to behold
as
being,and lifting
up our
of the
it is justthat the intelligence
ing. Wherefore
with
alone receives wings; for he is ever
philosopher
all his might busied
with the recollections of these
he is.
with which
makes
God what
things,
occupation
And
who makes
only the man
rightuse of such recol
attains initiation into
lections,and thus continually
becomes
perfectmysteries,
trulyperfect; and for giv
ing up human
pursuitsand becoming enwrapt in the
divine,he is esteemed by the many as beside himself,
for they fail to see
that he is God-possessed.
As
has been said,every
..."
soul is by
human
of Being, else she would
nature
have
not
a beholder
into this

entered
for every

of

soul to awaken

brought from
scant

form

vision

fallen thence

life.

those

recollections

thence,or they may

of

what

theymay

was

there,

have

it is not

But

had

then
or

easy
which
she

have

since

had

but

they have

the mischance

to be

208

REINCARNATION

diverted

by

AMONG

ANCIENTS.

THE

associations to that which

bad

is

unjust,
of the holythingswhich
and to fall into forgetfulness
A few are
left,who retain enough
they then beheld.
of the recollection ; but whenever
they behold any
of what
is there, they are
struck with
resemblance
of them
no
astonishment, and are
longer masters
af
thus
selves ; but they know
not
why they are
fected, because they have no
adequate perception.
But
there is no
in those
brilliancy
earthlylike
and
of justice
nesses
temperance, and whatever else
is preciousto the soul ; for through obscure instru
and
to but few
to
ments, it is given with difficulty
draw near
to those
images and behold what manner
of thing it is that they represent. But
then it was
when
permittedto behold Beauty in all its splendor,
fol
alongwith the blessed chorus, we [philosophers]
other of the gods,we
shared
lowingZeus, others some
in the beatific vision and
in
and were
contemplation,
which
itiated into mysteries
it is justto call the most
perfectof all,and whose rapturous feast we kept in
innocence,and while stillinexpertof those evils which
were
awaitingus in a time stillfuture. And we be
held visions innocent
and simple and peacefuland
in pure array,
happy, as if spectatorsat the mysteries,
ourselves
without
a
sign upon us of this
pure, and
which we
call a body,
now
carry about with us and
and
us

oysterto his shell. Let

indulgein these memories, whereby we are led to
are

bound

thereto like

speak the longer from

then

We

saw."

desire of the

thingswhich

we

penetrate

thought in

an

the

of substantial

into

the

inmost

secret

of

Plato's

super-celestial
plain,the dwelling-place
ideas,the
1

From

essential

Truth, the absolute

Jowett's translation.

THE

AMONG

REINCARNATION

209

ANCIENTS.

knowledge,in which the pure Being holds the supreme

to Brahm,
place which we assignto God, the Hindu
the polytheist
and the Egyptian to Osiris,but which
ascribe to his gods. Plato, like the in
could
not
the high
of India and Egypt, to whom
itiated priests
est deitywas
nameless,knew the objectsof common
One
above whom
but exalted men,
was
worshipwere
whose

nature

was

and

to men,

childishness to assert

audacious

was

undisclosed

of whom

human

it

attributes.

Highestwas the centre of those Realities dimly

and Plato's pictorial
in earthly
shadowed
appearance,
of his thought is only a parablecloak
representation
ing the essential principlethat during the eternal
have
strayedfrom the real Truth through
past we
repeatedlives into the present.
Professor W.
of preexistence,
Of Plato's philosophy
Ancient
A. Butler
says in his masterly lectures on
Philosophy: It is certain that with Plato the con
viction was
associated with a vast and pervadingprin
ciple,which extended through every department of
the priority
and thought. This principle
was
nature
in
in order of dignityand
of mind
to body, both
which
with him
not
order of time ; a principle
was
satisfied by the singleadmission of a divine preexist
but extended
through every instance in which
ence,
could
be compared. A
these natures
very striking
in which
he thus generalized
example of the manner
of mind
of priority
to body is to be
the principle

The

"

found
his

'

in the well-known

Laws,' in which

vine energy.
to every

case

The

passage
he

proves

argument

of motion

and

essence
spiritual

the

of

existence of di

employed reallyapplies
equallyproves that every

system is but
separate corporeal

by

in the tenth book

mechanism

anterior to itself. The

moved
universe

210

REINCARNATION

is full of

THE

AMONG

gods,and

soul

the human

ANCIENTS.

is,as

it were,

the

of the human

body."
had
the best parallelof Plato's
Jews
VI. The
in the third chapterof Genesis,describing
Phaedrus
The theological
and Eve.
comments
the fall of Adam
of the originof sin have
upon that popular summary
always groped after reincarnation,by making all
in him
for that act.
Adam's
descendants
responsible
Many Jewish scholars undertook to fuse Greek phi
losophywith their national religion.The Septuagint

god or

demon

in the third

made
translation,

century before Christ,

the
givesevidence of such a purpose in suppressing
by which the Old
strong anthropomorphic terms

Testament
Greek

God.

mentioned

poet of the second

Jewish-

century, writes of Hebrew

phrases. Similar

ideas in Platonic
in Aristeas and

Aristobulus,a

in the second

book

passages are found

of the Maccabees.

in the
blended
with Judaism
Pythagoreanism was
of the Jewish
beliefs and practices
Therapeutseof
Egypt, and their brethren the Essenes of Palestine.
The opinionob
Of the Essenes, Josephuswrites :
tains among
that bodies indeed are corrupted,
them
"

and

the matter

continue

of them

exempt

from

natingfrom the most

bodies as prisonsto
natural
spell. But

forever

borne

but that souls

and

they are

they are
loosed

when

and

most

death

which

if released from

The

permanent,

subtle ether

flesh,as
are

not

that

unfolded

drawn

from

ema

the

by

in

some

bonds

of

theyrejoice
longcaptivity,

upward."
prominent Jewish

writer

this sub
upon
in the time of

jectis Philo of Alexandria, who lived

Christ, and adapted a popular version of Platonic
of his own
ideas to the religion
people. He turned
the Hebrew
stories into remarkably deft Platonic al*

212

REINCARNATION

less

Although

composed

in

teachings

had

Middle

the

Jewish

been
and

of

tive form
ter-of-fact

in

it,but

and
in

entire

blessing,being

the

by

Zohar,

trials of
are

do

the

how

know

they

spiritscome

to

to

fections, the
if

they

have

life, they
forth,

must

until

fits them

not

for

they

they

they

is

fulfilled

this

have

reunion

with

God."

and

must

have

condition

the

says

to

They

mysteri
souls

and

to

all
them

But

the

per
;

during
third,

condition

the
the

reenter

in

the

which

emerged.

planted

acquired

souls,"

regard.

many

re

purifica

returning

another,

commence

Plato's

know

not

develop

must

which

of

germ

how

souls

The

whence

this end

accomplish

do

in

previous

subject

"are

without

king.

substance

absolute

the

in their

spirits

of

transformations

world

this

All

men

undergo

must

as

process

"

High

many

divine

of the

palace

and

Most

of the

trials

ous

the

Light,

of

transmigration
ways

not

Book

or

mat

world, after long

curse,

repeated probations.

specula

human

in

ligions,but
tion

that

not

from

more

their

This

and

forgetfulness of

experiences.

is

the

the

Preexistence

simpler

into

from

others

in Philo's

not

its

from

and

affirming

"

born

again

tervals, and

much

that

come

Gnostics.

here,

been

tradition

parts

and

prehis

have

to

certain

by

some

appear

character,

again

are

down

Neo-Platonists

reincarnation

and

it is

Alexandria

of

it is

that

it is held

Ages,
that

ANCIENTS.

claim

of

handed

philosophers

later

THE

scholars

portion

early times,

very

the

Jewish

dispute.

toric.

AMONG

and

and
one
so

which

VIL

REINCARNATION

IN

THE

BIBLE.

Out

from

The

burdens

the

heart
of

of

the

rolled

nature

Bible

old.
EMERSON.

The

diligently

more

and

richer
beams
the

work

The
But

ture

as

thing
make

serviceable

have

cited

been

sense

of

evidence
his

with

which

not

should

Catechisms

liberty

little

I doubt

tenor

in

every

might

man

to

Confessions

and

be

much-

Scrip

whole

industry

as

what

urge

fetch

to

holy

that

speak

the

I should

but
be

it to

by

imagined.

of

willingly

sure

the

illustrate

is

as

force

not

am

I take

design,

general

continually

and

authority

to

as

the

SCOTT.

matter

would

what

that

to

sacred
it

Would

quotations
in

with

direct

WALTER

this

the

of

light

new

SIR

in

(the Bible),

mine

ore;

"

silent

but

anything,

to

men.

bold

so

the

Wherefore

not.

with

margent

be

not

Scripture

so

this

knowledge

of

not

contained.

therein

it is

for

my

dare

proof

heavenly

tender

so

works

finds

ways

are

intends

it

the

oracles

that

I think

and

I have

truly

he
of

source

God

divine

volume

of

this
of

student

abundant

more

from

the

able

to

purpose

of

as

Faith.
.

And

yet

I must

existence

graved

in

upon

needs
the
our

written
rational

say

that
word
natures.

there
of

is very

God,
"

as

there

GLANVIL,

fair
is
in

probability
in
Lux

that

fill

which

Orientalis.

for

Preis

en

VII.

REINCARNATION

THE
in

not

of

least

the

is

of

truth

Orient.

There

like

that

the

most

of

is

Although
is

the

of

form

doctrine

there

strongly

it

to

the

it with
is

woven

the

this
best

and

other

not

oriental

beauty

noblest

threads

fabric

of

of

here

out

scholars

Some

hold

is immor

which

But

texture.

its

in

as

speculation

the
of

inculcated

cropping

rock.

into

chiefly

Neither

granted,

for

essential
the

is

it, rein

of

Bible,

the

redemption.

entangled

strength

uniform

It

unimportant

accidentally

yet

that

"

unaware

in

present

fundamental

an

and

concede

wisdom,

are

preexistence.

as

of

philosophy,

Bible

the
to

treasury

it is taken

But

has

Christians

essential

tality.

of

of

the

to

unlearned.

most

carnation

principles

great

central

the

to

is limited

sunshine

thinker

richest

the

confined

the

that

acknowledge

outside

evolution,

is still

which

consider

be

must

Every

confirmatory.

more

no

than

skeptical

volume

which

and

must

is

Christendom

of

and

student

conspicuous

surprisingly

is

does

endorsement

scriptural

it

Reincarnation

of

upon

that

Christian

revelation

is

depend

certainly interesting

candid

book

doctrine

the

fact

the

it, but

here

of

of

vitality

BIBLE.

THE

IN

to

seem

the

warp

the
rank
upon

religious thought.

216

REINCARNATION

sufficient evidence

existence,and
it among
of himself
his

"

Lord

from

from
everlasting,

earth

was.

forth

When

when

with water.

made

the

were

the
when

no

the

when

he

he

gave

to

set

was

up
the

When

he

before
settled,

were

while

nor
fields,

yet he

as

had

not

highestpart of
preparedthe heavens
the

compass
upon the face of
established the clouds above :
set

depth : when he
he strengthened
the

when

old.

beginning,or ever
I was
no
brought
depths,
foundations
abounding

were

broughtforth

earth,nor

there

was

of

the

the dust of the world.

I

The

the mountains

Before

the hills was

works

there

there

long refer
wise king wrote
in the beginning

me
possessed

the

before

way

pre-

in Solomon's

his Proverbs.

The

support of

of the Biblical

Jews, is found

the

BIBLE.

THE

consequent wide-spreadbelief in

of the

to it among

ence

of

IN

the

sea

foundations

of

the

deep:

his decree,that the waters

appointed
I was
the
: then
by him, as
one
brought up with him : and I was dailyhis de
in the
light,
rejoicingalways before him ; rejoicing
habitable part of the earth ; and
my delightswere
This passage
of men." l
with the sons
disposesof
the theoryof Delitzsch that pre existence in the Bible
means
simply an existence in the foreknowledgeof
the creator.
Such
a
mere
foreknowledgewould not
placehim previousto the parts of creation which pre
And
the last two
ceded
his earthlyappearance.
clauses
clearlyexpress a prior physicallife. The
antiquity.
too, are assured of their pre-natal
prophets,
should

pass his commandment

of the earth
foundations
not

Jeremiah

hears Jehovah

thee in the

forth
1

out

bellyI

knew

of the womb

Proverbs

viii.22-31,

tell him,
thee

and

he

when

"

Before

thou

before

I sanctified thee."
2

I formed
earnest

Jeremiah i. 5.

REINCARNATION

IN

of
passages
which
the Psalms

Skipping
Job

and

THE

217

BIBLE.

in
disputed interpretation

suggest this idea,there

is

for it all

through the Old Testament,

which
is universally
conceded
and
by commentators,
was
alwaysclaimed by the Jewish rabbis. The trans
lators have
the revealed form of Deity,
distinguished
recorded
in the Hebrew
as
by
successively
Scriptures,
the word
in capitals,
LORD,
separatingthis use of
Christ.
the word from
other forms, as the preexistent
and
the angelof Jehovah
The angelof the Lord
manifestation
of
for the same
other expressions
are
the Highest,which
modern
theologyregards as the
God is said
second
person of the Trinity. Wherever
to have appeared as
at Mamre, to
to Abraham
man,
the three
Jacob
at Peniel, to Joshua
at Gilgal,to
in the Babylonian furnace
as
a fourth,like
captives
of God," etc.,Christian
has
to the Son
scholarship
evidence

good

"

"

"

"

"

maintained
became

the

this to be the
son

of

same

Mary.

these

various appearances

After

the

also

Jews

The

to be

who

person

their

afterward
consider

promisedChrist.

view concern
captivity
they held the same
of Sol
The
ing all persons.
apocryphal Wisdom
of hu
teaches unmistakablythe preexistence
omon
souls in Platonic
man
form, although it probablyis
I was
older than
it says (ix.15),
Philo, as when
an
ingenuouschild,and received a good soul ; nay,
and
into a body undefiled ;
more, beinggood,I came
the corruptible
body pressethdown the soul,and
the earthlytabernacle
weigheth down the mind that
museth
things." Glimpses of it appear
upon
many
"

"

"

"

"

also in
The
mon

where

"

Ecclesiasticus."

assertion
among

of

Josephus that

the Pharisees

members

of the

this idea

is proven

Sanhedrin

in the
cast

was

com

Gospels,

the retort

at

218

REINCARNATION

Jesus, Thou
of
prevalence
"

IN

THE

BIBLE.

born in sins." 1
The
altogether
this feelingin the judgments of daily
life is seen
in the questionput to Jesus by his disci
his parents,that he
ples, Which did sin,this man
or
born
blind ? 2 referring
to the two
was
contending
that of Moses, who taught that the
populartheories,
wast

"

"

sins of the fathers would

the third and

descend

fourth

and
generation,
tion,subsequently
adopted,by which

forts

resulted

from

his

reply, Neither,"is no
"

former

the

on

children to

that of reincarna
man's

discom

misconduct.

Jesus'

denial of the truth of reincar

affirms it of
nation,for in other passages he definitely
himself,but merelyan indication that he thoughtthis
truth

had

better not

be

given those

listeners

then,
justas he withheld other verities until the ripe time
for utterance.
of preexistence
This very expression
he employs toward
the man
used by the disciples
whom
he healed at Bethesda's pool after thirty-eight
Sin no more,
lest a worse
:
thing
years of paralysis
thee."3
unto
come
Repeatedlyhe confirms the pop
ular impressionthat John the Baptist
a reincar
was
nation of Elijah.To the throngaround him he said :
"

"

Among

them

will

of

born

are

That

John

"

the

his former

Baptistdenied

Elijahis not strange, for no

tinctlyhis earlier life. Often
descent
from

heaven, as

heaven, not
that sent

John

Matt.

ix. 34.
xi. 14 ;

to
"

me

when

do mine
5

John

he

ix. 2.

also,Matt. xvii. 12, 13.

114.,

"

the will of

by

means

his

down

came

will,but

own

dis

refers to

Jesus

he says,

and what

upon these texts,page

John vi. 38,

remarks
6

from

personality

remembers

one

as

him

there hath

women

greater than John the Baptist." If ye

for to come."
receive it,this is Elias,which was

risen

not

that

John

heaven
v.

14.

See Professor Bowen's

220

IN

REINCARNATION

BIBLE.

might be asserted by any one, though

the speakersays it only of himself.
and
the fourth Gospel dwells upon so fondly,
What
in such

is echoed

what
in

form

THE

for

your

manifested

He

"

became

Life
unto

Testament

took

Cor. viii. 9,

sakes he

eternal

That

was

New

in other

ii. 7,
Philippians

servant,"in
"

as

which
"

Though
poor,"and
with

was
a

the Christ.

the same
Precisely
John :
prophet-baptizer
God"
(John i. 6). The

of the

"

from
verse

to the Christians

him

"

is

us,"

on

nearest

books,
the form

he

as

"

of

rich,yet

was

in 1 John
the

i. 2,

Father, and
limited to

thoughtnot
occurs

in the mention

There

was

obvious

a
sense

sent

man

of this

its publication
appears

by Origen,who says that it

impliesthe existence of John the Baptist'ssoul pre
vious to his terrestrial body,and hints at the universal
belief in preexistence
by adding, And if the Catholic
opinionhold good concerningthe soul,as not propa
and for
gated with the body,but existing
previously
in the comments

upon

it

"

various

reasons

clothed

in

flesh and

blood,this

ex

ex
pression,sent from God,' will no longer seem
could
No words
traordinaryas applied to John."
suit the aspirations
of an oriental believer
more
exactly
in reincarnation than these in the Apocalypse:
Him
that overcometh
will I make
in the temple of
a
pillar
he shall go no
out
more
(Rev. iii.
my God, and
12).
More
is the
importantthan any separatequotations
which
generaltone of the Scriptures,
pointsdirectly
toward
reincarnation.
They represent the earthly
life as a pilgrimageto the heavenlycountry of spirit
ual union with God.
It is our conceit and ignorance
alone which deems a single
life sufficient to ac
earthly
that purpose.
They teach the sinful nature
complish
'

"

"

REINCARNATION

of

all

demands

certainly

(See

Bible

man

are

also
and

reincarnations

those

precisely

Paradise

treats

his

home,

future

as

the

for

of

the

idea
Philo

as

which

connecting

their

sin,

of
and

the

of

Ramsay.
Fall

the

Origen.

ancient

requires
chain.

which

acquisition

Chevalier

by

Paul's

221

BIBLE.

for

lives
well

St.

83-87.)

pages

God

shown

as

THE

responsibility
previous

condition,

that

of

their

and

men

IN

The

abode

and

series

of
of

VIII.

REINCARNATION

IN

EARLY

CHRISTENDOM.

Our

soul

earthly

The

having

body

soul

as

Let

lectual

world,

lowing

ourselves

let

tony

God

himself.

The
the

whole

others

being
accord

being
have

rise, I
"

of

world

gradually
cast

the

follow

to

things
some

and

of

intellectual

has

most

to

the

intel

rise

into

or

it

sensible

purely

pleasures

the

is

regulated

to

al

life, by

life,

vegetative
and

love

physical
world,

earth

to

against

their

of
to

"

the

by

will

stretching

glut

intelligence,

to

long

to

time

in

JEROME.

All

that
Souls

Are

by

the

work
For

doth

sublime
sold

master
out

the

cover

source

slaves

but

To

To

flesh

their

ancient

loftier

over

Time,
ransom

crime.

position,

voluntarily,
of

undertaking

hand

of

government

falling

some

the

from

some

out

for

persevere

providential

down

falling

powers

sinking

service

undertaken.

below,

into

which

power

images

the

to

the

into

PLOTINUS.

down

compelled

here

sensible
to

say,

that

fall

not

may

we

down

came

PHILO.

"

from

fly, then,

us

mansion

becomes

body

ourselves

us

order

place

the

that

abandoning

heavenly

its

strange

leaving

developed.

by

lost

others

their

those

who

fall,

the

duty

which

own

others

they

VIII.

REINCARNATION

THE

still

ages,

but

these

the
with

the

strife

the

of

the

church

of

the

the

as

they

bodies

according

'

Father

My

by

from

ing by
In
the

to

the

the

early

that

worketh

part

body

daily

are

traduction,

greater

so

soul

form

church

of

by

that

the

God

believe

and

sent

in the

I work

and

'

or

Apollinarius,

believe,

is derived

Gnosticism

formerly

is written

which

condition

believe

foolishly

made

Westerns

believe

Spain

repository

Tertullian,

the

the

same

hitherto

as

of

in

from

with

of

the
as

or

Stoics, Mani-

the

as

of

ecclesiastics

some

whether

heretics

kept

are

God,

to

heaven,

Origen

and
of

substance

they

God,

Platonists

from

As

"

question

fallen

been

tendency

writes

the

after

had

present

Jerome

be

it

What

thought

ideas

the

and

remember

Priscillian

and

whether

by

and
proper

chseans

previous

catalogue,

Western

itself.

soul,

the

central

same

and

whether

Pythagoras
be

asserted

all

Jerome's

centuries

some

had

origin

whole

Eastern

reincarna

interpretation.

the

from

gathered

for

Europe

of

found

in

as

of

shades

phases

between

working

Christianity

of

various

be

may

CHRISTENDOM.

EARLY

prevailing creed,

different

were

of

centuries

first

tion

IN

i. e.,
the

that

or

built
or

into

Gospel

whether
and

the

as

body

soul, subsist

animals."
it

fourth

so

strongly pervaded

Gospel

was

specially

226

IN

EARL

CHRIS

TEND

OM.

directed

againstit ; but this Gospelaccordingto John

attacked it only by advocating
a broader
renderingof
have seen
that Origen refers to
the same
faith. We
Alexpre existence as the generalopinion. Clemens
andrinus (Origen's
master) taughtit as a divine tradi
tion authorized by St. Paul himself in Romans
v. 12,
14, 19. Ruffinus in his letter to Anastasius says that
the primitivefa
This opinionwas
common
among
"

relates that

Later, Jerome

thers."

doctrine

the

of

was
taught as an esoteric one commu
transmigration
But Nemesius
nicated to only a select few.
emphati
callydeclared that all the Greeks who believed in im
believed also in metempsychosis. Delitzsch
mortality

It had its advocates

says,
in the church."
as
"

Gnostics

The
much

else,from

Platonists
and
from

and

as

well in the synagogues

ManichaBans

received

it,with

predecessors.The
from
it chiefly
a blendingof

Neo-

Zoroastrian

derived

the Orient.
these sources,

The

Church

but from

Fathers
the Jews

drew
and

Plato

it not

the

only
pioneers

the Persian
Several of them condemn
Christianity.
and Platonic philosophies
and yet hold to reincarna
tion in other guises. Aside
the
from
all authority,
doctrine seems
the inauguto have been rooted among
in its adaptationto their mental
of our
rators
era
of the ways of God and
needs, as the best explanation
of

the nature

I. The

of

men.

Gnostics

were

school

of eclectics which

be

conspicuousamid the chaotic vortex of all reli

gions in Alexandria,during the first century. They
sought to furnish the young Christian church with a
creed,and ranked themselves as the only
philosophic
initiates into a mysticalsystem of Christian truth
which was
Their thought
too exalted for the masses.
came

228

IN

II.
arose

EARLY

CHRISTENDOM.

with the
Contemporary
the philosophical
school

Alexandrian
of the

Gnostics

Neo-Platonists

which

gatheredinto one the doctrines of Pythagoras,

which
and constructed a theology
Plato,and Buddhism,1
might make headwayagainst
by satisfying
Christianity
in a rationalway the longings
which the new
religion
addressed.
and near
They too disclosed the reality
of a spiritual
ness
world,a reconciliation with God,
and the pathway for returning
The distin
to Him.
of Neo-Platonism is emanation,
guishingprinciple
which took the placeof creation. From
the eternal
of souls which
proceedsthe multiplicity
Intelligence
world,and of which the worldcomprisethe intelligible
soul is the highestand all-embracing
source.
They
insisted upon
the distinct individuality
of each soul,
and
earnestlycombated the charge of Pantheism.
Souls who

into the delusion of matter

have descended

prideand a desire of false independence.

They now forgettheir former estate and the Father
whom
theyhave deserted. The mission of men, in
is
of Plotinus,
to bringthe divine
the dyingwords
into harmony with that which is divine
within them
The Neo-Platonists foughtGnosti
in the universe."
cism as fiercely
Plotinus,
by far the
as
Christianity.
did

so

from

"

works
best of their writers,
as well as the oldest whose
devotes a whole book of his Enneads
are
preserved,
refutation

to the

of
brightest
that
thought,
ter

which

world

of

universe
and

The

men

doctrines of Valentin us, the

Gnostics.
are

fallen

Contraryto the latter's

into the miry pitof mat

wholly bad, Plotinus

the least
matter, although
is

because

the best

former

the

of the

remotest

placefor

divine

that

part of

between
parallelism

facilitated this.
peculiarly

the

the

life he insiststhe soul has not fallen and

close

the

One, is stillgood
development.From its

from

man's

claims

Buddhism

and

can-

Platonism

not, but

has

229

CHRISTENDOM.

EARLY

IN

into the lower

descended

stage of exist

of intellect in order to
through innate weakness
be prepared for a higherexaltation.
The most
importantof this group of thinkers were
Ammonius
Saccas, Plotinus, and Porphyry in the
ence

in the

third century, Jamblichus

and
Proclus in the fifth,
flourished with

Damascius

for

energy

fourth,Hierocles
in the sixth.

three hundred

over

and

It

years,

by Chris
largelyappropriated
tian theologiansand
beginning with
philosophers,
ceased to be felt through Chris
Origen,it has never
and

its ideas

as

were

Bruno, the martyr of

reformation, popularizedit, and handed
Giordano

tendom.

later

philosophers.
a revival
substantially
stronglyinfluenced by
As

Plotinus is in

of all the
form

The
of

the

it

Italian
to

over

philosophyof Emerson
Plotinus.
Coleridgeis

is

also

him.

respectsthe most interesting

older writers,and taught reincarnation in
some

thoroughlyrational

and

supremely helpful,
needs
in this regard more
meeting Western
directly
than any other philosopher,
we
quote at some
length
a

from

his

scarce

essay

on

The

"

Descent

of the

Soul."

"When

soul acts in discord from the

any particular
from
flyingfrom the whole and apostasizing

One,
thence
an

no
by a certain disagreement,
longerbeholding
its partialblindness, in
intelligible
nature, from

this

case

and

distracted with

it becomes

deserted
care

and

for it

now

solitary,
impotent
directs its

tal eye to a part, and by a separation

from
is universal,
attaches itself as a slave to one

It thus

men

that which

particular

degeneratesfrom the whole and gov

with anxietyand fatigue,
erns
particulars
assiduously
externals and becoming not only present
cultivating
with body, but profoundly enteringinto its dark
nature.

230

EARLY

IN

CHRISTENDOM.

abodes.

Hence, too, by such conduct

soul

said to

are

fettered with
safe and

suffer

the

from

of

and

wings of
she

the

becomes

body, after desertingthe

governinga better nature

universal soul.

The

soul,there

is loaded
high,suffers captivity,
fetters,and employs the energiesof sense; be
her intellectual longing is impeded
in this case
the first. She is reportedalso to be buried and

from
fore,falling

cause

defluxion

habit of

innoxious

flourishes with

which

with

bonds

the

to be concealed

in

on

cave

; but

when

she converts

her

she then breaks her fetters and as

intelligence
first of all from reminiscence
cends on high,receiving
real beings; at the same
of contemplating
the ability
time
possessingsomething supereminent and ever
world.
Souls therefore are
abidingin the intelligible
of an
amphibious nature, and alternately
necessarily
experiencea superiorand inferior condition of being;
intimate converse
able to enjoy a more
such as are
with Intellect abidingfor a longerperiodin the higher
the contrary happens,
either
world, and such to whom
throughnature or fortune,continuinglongerconnected

self to

with
"

these

inferior concerns."

....

and pro
Thus, the soul,though of divine origin,

ceedingfrom the regionson high,becomes merged in

the dark receptacle
of the body, and beingnaturally
a
posteriorgod, it descends hither througha certain
of power
and of
for the sake
voluntaryinclination,
it receives
adorninginferior concerns.
By this means
a knowledge of its latent
powers, and exhibits a vari
ety of operations
peculiarto its nature, which by per
habit, and never
petuallyabiding in an incorporeal
proceedinginto energy, would have been bestowed in
vain.
Besides the soul would
been
have
ignorantof
what she possessed,
her powers
alwaysremainingdor-

IN

and

mant

concealed

which would
capacity,
obscure,and without
with

everywhereexhibits
occult and
entirely

existence,because
But

true.

the intellectual powers

admires

one

since energy
otherwise be

substantial and

one

231

CHRISTENDOM.

EARLY

now

of the

varietyof her external effects."

Through an abundance of desire
profoundlymerged into matter, and

the

"

with

abides

the

soul.

universal

endued

not

indeed

every

soul,through

....

becomes

the soul
no

Yet

longertotally
our

souls

are

hence carryingback with

to rise from
alternately
and suf
of what they have known
them
an
experience
whence
fered in their fallen state ; from
they will
learn how
blessed it is to abide in the intelligible
it were, of contraries,
as
world, and by a comparison,
will more
plainlyperceivethe excellence of a superior
of evil produces a clearer
For the experience
state.
knowledge of good. This is accomplishedin our souls
accordingto the circulations of time, in which a con
exalted
to more
version takes place from subordinate
able

natures.
"

Indeed, if
to

appears
ions of
ter

the

abides

what
speak clearly
truth,contrary to the opin
to

proper

were

to be

me

others,the

into

ways
from

it

the

whole

of

soul

our

also does

not

en

body, but somethingbelongingto it al

and somethingdifferent
in the intelligible,

this in the sensible world

in the sensible

vanquished and

and

that which

world, if it conquers, or rather

disturbed,does not permit us

abides
if it is
to per

the supreme
part of the soul contem
then arrives at
is understood
that which

ceive that which

plates;
our

for

nature

sible
which

which

when

it descends

within

the

limits of

inspection.For

every soul possesses

inclines downwards
to body, and

tends

upwards

toward

intellect ; and

sen

something
something
the

soul,

2S2

IN

indeed,which
part which
whole
which

CHRISTENDOM.

EARLY

is universal
is inclined

without

labor

and

and

of the

universe,by its

body, governs the

transcendingthat
fatigue,

towards

it governs.

and of a part are

particular
of
too much
occupiedby sense, and by a perception
thingshappening contrary to nature are sur
many
It is
rounded
by a multitude of foreignconcerns.
and is en
likewise subjectto a varietyof affections,
of pleasure.But the supe
snared by the allurements
influenced by fraudulent
rior part of the soul is never
and divine."
and lives a life always uniform
delights,
Fathers wel
Church
III. Many of the orthodox
of the fall
comed reincarnation as a readyexplanation
of man
and distinctly
and the mystery of life,
preached
the existence of
of reconciling
it as the only means
essential
with a merciful God.
It was
an
suffering
centuries in
part of the church philosophyfor many
the rank and fileof Christian thought,
beingstamped
with the authority
of the leading
thinkers of Christen
the
frowned
as
dom, and then graduallywas
upon
Western
influences predominated,until it became
heresyand at lengthsurvived only in a few scattered
"

But

souls which

are

sects.

Justin

Martyr expressly
speaksof the soul inhabit
than once
the human
ing more
body,and denies that
on
takinga second time the embodied form it can re
member
previousexperiences.Afterwards, he says,
souls which have become
unworthy to see God in hu
man
guise,are joinedto the bodies of wild beasts.
Thus he openlydefends the grosser phase of metemp
sychosis.
Clemens Alexandrinus is declared by a contemporary
to

have

written

and
sychosis

many

"

wonderful
worlds

stories about

before

Adam."

metemp

EARLY

IN

233

CHRISTENDOM.

Arnobius, also, is

known

to

have

franklyavowed

this doctrine.
of all the church

Noblest
was

He

Origen.

human

race

as

regardedthe
one
epoch in

changefuldecay and
into

forward

and

advocates

of this

opinion
earthlyhistoryof the
historical series

an

restoration,
extendingbackward
and

temporal human
for our
ex
purification
spirits

aeons

our

placeof
iled from a happierexistence on
of
account
all originally
created
taught that souls were
body

minds
same

the

as

of the
essence

kind

same

the

as

ercised their freedom

others with

abuse

sin.

He

by

God

condition,that is of the
infinite Mind, and that they ex
of will, some
wisely and well,
and

in different

degrees,
producingthe

From
divergencesnow
apparent in mankind.
old experiencesome
souls have
retained
more
others of the pristine
condition.
The lapsedsouls
clothed with

bodies

of

and

sent

that
than

God

into this world, both

to

expiatetheir temerityand to prepare themselves for a

better future.
The
varietyof their offenses caused
the diversity
of their terrestrial conditions.
In these
bodies,each enjoysthat lot which most exactlysuited
his previous
habits.
On
these the whole
earthlycir
cumstances

whole

of

life from

man,

internal

and

external,even

birth,depend. In this way

alone

his
he

of God
could be defended.
But
thoughtthe justice
when
men
keep themselves free from contagionin
bodilyexistence and restrain the turbulent movements
of sense
and
imagination,being graduallypurified
from
the body they ascend
on
high and are at last
changed into minds, of which the earthlysouls are
corruptions.In his own words, Here is the cause
of the diversing
rational creatures, not in the
among
"

will

or

decision

of the creature, but in the

freedom

of

234

IN

individual

EARLY

liberty.For
accordingto

creatures

sities of minds
it were,

as

in

adorn

their desert united

(in which

and

minds,

the diver

ought to

of wood

souls.

be

also and

dishonor)with

to

some

or

his

world, that he might,

congruous

honor

to

To

these

causes

its

while Divine Providence

diversity,
mind, and dis
accordingto his tendency,

owes

each
disposes
position."

If from

justlydisposingof

but
gold and silver,

diverse vases,

the world

"

one

God

his mansion

of

only vases
clay,and some
not

these

CHRISTENDOM.

unknown

the soul be

alreadynot
irrational body,

reasons

exactlyworthy of being born in an

nor
yet exactlyin one
purelyrational,it is furnished
with
monstrous
be
cannot
a
body, so that reason
fullydevelopedby one thus born, the nature of the
body beingfashioned either of a higheror lower body
accordingto the scope of the reason."
I think this is a questionhow it happens that the
human
is influenced now
mind
by the good now by
"

the evil.

The

cient than this

"

If

works

and

marked

be not

how
before this life,

justin
be

God

that

be

more

is it true

he had

accordingto

out

the elder should

hated, before

servitude and

suspectto

an

birth."
corporeal

course

our

of this I

causes

done

that

it is not

our
un

the younger
thingsdeservingof
serve

of hatred."

By the fall and by the coolingfrom a life of the

is also
is now
the soul,which
that which
Spiritcame
condition,of which
capableof a return to her original
I think the prophetspeaks in this :
Return unto
thy
"

rest, O
the

my

mind

becomes

becomes
a

So

soul.'
a

that

the whole

soul and

how

is this

"

how

the soul rectified

mind."

in the Bible, Origen writes,

Concerningpreexistence

286

IN

hope of
tion
ery

of

beingliberated

when

"

is entertained

freedom

"

CHRISTENDOM.

EARLY

the

of

sons

from

the

God, who

scattered abroad, shall be

were

when

they

shall have

of

the whole

by

crea

of
corruption
either

fell away

gatheredinto

fulfilled their

slav

one,

duties

in

or

and
this

world."

Many

subsequent writers
but his doctrine was
opinion,
and

contemporaneous

Origenfor this
maintained
by a largenumber of strong followers and
independentthinkers.
in
and Augustinecertain passages
Even in Jerome
dicate that they held this theoryin part. In his Epis
tle to Avitus, Jerome
agrees with Origen as to the in
of the passage above mentioned
by Origen,
terpretation
censured

"

Who

hath

He

world."
rest

chosen
says

before

us

the

of

foundation

the

habitation,and a true
be understood,where rational

divine

"a

above, I think,is to

dwelt,and where, before their descent to a

and
invisible to visible
lower position,
removal
from
(worlds),and fall to earth,and need of gross bodies,
the
God
theyenjoyeda former blessedness. Whence
creatures

Creator

made

and
position,
the world
The

for them
created

bodies

suitable to their humble

and

this visible world

sent

into

ministers for their salvation."

Latin

Fathers

and
Nemesius, Synesius,

Hila-

rius

boldlydefend preexistence,
though takingexcep
famil
tion to Origen'sform of it. Of
most
Synesius,
iar to English readers as the convent
patriarchin
that when
the citizens of
Hypatia,"it is known
Ptolemais
he declined
invited him to their bishopric,
that dignity
for the reason
that he cherished certain
opinionswhich they might not approve, as after ma
ture reflection they had struck deep roots in his mind.
"

Foremost

among

these

he

mentioned

the doctrine of

EARLY

IN

preexistence. Vestiges of
his

for

writings;

phrased

Eternal

Mind,

Athwart

Let

earth's

Absorb

Another

nearly

of

the

from

soul's descent
of his

one

hymns

Return

at

Bind, bind
She

Council

of

ored

stream

the

later

individuals

of

that

as

course

and

cast,

last.

seats

entertained

Origen concerning
to

earth, as

the
in

appears

soul, thy trembling spouse,

my

last to

Thee

those

on

high

and

of Christian
medieval
of

fire,

"

Constantinople
and

central

Prudentius,

believing.

all

unearthly

wandered

Origen's teaching

Although

scholastics

at

own

group,

anew

broke

its birth.

bondage

higher

Saviour, bid

the

Thine

idea

own

trembling spark expire,

this

same

then

Thee, Thou

sad

the

not

sown

in earth.

in Thee

from

dark

is

soul

Lord,

claims

forth

To

para

ray

germ

pity, blessed

Far

hymn

clay

of chaos

waves

mind-enfolding

Incarnate

of

vase

timorous

What

Greek

the

in

thy seedling spark

this thin

the

Emits

In

in

discerned

are

"

Through

This

this belief

example,

follows

as

237

CHRISTENDOM.

in

was

vows

grieving.
condemned

551, it permanently

theology,not

only in

many

the
col

many

heterodoxies, but through

religiousthought, in

groups.

by

all

isolated

IX.

REINCARNATION
IN

THE

EAST

TO-DAY.

man

without

from

travel

may

feeding

money,

end

one

of

lodging

and

the

well

as

Buddhism
it

respect
'

'

has

Thou

great

shalt

in

influence
is connected

is

of

ism.
actions.

Buddhism
JAMES

He
The

'

'

with

applies
the

the

doctrine

of

this

the

woes

secrets

of

the

silence

The

secrets

of

the

gloom

The

life

that

cloud

Mists

for

lies
to

its

This
of

well

as

as

had
com

which

souls,

Brahman-

of

consisting1

humanity

between

cloud

masonry

of

of

good

man,

doctrines

the

fate,

The

From

has

creatures,

Monguls.

the

this

command,

transmigration

positive

living

system

In

persecuted.

CLARKE.

musing

ways

unconditioned

of
of

of

inculcates

FREEMAN

lived

The
all

BURMAH.

IN

not

to

other

people.

has

manners

doctrines

also

it

the

as

the

to

MISSIONARY

lesson.

which

softening

essential

the

"

kill,

not

mand
one

Christians

teach

can

and

deceived,

not

kingdom

across

and

of

whence

all

whereto

all

like
the
vapory

books,

the

come,

go,

arch

that

sky,

which

flung
hath

piers.
THE

LIGHT

OF

ASIA.

IX.

REINCARNATION

THE

else

ancient
did

ism

times.

the

its

alter

the

the

of

heart

sap-root

Veda

scriptures.

made

them

ancient

distasteful

dreamy
that

any

for

to

the

asceticism

these

western

of
eastern

the

while

is

it

religions

religion of

that

life

since

the

are

the
is

far

its

with
is

it

which
has

Buddhism

the

and

races

than

an

sacri

true

civilization

Brahmanism

at

the

generous

goodness
race

lain

inspiring

submissive

in

self-centred

and

the

while

rather

has

as

conquering

result

subjugation

that

to

passive,

spoil

accomplished

but

did

permeates

Jesus,

distinction

in

easy

of

and

caste

Reincarnation

and

West

that

below

lead

mortification

tain

the

taught by Christianity
Buddhists

first

by

faith,

Asia,

that

ages.

religion

eastern

selfishness

best

not

is

truth

the

as

India.

old

and

re-birth,

remotest

it is claimed

exalted
fice

of

Muni

Sakya

from

the

through
of

same

of

of

priesthood

broadcast

popularized

is the

While

of

every

Brahman-

multitudes

phase

original teaching

India

the

when

say

the

its abuses

and

confirmed

cannot

Protestant

reformation

like

Orient,

the

substantially

among

later

abolished

spread
not

of

now

History

flourish

not

Buddhism,
which

remains

there,

TO-DAY.

EAST

THE

religious philosophy

thing
in

IN

even

more

meditative

equally
more

cer

really

242

REINCARNATION

lived

by

followers

their

that

be admitted

it must

THE

IN

TO-DAY.

EAST

is with us
Christianity
which
selfishness,
spiritual

than
a

thoroughlypracticedas to bear all the fruits of

which
to a noble sacrifice,
love,is preferable
generous
is so largely
precept as to appear to the naked
eye
it is worth
civilized barbarism
considering
a
; and
not gain as much
whether Christendom
by learn
may
to materialism,
superiority
ing the secret of Eastern
the Orient is gainingby the infusion of Western
as
activity.Travelers agree that in many parts of inner
China, Thibet,Central India,and Ceylon the dailylife
is so like the realization of Christianity,
of Buddhism
to give strong support to the theoryof the Indian
as
demonstra
originof our religion.There is a practical
is

so

tion of what

reincarnation

will do

for

race,

and

from
grander result which would accrue
into the real life of the stronger
that principle
grafting
Saxon, Teutonic,and Celtic stock.
Knowing the inde
of the body,
of the soul,the evanescence
structibility
of spiritual
traits as formed
and
the permanence
by
thought,word, and deed, the whole energy of life is
To
focused upon purityof self and charity
to others.
hint of

love

the

one's

warfare, to

enemies,
govern

age, to

venerate

to

abstain

from

defensive

even

to
soul,to obey one's superiors,
providefood and shelter,to tolerate

the

are
guiding
opinion and religion,
of actual life. They are as vitally
and gener
maxims
allytranslated into flesh and blood as in primitive
in Count
Tolstoi's flock.
or
Honesty,
Christianity
modesty, and simplicityprevailin these sections.

all differences

Women

are

Sanskrit

held in the

epoch,and

same

children

esteem
are

as

treated

in many
Christian homes.
who witnessed
to the writer,

fullythan
known

of

in the ancient
more

beauti

ladytraveler,
this,said that if

244

REINCARNATION

India

peopleof

are

Buddhists

and

the

senses

cated

THE

still able

of
reality
and

And

foreignersin

of this keen

their finer

verifyby

to

reincarnation.

resident

evidences

TO-DAY.

EAST

that certain of the Brahman

sure

are

natives

witnessed

IN

many

edu

India

have

of

insightas
which com
extraordinary
qualities

sociated with other

power

to believe in it.

pelledthem
Brahmanism

Buddhism

and

practically
agreed
the philosophyof reincarnation,
the great
as
upon
Buddhist
revolt againstpriestcraft
only emphasized
this doctrine.
Every branch of these systems aims
of winning escape from the necessity
at the means
of
repeatedbirths. The ardent and final desire of all
is expressedby the words of the sage Bharata :
are

"

And

"

may the purple self-existent god (Siva),

Whose
vital energy pervadesall space,

From

There
faiths

are,
as

to

future

save
transmigrations

my

soul."

however, great differences in these

the

that all forms

and

means

the result.

the penance

are

personalexistence
emption from it

as
as

an

true

Both

of nature.

empty

contend

They regard

delusion

salvation.

two

The

and

the

ex

Brahman

absorptionin Brahm, as the

con
realityat the heart of things; the Buddhist
siders this also unreal, and finds no
realitybut in
In
the silence and
attained beyond Nirvana.
peace
desire
the Brahman's
is so free from
one
paradise,
his individual
that no need
remains
for perpetuating
seeks

Nirvana, which

existence.

But

is

after that

comes

which

Pan-Nirvana,

condition so
a
disappearance,
difficult for a Western
mind
to comprehend that it
an
persistsin falsely
callingit and Nirvana alike
nihilation. The Buddhist's one
duty of life and the
of attaining
his goal is mortification,
the exmeans
is

utter

inaction

and

"

IN

REINCARNATION

tinction of affection and

THE

EAST

But

desire.

245

TO-DAY.

the Brahman's

communion
illumination,
contemplation,
Brahm, religious
study,and asceticism. The

of

with

is

work

is universal

Buddhism

class,for the

Brahmanism

of

is

from
saint may
come
any
d'etre of his faith is the abolition

Buddhist

The

exclusive.

that

creed

raison

of the sacred Brahman

only the wearer
thread can
aspireto direct union with Brahm ; the
lower
must
castes
undergo painfulfakir penances
until they attain the Brahman
estate.

of caste.

But

Northern

Buddhism

has

been

defined

as

almost

identical with Gnosticism.

of

It has spun a dense fabric

about this central thought
speculation

legendand

of the

soul's

gradual evolution from the natural to

the spiritual.
The Hindus
souls
believe that human
emanated
from the Supreme Being,and became
grad
in matter, forgettingtheir divine
ually immersed
and
origin,
strayingin bewildered condition back to
him
through many lives,after a protractedround of
births in partialreparation. Having become
con
taminated

with

sin, we

work

must

out

our

release

of sense
through earthlylives in the delusive arena
until the realityof spiritual
existence is attained.
So long as the soul is not pure enough for re-mer
be born againrepeatedly,
must
gence into Brahm, we
and the degreeof our
impuritydetermines what these
births shall be. So closely
is the account
of the soul's
misdeeds kept that it
of
may
pass throughthousands
years

in

one

or

another

of the

heavens

good deeds,and yet be obligedlater

for certain

standard
human

by

ancient sins.
which

actions

are

the

The

moral

measured
1

See page

to

Laws

descend
of Manu

consequences

with
273.

for

in reward
to

earth

givea

of various

great detail.1

246

REINCARNATION

more

three
ness

"

other
souls

THE

EAST

TO-DAY.

generaldoctrine is based on the assumptionof

Cosmic qualities goodness,
passion,and dark
in the human
soul. On this ground Mann
and
writers built an intricate theory,
providingthat
of the first qualitybecome
those of the
deities,
"

those of the third,beasts.

and

second, men,
The

IN

Hindu

conceptionof reincarnation embraces

all existence
gods, men, animals, plants,minerals.
from
It is believed that everythingmigrates,
Buddha
down
to inert matter.
Hardy tells us that Buddha
born an ascetic eighty-three
himself was
times,a mon
arch
times, as the soul of a tree fortyfifty-eight
three times,and many
other times as ape, deer,lion,
snipe,chicken, eagle,serpent,pig,frog,etc.,amount
ing to four hundred times in all. A Chinese author
ityrepresentsBuddha as saying, The number of my
births and
deaths
can
only be compared to those of
all the plants in the universe."
Birth is the gate
"

"

which

into every
opens
into which it shall open.

state, and
Earth

merit

and

from
intermediary
stage, resulting
placesand forms and introducing
many
multitudes

of

inhabited

worlds

life are

human

an

are

determines

many

previous
There

more.

which

upon

the

born accordingto his at

successively
return
To the earthlylife he may
tractions.
again
of past experiences,
and again,droppingthe memory
and
like an
embryonic germ, the concisest
carrying,
of former lives into each coming one.
Every
summary
same

act

person

bears

"

the resultant which

upon

into its next

more

is

only on earth,but
Heaven
regionsof

habitation,not

exalted

Hell."

Thus

debased

or
"

the

chain

and the only escape

istences,
into Brahm.

shall steer the soul

"

of the law"
is

by

binds

the final

in the
"

and

all

ex

absorption

REINCARNATION

Hindus

the

While
soul

IN

Buddhists

teach

succession

of
of

sprouting

but

result,
curious

into

similar

is
of

of

identical

Plato

tremendous

and

deliver

the

Zoroastriaus
usual
tions

of

which
out

back

some

to

to

reincarnation
of

larger

into

the

the

to

Persian

number,

original

the

that
certain

at

but

one

Greek

Academy

same

Arabian
soon

or

with

limit

repeated

and

source

continual

etc.

few

but

Stoics

provided

any

thought,
a

events.

the

Mohamedans,

Indian

bring

the

again,

at

appear

Sufi

and

antipathy

and

of

the
eter

earlier

to

which

again

lectures,

is

length

year

and

staggering

same

of

the

lamp,

divide

at

the

Another

who

periodic

Pythagoras,

metaphysician,

old

former.

shall

animals,

speculations

Atomists,

would

is

like

and

an

the

repetition

grand

intervals

Hindu

or

the

to

of

existences

plants
from

which

precise

metempsychosis
the

from

Buddhists,

Epicurean

the

another,

one

same

Southern

from

Northern

heretical

the

Indian

cycles

the

of

kindled

these

that

succession

identity

of

again

This
and

the

not

gigantic

around

bred

light

new

certain

of

the

247

TO-DAY.

hold

births,

generations

new

aspect

view

nity

that

souls,

the

like

and

EAST

generally

different

at

appears

THE

their

lives

their
concep

on

mystics

disappearing
into

darker

scenes.

earth,
stretch

either

X.

REINCARNATION.
EASTERN

POETS

UPON

Here
The

thou

shalt
whitest

of

pearls

the

from

pluck

wisdom's

treasury.
ARNOLD.

EDWIN

Young
Old

and

and
O

Turn,
Where

Westward
Let

Wander

roll

invites

poet,
eastward

the

the

orbs

thee

of

thoughts

the

West,

the
East.

intellectual

with

sage

tend

the

is

youth!
the

Eastward

is

enterprising
meditative

zest

to

his

heaven,
of

men.

nature-driven,
now

shells

ancient

most

and

then.

MlLNES.

feast.

252

EASTERN

POETS

UPON

REINCARNATION.

This

maid is like a fragrant

flower
peerless
been diffused.
"Whose perfumed breath has never
A gem of priceless
water, justreleased
from its glittering
bed.
Pure and unblemished

fruit

Or rather is she like the mellowed

Of virtuous actions in
Now

broughtto

That

song

perfection.
with

has filled me
after

to yearn

seem

Not

full

seldom

in

our

former birth

some

sweetness.
peculiar

most

long forgottenlove.

some

happy

of

hours

'

ease

fair form,
the sightof some
thoughtis still,
fall of music breathinglow
Or mournful
all the soul
Will stir strange fancies thrilling
With
sadness and a sense
a mysterious
Of vague yet earnest longing. Can it be
of events
That the dim memory
long passed,
Or friendships
formed
in other states of being
?
o'er the spirit
Flits like a passingshadow
When

"Katha

Sanskrit

The
nold's
a

renderingas
of
full explanation
For

his

noble

Nachiketas

the

naming

ter

says

and

Upanishad," in

"The

Edwin

Secret of Death,''contains

the Eastern

doctrine.

sacrifice Yama

(Death) grants to
of asking three boons.
Af
privilege
receivingthe first two Nachik^tas

"

"Thou

?
is that peace nothingness
say that after death the soul stilllives,

dost

Some

givepeace

Personal,conscious
Fain

By

would

the

I know

"

which

Then

Yama

answered,

Even

by

gods !

Not

to be

Ask

me

told, hard

some

say, nay, it ends :

of these twain be true,

some

enlightened. Be
the

Ar

"

my third boon this."

This was
asked of old,
is

This
to be

other boon

subtle

understood
I may

not

thing,
:

grant."

POETS

EASTERN

insists upon

Nachiketas

will not

this,and

which
pleasures

and

wealths,powers,

253

REINCARNATION.

UPON

accept the

Death

offers

substitute.
Then

yielded,
grantingthe great boon,

Yama

And

spake:

And

what

is Pleasant

many
Pleasure

is he

Blessed

separate!
!

man

who, choosinghigh,lets go
The

for Good.

Pleasure

Pleasure-seekers

The

end, so lived.

Life's

these be

"

ways, in diverse instances

and Good
lay hold upon each

By

is Good

Know, first of all,that what

"

Pleasant

lose
the Good

and

the sage, distinguishing

followeth the Good,
understanding,

Solicitmen

By
Being more
Cleaveth

excellent.
to

foolish

The

Pleasure, seekingstillto have,

who

keep,enjoy. The foolish ones

holdingthemselves
ignorance,

To
In
And

well

man

as

tread the round

instructed,

live

wise
of

change

With

erringsteps,deluded,like the blind

Led by the blind.
The
necessary road
Which
bringsto life unchangingis not seen
By such : wealth dazzles heedless hearts :
With

shows

And

the

of

they deem their world is real

is naught ; so, constantly,

sense,

unseen

Fall

theybeneath my stroke. To reach

Beyond all seemingBeing,to know true
This is not gainedby many ; seeing
that
So much
The

more

"

The
him

By
Am

That

as

hear

of

it,and

Being

to

life

"

few

of those few

part under standeth

not.

soul is

ill-perceived
who, unenlightened,
sayeth: I
uttermost

true

thou, thou

knoweth

and

the life divided

He

life undifferenced,
declares

The

what
spirit,

And

this is Truth.

Be

deceived

it is.One
But

with the All.

nowise

compassed,if thou speak of

shall the truth

small and

great.

as

254

EASTERN

POETS

Excellent

"

Comes

UPON

youth!

the

with

speech:
surelycomes
By insight
not

Lo ! thou hast loved the

I would

that

Only

Their
See

thought from

Hard

and

Whose

house
and

Are

"

was

before

freed from
Make

"

Who

Truth, and striven for it.

shows

and

sever

fix it upon

truths,

and

abides

and

always; and so seeing

and pleasures."
griefs

it known

is HE

entered, who

never

to

? what

me," he saith,

? whom

thou

hast

knowledge of."

Yama

spake :

The

answer

whereunto

all vedas

The

answer

whereunto

The

answer

whereunto

strives ;
penance
those strive that live

seekers after God

As

"

the word

hear this from

Om

knoweth

With

all its purports ; what

heart

lead

as

Who

His

signs.

hears.

Then
"

crave

the false world's

are

it if one

didst

Unspeakable,
hid
ever
seen, retreating,
deeperin the uttermost ;

Deeper
Now

words

do
patiently

the Perfect
be

to

knowledge thou

others,Nachiketas, strove !

the wise who

HIM,

REINCARNATION.

possesseth.This

me.

(which meaneth

God)

his heart would

have

of

spoken speech

wisest,deepest,best,supremest. He
That speakethit,and wotteth what he speaks
Is worshipedin the placeof Brahm, with Brahm
Is

Also, the soul which

thus itself

knoweth

It doth not

From

it begetteth
none.

and

It sprang

die.

It is not born.
none,

Unmade,

Immortal, changeless,
primal. I
The
"

body, but

that soul I cannot

If he that

slayeththinks

'

break

can

harm."
'

slay

if he

slaythinks I am slain/then both

Know
life in each
not aright. That which
was
Cannot be slain nor slay. The untouched
soul,
Greater than all the worlds (becausethe worlds
Whom

By

he doth

'

it subsist)
; smaller than subtleties

-"*

thingsminutest

Of

His

laid aside desire and

hath

and

mastered

senses

ultimates,

of all that lives !

heart

Sits in the hollow

Whoso

last of

255

REINCARNATION.

UPON

POETS

EASTERN

fear,

still,
spirit

his

quietlightof verity
Eternal, safe,majestical his soul :
Resting it ranges everywhere: asleep
Sees

in the

"

It

world, unsleeping: who,

the

roams

that divinest

Know

it is,

as
spirit

beyond joy,existingoutside

Glad

I,

save

life ?

Beholdingit in bodies bodiless,

Amid
impermanency permanent,
Embracing all things,
yet in the midst of
The mind
enlightenedcasts its griefaway
It is not to be known
by knowledge : man
Wotteth
it not by wisdom
vast
: learning
Halts short of it : only by soul itself

all
:

perceived when the Soul wills it so

There
shines no lightsave
its own
lightto show
Itself unto itself : none
compasseth
Its joy who is not wholly ceased from sin,
Who
dwells not self-controlled,
self-centred,
calm,
Is soul

Lord

"

of himself.

Brahm
"

hath

The

Comes
Back
The

region of

wise and

mindful

to the

again shall

And,

if it wills the

to receive

life

sense

one,

births

he freedom

fathers and

place of

peace

he falls

again.

heart

purified,

changelessPlace, wherefrom

hath

Come

give.

to that fixed

Then

The

to

gotten else.

unwise, unmindful, evil-lived

to the

Attaineth
Never

it not

man

not

It is not

for him.

renew

over

all worlds

regionof

the mothers
it ; and

the

Past,

of the Past

that soul is glad :

And

if it wills the

regionsof

The

Brothers

the Sisters of the Homes

and

the Homes,

256

EASTERN

POETS

to receive it ; and

Come
And

if it wills the

The

well-beloved

With

love

Where

of grace

it

and

glad.

peace

perfumes and delights

and

drinks,music

and

meats

Friends,

that soul is

and

world

garlandsare

Of delicate

the

to welcome

come

that soul is glad:

regionof

undying ;

if it wills

And

REINCARNATION.

UPON

and

song,

fragrancesand blossoms and delights

of song
Of daintybanquets and the streams
Come to it ; and that soul is glad.
HIM
that is
Whoso
once
perceiveth
Without
a
Unseen, Impalpable,
name,
!

Lo

Bodiless,Timeless, such
Death

hath

Although
Arnold's

one

is

saved,

him."

not

power

not

in the ordinary
poem
hesitate to placein this cluster Edwin

do not

we

sense,

an

upon

Asiatic

an

Light of Asia." After the festival scene

the princedistributed prizesto the maiden

"

in which

victors in the sports,and his love had centred

Yasodhara, the last of the contestants, follow
lines

upon

these

"

Long after,when

enlightenmentwas full,
Buddha, beingprayed why thus his heart
fire at first glanceof the Sakya girl,

Lord
Took

Answered

all it seemed

And
A

hunter's

By

We

"

son,

Yamun's

umpire

Like

hares

Came

from

with

us

in ages long gone by

playingwith forest girls

while

at

to

strangersas

eve

Nandadevi

theyraced
that

run

with flower-like stars

Plucked

One

not

where
springs,

Sate

One

were

beneath

their
crowned

stands
the firs

playfulrings;
he, one

the

with

longplumes,

pheasant and the junglecock,

fir apples; but who ran
the last

first for

him, and

unto

her the

boy

EASTERN

Gave

fawn

tame

And

in the wood

And

in the wood

Lo

So

good

And

his heart's love beside.

and

they lived many

theyundivided

glad years,
died.

hid seed shoots after rainless years,

as

and

hates
evil,painsand pleasures,

loves,and

all dead

Bearing brightleaves
Thus

257

REINCARNATION.

UPON

POETS

I he and

was

And

while

That

which

dark,

or

forth

come

death

or

turns

be between

must

again
sour.

of birth and

been

fruit

sweet

she Yasodhara

the wheel
hath

deeds

us

round

two."

In other
how

his

dhara, in
a

of the same
Buddha
passages
poem
athletic triumph over
the suitors for

which

she

version

new

of

wore

an

black

ancient

and

tells
Yaso
but

gold veil,was

forest

battle,when

as

tiger he

for the
conquered all the rival claimants
black and gold-striped
tigressYasOdhara; how ages
before in time of famine, when
he was
he
a Brahman,
himself
threw
to a starvingtigress
compassionately
;
and
how
his final salvation of Yasodhara
by the en
lighteneddoctrine repeated a transaction centuries
and
sacrificed the
old,when he was a pearlmerchant
this
all his fortune
to rescue
priceless
containing
gem
wife Yasodhara
from
same
hunger.
A

typicalexpressionof

reincarnation

is found

FROM

BY

HAPPY

are

you,

Zoroastrian

the

in this poem
THE

phase

of

"

PERSIAN.

ARCHBISHOP

R.

C.

TRENCH.

starry brethren,who

from

heaven

do

not

roam,

In

the

eternal Father's
at home.

mansion

from

the first have

dwelt

258

EASTERN

Round

the

POETS

Father's

REINCARNATION.

UPON

throne

forever

standingin

his

coun

tenance,

Sunning you,

the

see

you

heavens
circling

seven

around

you

dance.

Me

he has cast out

How

I should

to exile in

love Him

the

distant land

to learn

for that true

Father, how

coun

try yearn.
I lie here,

Scarce

star

of

this

heaven, fallen upon

remembering what brightcourses

gloomy place,

was

allowed

once

to trace.

Stillin dreams

it comes

upon

me,

that I

once

on

wings

did

soar;

But

e'er my

or

commences
flight

this my

dream

all be

must

o'er.

When
Even

And

Yet

the lark is climbing

upward in the
as

though

rosebud

my

also
spirit

to this lower

hidden

soil of earth

sunbeam, then I feel

pinionscould
am

with

reveal.

bound,
fastly

heavenlydew besprinkledstillam
ground.

rooted

to

the

the life is

stillwith all their

struggling
upward, stirring
might,
Yearningbuds that cry to open to the warmth and heavenly
light.
From

its stalk

released,my

flower

soars

not

yet

but

terfly,
But

meanwhile

my

fragrantincense

evermore

I breathe

on

high.
to his garden I shall once
be,
transplanted
my Gardener
There where
I have been alreadywritten from eternity.

By

260

EASTERN

POETS

not

that
surprising

ety

has

drawn

UPON

the

the

and

poets of the whole

ere

Ere
When

had

been

devo

Arabian

Orient

SEARCH.

earth,

upon

"

"

none

One

streamed

the Presence

save

the veil of the flesh for Messiah

the Godhead

I measured

pi

yet existed of aught that has birth,

being was

Ere

of meditative

and

named

the locks of the Loved

And

To

Persian

SUCCESSFUL

name

trace

one

their rapturous

distinguished
religionists,
philosophers,

most

THE

was

of
intensity

their ranks

among

tees

REINCARNATION.

I bowed

forth for

sign,

Divine

wrought
prostrationof thought.

in

I pondered
intensely,

was

with

heed

! fruitless my labor)the Cross and its creed.

the Pagod I rushed, and the Magian's shrine,

(But ah
To
But

my

The

reins of research

Whither

and

above

beneath

nor

seventh

But

in neither

earth

Pen

vision I

when
! the

Till each
And

Or

the
a

to

my

view

glanceturned
vainlysought Loved

wilder,hath

God-

One,

of

explored,

Fate,
state.

yet

seen,

breast,

own

my

the Godhead
tossed

spiritwas

being I

of Tanniz
never

heaven

of the Lord.

within

transport my

of separate

brightsun

flown.

belongscould descry.

I my

of its

had

his
pavilions
scanningeye

He

where

that to Godhead

atom

One

but the Phoenix

the Tablet

strained,but

In the whirl

went

young

wistfully
through,

the Loved

and

My

Lo

old and

I the Court

discerned

they whispered not

But

bent,

traversed,the seventh

But

trace

and lone,
summit, wild, pathless

questionedthe

No

came

Kaf,
globe-girding

The

glorydivine

Caaba

Hera"t searched

I toiled to the

Of the

to the

hopefullythrongingthe

Candasai
Nor

caught no glimpseof

eye

lost

madder
nor

than
shall

see.

me

confessed.

XI.

ESOTERIC

ORIENTAL

REINCARNATION.

Life's
With
Tears

from

No

longer

To

seek

All

ills

And

so

Thus

so

In

new

strive

not,

which

flow

to

and
"

that

lighter

all

from

Broken

from

ties

whirling

From
a

Lifeless
Blessed

craze

NIRVANA

change

which

"

ends,

sinless,
never

the

flesh

cheats

saved

"

aroused

hateful

quiet,

nameless

to

"

live

earth's

from

of

from
to

free

Upadan

wheel

prove

all,

at

skandhas

the

on

be
;

from

"

wakened

man

aching

the

takes

toils

"

path

the

more

place,

new

to

not

meek

die.

they

frame

the

sense

bearing

never

freer

what

finishing

Released

and

his

is wise

wrongfulness,

that

either

body

not

passions

who

but

mind

foregone

sinless

find

his

itself

quenches

feeds

wrong

from

existence

is

files

not,

informing

Thus

Trishna,

shows,

he

thirst,

this

constraining

Lighter

That

soul

false

grows

Or

Till

his

double

on

Needing

As

which

draughts

thirst

and

sane

dreams.

and

glides

life

nameless
stirless

joy,
rest

"

changes.
THE

LIGHT

OF

ASIA.

XI.

ORIENTAL

ESOTERIC

the

East

the

THROUGHOUT

been

and

is

from
of

elaboration

mere

like

speculation
It is

the

aid

rational

purely

scientific

of

and

investigation

and

experience

actual

The

soul.

manding
How

soul

the

in

limest
races

in

how

how

the

returning

to

things

spiritual

These

apart

of

gradual

from

masters

the

facts
of

these

"

are

to

human

populace

cavil.

body,

moulding
vast

atom

evolution
in

and
them

mystery
and

all-com

the

it, and

lowest

from

seldom

of

secrets

family
inter

inextricably

and

to

pro

physical

proceeds through revolving cycles

order

and

the

is but

all nature

the

applied

beyond

of

by

protracted

and

proven

physical clothing

archangel

stupendous

selves

are

Europe.

psychology

of

many

materialism

living brotherhood,

ascending
known.

and

of

Through

probed

of

secluded

retrospective

independent

its needs

suit

embodied
laced

is

of

no

is much

as

repeatedly

through

is

This

scholasticism

tests

spirit

leaving

sometimes
it to

of

power

which

study,

from

spun

inquiry.

falsity of

time,

past

severest

world.

development

have

phetic insight they

the

patiently

crucial

all

philosophy,

mediaeval

the

of

ages

vulgar

fanciful

metaphysics,

eastern

the

in

as

spiritual science

by long

accumulated

concealed

to-day,

controls

higher priesthood

has

REINCARNATION.

sub-

to

of

all

constantly
other

many

familiarly
hold

them

appear

to

264

ESOTERIC

ORIENTAL

REINCARNATION.

but theyare universally

disciples,
any but their special
believed in by the natives of India,as the miraculous

evidences
have been

of

their

of many.

seen

tion of the

penetrationinto

existence

nature's

heart

Moreover, ocular demonstra

and

known

of
phenomenal capacities
Mahatmas
been given to wellhas
frequently
officialsand reputableforeigners,
whose testi

mony

is

these

on

record.

Although these highestadepts keep most of their

mankind
in
discoveries secret,preferring
to enlighten
and by a wholesome
occa
gradualuplifting,
directly
sional expressions
have been given of the occult phi
losophyderived from their funds of science,and from
these we abridgewhat they are
said to teach concern
their
ing reincarnation. Even in the books containing
Esoteric Buddhism,"
doctrine,as
Man,"
Light
the Path," and
on
Through the Gates of Gold,"1 we
surmise that portionsrelating
details are
to specific
and
exoteric. Therefore we
less arbitrary
more
or
confine our
attention to a synopsisof their central
of the subject.
principles
These masters tell us that man
is composed of seven
interwoven
to constitute a
so
as
principles
intricately
unit and yet capableof partial
separation.This sep
of the common
tenary division is onlya finer analysis
and
runs
tripledistinctions,
body, soul, and spirit,
through the entire universe. The developmentof
is in the order of these divisions,
from
man
body to
of
and from spirit
to body, in a continual round
spirit
"

"

"

"

incarnations.

by

curve

ward
1

be best illustrated
progress
may
seven-coiled
spiralwhich sweeps with a wider
is not a steadyup
at every ascent.
The spiral

but
incline,

Beside these

older

The

ones.

at

recent

one

side sags down

Englishbooks

the

into material-

Appendixgivesmany

ORIENTAL

ESOTERIC

at the other

265

REINCARNATION.

side rises into

the
spirituality,
of e'ach ringbeingthe lowest side of
material portion
its curve, but always higherthan the corresponding
descent.
Furthermore,each ringof the spiral
previous
is itselfa seven-fold spiral,
and each of these againis
and so on to an
indefinite number
a seven-fold spiral,

ityand

"

of subdivisions.

The

for its complete

evolutionary
process requires
l
of planets
unfoldment a number
to the
corresponding
On each of these planets
seven
a longseries
principles.
of lives is necessary before one
After a full circuit is made

can

the

advance

to the next.

be

must

course

re

peatedagainon a higherplane,until many successive

series of the planetary
hun
each involving
rotations,
dreds of separate lives,
has developedthe individual
into the perfect
fullness of experience.Some of these
to astronomy, beingof too fine a
planetsare unknown
for our present perceptions,
and on them
materiality
is very unlike his terrestrial appearance.
Since the first human
souls began their

man

career

through these cyclestheyhave moved alongthe en

tire planetarychain three times, and now,
for the
fourth time,we have reached the fourth planet Earth.
"

In the

explicit
phrasingfrom which this section is derived,
there are mentioned
seven
planets,
througheach of which the soul
makes seven
seven
rounds,each round including
races, and each
and these againcontaining
race
seven
seven
branches,
sub-races,
the whole number
of lives into a compound of seven.
multiplying
Everywhere the sacred number
appears, but contrary to the
strict interpretation
of many students of oriental thought,we are
certain that these figuresare
onlysymbols. Just as the spec
trum
into onlythree essential components, or into
might be split
much
a
than seven, so the dissection of these
larger number
of the soul into any one number
to be an arbitrary
seems
mathematical
of the fact that each division must
representation
courses

include

such

entirety.

components

as

will fit togetherin

one

indissoluble

266
We

ESOTERIC

ORIENTAL

REINCARNATION.

therefore,
roughlyspeaking,about half devel
oped,physically.Duringthe previousseries of earthly
inhabitations we
different from our
were
exceedingly
present form, and duringthe later ones we shall enter
marvelous
each grand
stages. With
upon stillmore
series (orround) a dimension
is added
to man's con
ceptionof space. The fourth dimension will be a
fact of consciousness before we complete the
common
present set of earthlylives. Before reachingthe per
are

fection attainable here at each round

pass throughmany
in the middle
of

minor

every

circuits. We

are

soul must
said to be

the fifth circuit

(or race) of our

fourth round, and the evolution of this fifth race
began
about a million years ago.
Each
is subdivided,
race
and each of these divisions again dissected,
making
the total number
No

of lives allotted to each

very

being can escape the earth's at

with only rare
traction until these are
accomplished,
merit have out
those who by special
exceptions
among
the others : for althoughall began alike,the
stripped
of the universal opportunities
have
contrasted uses
in the human
producedall the variations now existing
of characteristics
The geometricalprogression
race.
selected by each soul has resulted in vast divergences.
of our
birth into the pres
Long before the twilight
ent life we
passedthrough an era of immense duration
this planetas spiritual
on
descending
gradually
beings,
into matter
the bodies which were
to enter
developed
the highestanimal
reception.
type for our
up from
Our evolution therefore is a double one
the spir
on
itual side from ethereal races
and
of infinite pedigree,
the physical
side from
the lower animals.
on
In the first earthly
circuit of the last great series
(or round) we passedthroughseven ethereal sub-races.
large.

human

round

"

268

ESOTERIC

retained

REINCARNATION.

as
largedegreeof spiritual
quality,

themselves
Our

ORIENTAL

the

men

stillethereal.

were

in the presentcir

first terrestrial appearance

cuit

form, havingonly
(thefifth race)was in spiritual
astral bodies.
ethereal race
This primitive
occupied
the earth longbefore it was
geologically
preparedfor
the historical human
The developmentof the
races.
in their present form marks the stages
senses
physical
of

reincarnation in the present race, which is called

the descent into matter.
in this circuit
Each
turn
our

has carried forward

fixed

before upon

ever

of

order, until

our

progress

re-births have

of the

the evolution
now

have

we

those five which

in the

obscured

firmer

hold

than

indicate the extent

present stage. Our

the

in

senses

long vista

repeated

of the

ages

through which we have traveled to this point,run

and over
ning through the seven-toned gamut over
the
again,firstin broad rough outline,then finishing
details more
at each iteration. Their early
carefully
forms have gradually
spiritual
givenway to the mod
ern
forms,but some persons stillretain a por
physical
tion of those old guisesthat once
in
were
universal,
certain peculiarly
second
delicate senses
known
as
sight,
psychometry,clairaudence,tastingthroughthe
and smellinglike a hound.
In our
fingers,
present
era

the

of taste

sense

has

become

the last and most

At first
fullydevelopedand the characteristic sense.
the body did not require
food ; then becominggrosser
it inhaled

it with

proachedwhich
animal
have

and

the air,and

now

is grown

completedthe

as

the

condition

became
man
prevails,
to an
epicure.When
full number

of rounds

ap

eating

an
we
on

shall

this

onlythe other two senses, but

shall govern all seven
in a triple
form
as
physical,
and spiritual.
astral,
earth

we

shall have not

ORIENTAL

ESOTERIC

269

REINCARNATION.

important fact in our evolution,and the

of the present phase of existence,
with its blind
cause
of matter
and evil,is the growth of
ing encasements
This
is the forbidden
fruit of the
a personalwill.
Bible Paradise.
It originated
cyclesback and
many
graduallyflourished,until its impress was
stamped
all our
fellow-creatures.
At
first startingas
upon
selfish desires,
then urging motives
for rivalry,
it re
The

most

sulted in fierce contest

between

man

and

The

man.

concentration

of the soul in selfish energy

clouded the
inner spiritual
nature, destroyedthe trace of ethereal

descent, and
But

this

buried

deep

us

"

fall into matter

"

in the

is

world.

material

reallybut

necessary

of the

and is the dawn

of a brighter
spiral,
day
such as humanity has never
seen.
Death
marks
the originof the turn which human
evolution is at present describing.The earlier races
had no sense
of age and did not die. Like Enoch, they
walked
with God
into the next
period of their
curve

"

"

life.

At

present when

dies his ego holds

man

the

earthlydesires until they are purged

then passes into a
from
that higher self,which
away
spiritualstate, where all the psychic and spiritual
forces it has generatedduring the earthly
life are un
folded.
It progresses
these planes until the dor
on
mant
physicalimpulsesassert themselves and curve
impetus of

his

the soul around

the resultant

The

to another

successive appearances
a

series

assumed

parts played by

numerous

differs
personality

ence,

but

the

form

is

of the earlier lives.

earths are
many
the various masks

the

incarnation,whose

one

from

line of

of the soul upon

one

or

which
are
personalities
the
by one individuality,

of

one

actor.

In

each

birth

prior and later exist

individual continuity
runs
the

270

ESOTERIC

unbroken

comprehends

ally
which

time

in

which

the

rived

from

of

being,

brings

the

the

the

summit.
each

soul

the

whole

the

individual

in

period

and

life

impetus

another

life

elapsing

part

of

the

following
spiritual

unconscious

earthly

as

gradu

forgotten

determine
of

it

physical

larger

desires

into

of

and

development

existence

spiritual

earthly

forms

course

The

physical

until

highest

whole

of

the

countless

the

by

spent

the

its

incarnation.

next

passed

to

fraction

small

the

led

have

The

into

enters

REINCARNATION.

all

through

soul

the

ORIENTAL

paths

is

only

before
time

death,

qualities
the

condition
character

life.

is
in
de

XII.

TRANSMIGRATION

THROUGH

ANIMALS.

All

things

And

here

By

and

time

And

there

and

lights

it

where

spirit flies

sickness

or

dies,

unbodied

th'

force

lodges

nothing

altered,

but

are

dispossessed
in

man

in

PYTHAGORAS,

What

is the

That

the

soul

of

thinkest

What
think

of

opinion

grandam

our

thou

nobly

of

Pythagoras

his

of

the

might

and

wild-fowl
inhabit

haply

Ovid.

DRYDEN'S

concerning

?
bird.

opinion

soul,

beast.

or

no

of

approve

way

his

opinion.

SHAKESPEARE.

Whoever

leaves

attain

cannot

Be

how

last

hast

thou

into

turned

the

form

of

beast.

thy

since

thou

livest

it not

days.

and

disputed

SIR

"

he

BOETHIUS.

"

Leave

man.

passed

predominantly

; and

while

metempsychosis

under

erectly

is

human

be

to

ceases

he

nature

brutal

any

about

virtuous

being

divine

under

not

walkest
at

to

off

THOMAS

BROWNE.

fortunes

and

Ganges;

it
of

heart

Oh!

who

tures.

"

As

and

mild

the

nor

gentle

dwell

will,

time
in

begin

to

descending

and

ascending

animated

make

and

also

shall

humanity

the

when

come

north

cold

the

must

beast-loving
when

it warm,
spare

scale

and

man

finally
living

of

to

crea

RICHTER.

hairs

many
man

the

by

Nile

MICHELET.

honors

the

protect

life

animal

mis

many

so

the

neither

is

fertility

for

respect

beautiful

now

pass

"

shall

Brahmin

the

the

is

through

Egypt

and

their

preserved

man.

the

India

saved

has

which

That

who

through

as

slays
in

the

grow

on

the

that

beast

for

next

from

birth

beast,
his
to

so

own

birth.

many

deaths

similar

in

satisfaction

"

LAWS

OF

this
MANU.

shall
world

XII.

TRANSMIGRATION

THE
and

generally

so

for

necessary
and

All

carnation
souls

man

in

belief
sacred

through

brute

forms.

the

all

Egyptians

still

as

For

"

state

such

in

soul
sinful

after

assume

for

human

it is

exoteric
of

sol

in

in

All

masks

mostly

for

Hindu

The

The

Laws

corporeal,

vegetable

or

the

form

the

lowest

gods,

reverence

tropical jungle

vast

were

fallen

East.

disguise.

mental,

of

hu

common

animals

same

the

rein

of

the

was

Asia.

The

the

acts

death

mostly

acts

the

wandering
It

the

as

mostly verbal,

acts

that

phrasing

the

is in

reigns

everything

regards
sion

still

and

worshiped.

creatures

human

religions teaching

also

therefore

and

and

teach

Egypt

to

understand

to

seem

animals,

grotesque

philosophies

the

that

truth.

beautiful

and

emn

this

of

nature

gross

lower

thoroughly

to

us

notion

the

into

connected

intimately

so

with

identified
descend

sometimes

souls

ANIMALS.

is

reincarnation

of

idea

THROUGH

of

shall

man

form

bird

illu

Maim

of

mineral
of

of

for

beast

or

human

condi

tions."
"

priest

migrate
insect,
"

If

into
of
a

man

who
the

moth

has
form
or

steal

drunk
of

some

grain

spirituous liquors
smaller

the

worm

or

animal.

ravenous

in

larger

or

shall

husk

he

shall

be

born

274

TRANSMIGRATION

rat ; if

THROUGH

ANIMALS.

yellow-mixedmetal,a gander; if water, a

plava or diver ; if honey, a great stinginggnat ; if
a
milk, a crow ; if expressedjuice,
dog ; if clarified
a

ichneumon

butter,an
A

"

Brahman

weasel.

killer enters

the

body of a dog,a
or
a serpent."
bear,an ass, a tiger,
Not only does this conceptionpermeate the do
mains of Brahmamsm
and Buddhism
in
; it prevailed
Persia before the time of Zoroaster as since. Pythag
is said to have obtained it in Babylon from
the
oras
Magi, and through him it scattered widely through
than with any other
Greece and Italy.More
closely
teacher,this false doctrine is associated with the sage
of

Crotona,who

of

deceased

Plato

Those

men.

endorse

exercised

have

who

friend in the
to

seems

is said to have

who

recognizedthe voice
howling of a beaten dog.

it also. Plotinus

human

have

faculties

"

says
are

born

Those

again

used

the bodies of brutes,and

cious beasts,if they have

only their senses

go into
into those of fero
especially
yieldedto bursts of anger ;

in

this case, the difference between the

bodies that they animate conforms to the difference of
so

that

even

Those
who
have sought only to
propensities.
their lust and appetitepass into the bodies of
gratify
lascivious and gluttonous
those who
animals.
Finally,
have degradedtheir senses
by disuse are compelledto
vegetate in the plants. Those who have loved music
their

to

excess

bodies

and

yet have

of melodious

lived

birds.

pure

Those

lives,go into the

who

have

ruled

become
tyrannically
eagles. Those who have spoken
of heavenlythings,
lightly
keeping their eyes always
turned toward
heaven, are changed into birds which
alwaysflytoward the upper air. He who has acquired

civic virtues becomes

man

; if he

has not these vir-

276

TRANSMIGRATION

much

by

it as

by ransomingany of
at Algiers. The
captivity

do here

their

from

countrymen

our

should

we

ANIMALS.

THROUGH

they consider every animal as a

and therefore think them
brother or sister in disguise,
selves obligedto extend their charityto them, though
circumstances.
such mean
under
They tell you that
he dies,immediatelypasses
when
the soul of a man,
brute which he
into the body of another man, or some
he was
in his humor, or his fortune,when
resembled
is appar
of us." l
one
Pythagorean transmigration
think that the
ent also in the natives of Mexico, who
is because

reason

while
quadrupeds,

pass into
Among 'the

the souls of inferior persons

weasels,beetles,and

other

the Sandwich

negroes,

low

creatures.

Islanders,the Tasmanians,

short, among
nearly all the world outside
tendom, this faith rules unquestioned.
The
tribes
soul

forms

lowest
of

Africa

the
and

of this belief

America,

and

after
immediately

ment, and, if need

Some

of

death

person

the

of similar rank

bury the dead near

relatives,enabling the unbodied
the grave
doors are
hold

animal.

Sometimes

to

the

its former
houses

souls

to

holes

are

one,

of their
occupy
dug in

facilitate the soul's egress,, and the houseDruses

The
left open
for its admission.

firmly to
soul

tene

new

an

the

to

the

of

man

transmigration.The
how
has various ways of telling
inhabit an
animal's body,in

theory

folk-lore of all nations

the

of

the

that the soul will choose

assume

children.

out

body

therefore

their newborn

among
think that

seek

in

Chris

of

found

are

which

must

be, enter

of the Africans

body

nobler

the

and

singing birds

beautiful,sweet

of

after death inhabit the bodies

of rank

souls of persons

can

of

stories of wehr-wolves, swan-maidens, mermaids,

1

From

Addison's

Spectator.

etc.

ANIMALS.

THROUGH

TRANSMIGRATION

277

parts of Europe the belief in the man-wolf

many
still flourishes in connection with
a
crazy person, or
into
a
monomaniac, who is said to be transformed

In

the

brute

Northern

nature.

receives

Europe

this

it is the manIn India

the man-bear.
as
superstition
the man-hyena ; in South Africa,
tiger; in Abyssinia,
the depraved
the man-lion ; each country associating
riot as an
sometimes
human
runs
epi
nature, which
demic

with

mania,

But

it is all

vital truth

of

the animal

dreaded.

most

symbol caricaturingthe inner

reincarnation,and springingfrom the

coarse

and
between
animals, in
men
strikingresemblance
The intel
in voice and mien.
feature and disposition,
ligenceand kindness of the beasts approachingnear
of some
to human
character,and the brutality
men,
would
to indicate that both
seem
races
were
closely
enough related to exchange souls. As an English
writer says :
A judicious
critic or observant
reader
"

will

scarce

allow

that

more

than

four

or

five in

the

had any human

long catalogueof Roman
emperors
ity; and although they might perhaps have a just
claim to be styledLords
of the Earth, they had
no
There is an
excellent dis
rightto the title of Man.
sertation in Erasmus
the princely
of the
on
qualities
eagleand the lion ; wherein that great author has de
monstrated
that emperors
and kings are
very justly
representedby those animals,or that there must be a
in their souls,as all their actions are simi
similarity
l
lar and correspondent."
has a paragraph
Emerson
this in his essay on
Animals
Demonology :
upon
have been called the dreams
of nature.'
Perhaps for
"

'

Dr.

William

dreams, which

King, in the Dreamer, a series of satirical

humorously illustrate the alleged doctrine of

Pythagorasand Plato,as

well

as

the abuses

of

etc.
religion,

278
a

TRANSMIGRATION

of
conception

dience,the

ANIMALS.

their consciousness

In

dreams.

own

THROUGH

dream

have

we

we

may

to

go

our

the instinctiveobe

of the highestpower,
the
torpidity
same
unsurprisedassent to the monstrous, as these
Our
exhibit.
metamorphosed men
thoughts in a
stable or in a menagerie,
the other hand, may
well
on
remind
of our
What
dreams.
us
comparisondo these
imprisoning forms awaken ! You may catch the
glanceof a dog sometimes which lays a kind of claim
of
What!
to sympathy and
brotherhood.
somewhat
down

me

I, go

same

there ?

out

of

Does

Can

it ?

know

he

he, too, as

himself,perceiverelations

himself, see

We

fear lest the poor brute should gain one

dreadful
glimpse of his condition. It was in this glancethat

Ovid
his

got the hint of his metamorphoses; Calidasa,of

of souls.
transmigration
thoughts carried out.

For

these

fables

are

our

What

keeps these wild

of years? What
tales in circulation for thousands
but the wild fact to which they suggest some
approxi
for
is the fact quitesolitary,
of theory? Nor
mation
in varieties of our
own
specieswhere organization
in Kal
the geniusof man,
to predominateover
seems
muck
or
Malay or Flathead Indian,we are sometimes
sometimes, too, the
feeling
; and
painedby the same
it. In a
awakens
white man
sharp-witted
prosperous
mixed
assembly we have chanced to see not only a
glanceof Abdiel,so grand and keen, but also in other
own

faces
and

the
the

overlook
from

features

of the

mink,

barn-door

fowl.

You

his

own

condition,he

bull,of

think,could
could

not

the rat,

the

man

be restrained

suicide."

The

remarkable

mental

animals,the cunning of
the

of the

serpent's
meanness,

the
the

cleverness

of

the

highest

fox, the tiger's

fierceness,
seem
dog'sfidelity,

to be

enough
striking

are

the animal

forms, and

traits in other

human

in many

279

ANIMALS.

THROUGH

TRANSMIGRATION

qualities
to be fitly

for them

men

hog,a snake, etc. The charac

in expres
termed
teristics of animals
are
accurately
sions first appliedto mankind, and the community of
animal
the erect and the debased
between
disposition
from
for human
creation has furnished words
qualities
the lower orders of life, as leonine,canine,vulpine,
animals
and
etc.
Briefly,the rare humanity of some
first suggested
the notorious animalityof some
men
the primi
their souls among
the idea of interchanging
since among
it ever
the
tive peoples,
and has nourished
oldest portionof the race
as
a vulgarillustration of a
vital reality.
described

as

fox, a

"

"

"

As

the

this idea

fruits of

beneficial,it

are

and philosophers
as
a
firmlyheld by the priests
fable,through which theypopularlytaught not
but respect for
reincarnation,

wrought
has

poeticlove
been

never

in the

of nature

under

seen

virtue and

any

other

was

moral

only
It

for life.
such

masses

influence

"

as

and

has strangely
failed to establish.
Christianity
In
:
Lecky candidlysays in his European Morals
the inculcation of humanityto animals on a wide scale
which

"

"

the Mohammedans

and

the eastern

mind

life is

endless
is

and
transformations,
divine,from the commonest

king ;

and

as

all

ments

of

abuse

anything.

the

brute

human

considera

flowingthrough
it
everythingcontaining

stream

onion

livingthingsare
souls,it is

creation

The
is

the

kindness
a

this faith.

to his

the lower

The

to

the

crowned

the

possiblecase
heightof impietyto

of the Orient

beautiful

genuinenessof
friends

have

Christians."

bly surpassedthe
To

the Brahmins

"

comment

due

mercy

animals is

toward

upon
from

noble

the
man

bequest

280

TRANSMIGRATION

has

which

there

THROUGH

been

treasured

the wholesome

lesson of

oughlylearned

that

He

for

the

As

world.

Asia
transmigration,

has thor

prayeth best who loveth best

All thingsboth great and small,

For
He

But

ANIMALS.

the dear Lord

made

who

loveth

us

and loveth all.

leaders of oriental thoughtwere

intelligent
far from
The oc
believingtransmigration
literally.
cult theoryof the priests
of Isis,
like that of the Brahheld that
Buddhists,and Chaldeans,never
mans,
really
human

the

souls inhabit

animals,or that animal

souls

oc

althoughmany orientalists have not pene

trated beyond this outer court of eastern doctrine.
It
with
was
simplyan allegorical
gospelfor the masses
the inner truth which
to picture
a double
purpose,
cupy

men,

"

acute

not

thinkers would

know, and

to

reach and which

instill

the crowds

need

respect for all life. The

of teaching
Egyptian priesthoodadopted three styles
of the populacewas
all doctrine.
The vulgarreligion
a crude
thought. The priests
shapingof the priestly
of the outer
temple received the half-veiled tenets
of the inner
of initiates. But only the hierophants
allowed
to know
were
temple, after final initiation,
the pure truth.
The same
tripleshapingof the cen
followed
tral thought,adapted to the audience, was
Al
Plato,and all the great masters.
by Pythagoras,
with
of Pythagoras is synonymous
though the name
the idea of soul-wandering
through animals, a careful
and of his
perusalof the fragmentsof his writings,
books, shows that he tremendouslyrealized
disciples'
the fact that souls must
always,by all the forces of
the universe,find an
adequateexpressionof their

THROUGH

TRANSMIGRATION

strongest nature, and

it would

that

281

ANIMALS.

be

impossible

as

for
as
gallonto be contained in a pint measure,
animal
to inhabit an
a human
body. That the
spirit
teachingof Pythagorason this pointwas purelyalle
is proven
by the abridgmentof his philosophy
gorical
The
has
Hierocles :
who
man
given by his disciple
separatedhimself from a brutal life by the rightuse
himself as much
from
of reason,
is possible
as
purified
of passions,
from
and
excess
man
a
by this become
for

"

wild

beast,shall become

God

from

for a man
to become
a God.
possible
our
only cure
tendency downwards
by
leads upwards, by a ready submission

We

it is

as
can

that

by

total conversion

the divine

to

law.
all

the

Pythagorean doctrine is to be
receptionof divine good,that when
leave behind us
may
tal body,and be ready girtfor
we

comes

Then

we

restored

are

beautiful

the most

Hierocles

to

what

can

soul

pects that after his death

in
he

pidity,

such

those who

transform

man,

his

like
shall

beast,and become an animal

of his vices,or a plantbecause
a

"

power

God,

to

The

end

wings

of

for the

of death

earth

Golden

the

on

dies with

happen ;

never

the

the

mor

end."

"

his

heavenlyjourney.
primitivestate. This is

our

also comments

that

our

Pythagoras: If through a shameful

annexed
to our
soul,a man
immortality
himself

the time

upon

far

as

man,

Verses

of

ignoranceof the
should persuade
body, he expects
he who

manner

put

without

011

the

reason,

of his dullness

ex

body

of

because
and

stu

I say, actingquite contrary to

the essence
into one of the
of man

deceived,and absolutely
superiorbeings,is infinitely
ignorantof the essential form of the soul,which can
never
change ; for being and continuingalways man,
beast by virtue or
it is only said to become
God
or

282

TRANSMIGRATION

THROUGH

vice,though it cannot

be either the

ANIMALS.

one

or

the other."

limited the
early Neo-Platonists of Alexandria
bodies and
metempsychosisto human
range of human
denied that the souls of men
ever
passeddownwards

The

into brutal

states.

Even

the

apparent endorsement

of

by Plotinus,quoted above, was merely a

simile. Porphyry,Jamblichus, and Hierocles forcibly
emphasizedthis distinction. Wilkinson shows that the
dissolution is only the
initiated priests
taught that
has
of reproduction.Nothing perisheswhich
cause
existed.
once
Things which appear to be destroyed
onlychange their natures and pass into another form."
that

conceit

"

But

Ebers

demonstrates

that

the inner

circle of the

temple held this truth in a form wholly above the sys

of embalming,animal worship,
tem
and transmigration
devised by them for the people. Like the
ingeniously
in all times and countries,
rulingpriestcraft
they con
sidered it necessary to disguise
their sacred secrets for
the crowd.
The symbolsof reincarnation which
every
where
have typified
the same
doctrine, in Egyptian
architecture by the flyingglobe,in Chinese pagodas
and Indian templesby the intricate unfoldments
of germinant designsascendingthroughsuccessive stories to
culminate in a gildedball,
in the Grecian friezes of reli
in the Druidical cromlechs and cairns
giousprocessions,
"

of Wales

and

the circular stone

heaps of Britain, all

the masses
expressed a threefold significance,
telling
of their transition
through all livingconditions,re
of an
exalted
minding the common
series
priesthood
of transformations,
and
for the initiates the
picturing
hidden principles
of immortal
For all alike
progress.
1

From

Dacier's

"

with
Verses,together

with his Symbols and Golden

LifeofPythagoras,
the Lifeof Hierocles and his Commentaries
upon

the

Condon, 172X,

Verses,
p. 335.

284

TRANSMIGRATION

facts

far

as

the

as

and

emanations

For

these atoms

THROUGH

migrationof

of the outer

ANIMALS.

the

composingatoms

individual

concerned.

are

obey the directing

impulsesof degrad
ing passionor ascendingprinciple.The imponderable
force of these atomic changes is proven
by the psycho
metric evidence of sensitives,
who perceivethe various
unexpressedmoods of a person by the kinds of lam
bent particles
flowingfrom him, and trace the perma
of these particles
nent
after they have lodged
course
The tell-tale
on
objectswidelyseparated from him.
characteristics of these scattered atoms
remain
a long
while as stamped by their source, and guide them
to
what is most congenial. This scientific fact,confirmed
but generallyignored,
by many experiments,1
shaped
the old atomic hypothesesin which
Pythagoras,Epi
down
to Plato
curus, Zeno, and all the old philosophers
Plato himself
found delight,
and
simplyspiritualized
it into a more
enduringform.
of reincar
The attitude of the dominant
disciples
the fol
be gatheredfrom
nation upon this pointmay
The
of a Brahman
to the writer :
lowing statement
of re-births rests upon the rightunder
whole question
standingof what it is that is born again. Obviously
is the same
is it.the ego, which
the body, nor
not
"

whether

in

man

of all attributes

or

in

The

worm.

of which

we

have

is the

lightis commonly
and

red, blue, or any

luminated
The
1

knowledge in

the ego, in the

confounded
with the

blindness
as

any
be

said to be re
only thing that can
character
of a being,through spiritual

practice.The
born

is colorless

ego

confounded

with

said to be

essential characteristic of
See

the

humanity

recorded
psychometricinvestigations

Deuton's book

The Soul

of Things,

same

way
objectsil

other

color.

cannot

pos-

in Professor

TRANSMIGRATION

sibly exist

in

the

being

is

what

is

ego

in

the

essentiallyhuman,

birth

relative

truth

as

any

otherwise

Whenever

identified

285

ANIMALS.

for

form,

humanity.

to

certain

as

animal

an

essential

be

THROUGH

in

above

in

it

cannot

human
with

manner

animal

an

be

can

form

take

to

not

is

place."
Atoms

"

their

to

vidual

characteristics.

The

isms

in

takes

ties.

place

It may

be

between

the

and

atoms

the

longer
atoms
was

they

there
at

of

the

is

no

detect

from

to

reason

And

the

that
a

the

human

may

do

so.

the

into

human

gration accepted by

in

the

known

with

animal
the

this

Esoteric

it.
in

atoms

of

that

there

body

be

Consequently
affinityceases
psychometers
substance

any

It must

be

in

migrates

sense

those

self-conscious

alone

Science.''

no

certain

that

body, although

plane
sense

no

relation

the

that

history of

ego

lie below
And

that

life

an

and

together.

contact

to

the

shows

atoms

suppose

antecedent

true

body

affini

individual

an

fact

the

organ

of

the

when

ceases

man's

it is well

body

principles which
ness

law

of

But

drawn

so

by being brought
sisted

body

body.

into

were

parting.

can

his

similar

by

atoms

that

characteristics

attracted

with

the

contended

affinitybetween

some

fore

mental

drawn

are

with

accordance

indi

one

be

to

of

assimilation

hastily

constitute

from

tendency

according

necessarily human,

not

systems,

released

when

retain

they

system

combinations

organic

affinities,and

other

by

into

enter

is

transmi

XIII.

WHAT

THEN

OF

DEATH,

HEAVEN,

AND

HELL?

"When
that

have

we

Life
to

is

wake

shall find that

die, we

we

only lost

kind

of

they

There

Old

sleep.

when

but

sleep.

our

is

This

life of mortal

Is but

Whose

portal

; but

LA

seems

They

begin

never

BRUYERE.

is transition.

so

breath

of the

suburb

DE

"

what

dreams

our

sleep longest.

die.

death

no

lost

not

RICHTER.

"

men

to

are

have

we

life

Elysian,

call Death.

we

LONGFELLOW.

We
be

hardly

can

in

involved

so

do otherwise

than

constitution

present

our

that

assume

future

therein

be

to

as

the

ISAAC

I leave

When
it

as

bodies

our

He

and

inn,

an

as

the

to

to

the

For

place of abode.

flesh

in.

dwell

to

not

spiritshall

of

the

TAYLOR.

world, I leave

the

has

nature

flesh

corruption

reap

life

spirit reap

No

all lost

for

is dead

past

The

things

years

Together

of

there

begin again

can

we

earth's

all

will

heaven

little
in

pain

make

At

is another

going out,

Another

Larger

we

think, and

chamber
than

this

bow

We

life.

of
we

the
leave

good.

babyhood.
HUNT.

HELEN

Death

PAUL.

only sleeping, Love.

but

us,

but

angels' keeping, Love.

in the

are

us

everlasting.
ST.

But

given

CATO.

"

the

of

shall

of

defilement

and

rout

as

inn, and

an

soweth

rabble

not

soweth

that

he that

this

being- must
discernible.

heads

our

enter

straight

king's,
and

lovelier.
BAILEY.

The

deep conviction

death, which
gether
being.

upon
"

everyone

the

of

the

carries

consciousness

SCHOPENHAUER.

indestructibleness
at

of

the
the

bottom

of

of his

original and

our

nature

through

heart, depends
eternal

nature

alto
of

our

XIII.

WHAT

THE
occultists

and

nothing

is dead.
of

change

is

thing

the

human

their
a

and

brief

the
but

world

below

into

uncreated

their

concedes

that

garded
This

as

Law

is

protean

forms.

matter,

and

objective
the

one

It
makes

Stewart

has

one

and

essential

inheres

distinction
of

grade,

Tait, in

The

in

Unseen

re
J

itself."
under

particle

every

between
the

be

acting

energy

same

science
to

matter

as

the

modern
claim

much

reality

always
no

as

eternal

the
at

grasp
and

of

undimin-

of
is

say,

years.

atoms

thrill

occultists

plane

of

constituent

Continuity,

energy

inorganic, except
1

of

the

lower

thousands

by

in

vines

individualizes

still

physicists

"

an

life

the

The

energy.

on

and

and

in

reptiles

oaks

tremendous

Life,

activity.

in

crystals

crystal-life,in
is

the

lives,

reckoned

shapeless matter,

thing

vitalizes

longer

and

birds,

well

as

animates

which

force

same

Every

dirt

and

only
vital

no

principle.

stones

that
is

have

to

life

the

beasts,

also

lifetimes

with

ished

the

with

degree

mineral

And

The

periods,

smaller

of

and

extinction

appears

energy,

trees.

death,

be

the

with

agree

no

to

What
order

body,

is

seems

with

pulsing

animals

as

What

lower

science

there

that

poets

existence.

only

ity has

of

developments

latest

HELL?

AND

HEAVEN,

DEATH,

OF

THEN

organic

former
Universe.

of

and

containing

290

OF

WHAT

activelyand
life-energy
Because

the

AND

HEAVEN,

DEATH,

the

HELL?

latter in dormant

scientist is unable

to

form.

into activ

awaken

latent life of

matter, he insists,
by
inorganic
from
that life can
the law of biogenesis,
only come
the limit of his knowl
life. But that only marks
edge. The world's development has bridged all the
now
yawning between the different kingdoms
gaps
of nature, though nothing remains
to show how
now
it was
done, and science has to confess its ignorance.
There
is nothing to contradict and
much
to enforce

itythe

the

occult

plant,and

axiom
rock

that

simply in

indestructible force,
"

all nature
ment

Goethe

what

the

life animates

same

of the

different states

the Universal
terms

"

the

man,
one

Soul, making
livingvisible gar
"

of God."

for a person to cease

to exist. When
impossible
the tenant of the body moves
out, the forces binding
together the dwelling scatter to the nearest uses
The
would
have
it that
awaitingthem.
positivists
the individual soul also dissolves into an
impersonal
fund of being
Nirvana,
a sort of immediate
chilling
des
conceptionof remotest
out-freezing
any eastern
tiny. This melancholyresult of western materialism
is boldly confronted
by reincarnation with a proven
which
illuminates the mystery of death
hypothesis,
shows the unimpeachablereality
and the future,and
that the
demonstrates
of immortality.Reincarnation
personalego, which permanentlymaintains its identity
and
amid the constant
changesof the bodilycasement
It is

"

the

mental

must
consciousness,

continue

its individu

ality. In addition to the evidences alreadyadduced

for the genuineness
of this truth,there stands the hon
of spiritualism
est reliable testimony
(a small core of
which is gatheredan enormous
veritable fact around

292

WHAT

OF
When

the

In the

lap of

dream

of Southland

summers

the

HELL1

AND

HEAVEN,

DEATH,

holy Night

I, earth's blindness above,

In a kingdom of halcyon breath,

For

"

of love
I gaze on the marvel
In the unveiled face of Death.

When
the
est

death

the

severs

its mortal

soul from

it to its

of the soul carry

affinities. If these still dwell on

rulingtendencies

shell,
strong

earth,the

soul

and insen
the old scenes
affectionately
among
ministeringand
siblymingles with its heart-friends,
being ministered to, with no essential difference from
condition.1
the former
Many veritable experiences,
of delusion, confirm
this,
apart from all possibility
of us to
blinds most
althoughthe darkness of matter
the psychiclife. At length,
as
shiftingtime unties
hovers

the bonds

of

earth,the soul

an

era

nature,

as

of its true
much

life,as
physical
ing. For the
lows

the

full and

waking
from

escape

its strongest
the soul lives

of
expression

life,an

more

with

There

of its choice.

allies to the realms

out

on

moves

real than

more

state

its deepest

exceeds

material

the

the late
dream

confinement

al

the freest

in which the dominant

desires,
activity,
nourished in the spirit,
have
the mas
unconsciously
from
the earthly
the spirit
rouses
tery. This liberty
The start
lethargyinto its permanent individuality.
into its own
lingbound of the spirit
spheremust trans

fer the self-consciousness from

its terrestrial form

far

the

higher vividness

but, as

includes the sonmambulence

of

nightand

life,so
superiorto that dumb
strained spiritual
existence does
scends the material phase.
1

See

The

Gates

wakefulness

the
not

Between, by Elizabeth

burst

of

day

uncon

annul, but
Stuart

itself

knows
of

to

tran

Phelps.

293

HELL?

AND

HEAVEN,

DEATH,

OF

WHAT

periodinterveningbetween
and birth, like all other epochs, is framed
death
by
The inner character makes
the individual.
a Paradise,
a
Purgatory,or an Inferno of any place. As Jesus
with his followers,
in heaven while talking
said he was
as

found

Dante

all the

the

material

states
subjective

of the

appearance

self

the

for

hell in what

witnessed, so in the environments

eyes
where
the

of

condition

The

created,well

are

There

must

be

as

or

many

of the

ill,
by

beyond death,
soul

and

universe
the

are

the

hells

supreme,
of
feelings*

individual.

central

and

heavens

his

as

there

are

beings. All the attempts to describe

and
the future
must
are
inadequateand erroneous,
be so.
Plato,in the last book of the Re
necessarily
public,quotes the narrative of the Pamphylian Er,
who had been killed in battle but came
to life again
and

good

on

his

turned

bad

funeral

pyre,

earth

and

declared

disclose the

that

he

was

re

of the

coming
life. He found thingsabout as Plato's allegory
pic
them : the good and the wicked
who
had just
tures
died being assignedtheir places in heaven
under
or
to

the earth.
of

one

or

to cast
man

number

the other

lots for

and

to

animal

nature

of souls whose

experiencehad

choice

out

of

lives,and

to

thousand

expiredwere
largenumber

drink

years
made
of hu

of the River

of

and to traverse
the Plain of ForgetfulIndifference,
before entering the world
ness
again. As with all
the visions of after-death, this simply reflected the
St. John's Revela
opinionsof the Platonic thinker.
tion paints the scene
by colors obtained from his
Jewish
the canvas
of his Patmos
on
training,
impris
onment.
shows a simpleimagi
Bunyan's description
nation
saturated
with
the Apocalypse. Protestant
visionaries always discover a Protestant heaven
and

294

OF

WHAT

DEATH,

Catholic

AND

HEAVEN,

HELL?

always add
purgatory.
Swedenborg found the gardens of heaven laid out in
fashion
of his time.
the Dutch
Englishclairvoyants
and mediums
are
properlyorthodox and evangelical.
talk broad
American
spirits
theologywith ridiculous
details.
The
divergencein all these allegedliftings
of the veil betraystheir subjectiveness.
It is impossiblein the nature
of thingsthat one
should permanentlyleave the physicalcondition until
the business of that existence is accomplished
in trans
ferringthe affections from material to spiritual
things.
the rulingattraction to a soul remains
in this
While
world, all the forces of the universe conspireto con
tinue the association of the two in repeatedlives. On
the other hand, a person dominated
by spiritual
pro
clivities finds infinite magnetisms drawing him away
from temporalsurroundings
to the inscrutable glories
man's
In Swedenborg'sphrase,"a
of the eternal.
The residual impulsescoming
his home."
loves make
hell.

from
and

the
when

and

ecstatics

momentum

accordingto

lives.

Between

embodiment.
vary

with

what

The

time

each

indi

impetus engendered by his

effect of the
lives the spiritual
the personalsoul mani
from

these

into the

earth

next

determine

lives

the

earth -life is absorbed

on

past

reincarnation

of

vidual

fested

of

the

be

shall

manner

immortal

unmanifested

and

requiredays,years, centuries,
of the
or
millenniums, depending upon the intensity
to earth
the spirit
which
draw
mundane
aspirations
life. But
and hinder its liberation into pure spiritual
life's history is sometimes
whole
in dreams
a
as
ego.

This

condensed

process

into

short,the

few

seconds, time has

spirit.Whether
effect
entire spiritual

the disembodied
or

may

no

existence

the interval be

to

long

of the last life must

be assimilated and

shaped into

form

295

HELL?

AND

HEAVEN,

DEATH,

OF

WHAT

that will

spring

instances of alternate con

lives. The
up in coming
difference
such marked
sciousness indicate that some

previousincarnation appears in each earthly

of the previouschapter,
life,losingall remembrance
that
and working out the tendencies which embodied
that will achieve redemption
life in a career
particular
from

or

the

condemnation.
At

the

from

the

that

death

the

carries

un

re-births separate

and

present ties

dearest

and

introduce

us

as

phases of activitywhere every

friends,knowledge, and occupations must

strangers into

thing

new

"

"

be

thought reincarnation

inference

welcome
us

first

found

habits of

afresh.

This

thought and

is

action

mistake.

The

derived from

unnoticed

the alliance

strengtheninto ungovernable
directs the soul on
steeds whose course
every journey
toward
those favorite companions. Among
the thou
in a lifetime,the rare
made
sands of acquaintances
friends whose
intimacy strikes down into the inmost
depths of the soul must continue as irresistible attrac
tions in the next life. Orpheus could not fail to dis
In this earthly
realm.
cover
Eurydice in the spirit
existence,which is the Heaven, or Purgatory,or Hell
of the last one, we
unfamiliar
go strayingamong
forms, frequently
mistakingthem for true friends,un
til suddenlywe
which there conies
meet
a soul with
so
of cherished

intense

and

comrades

permanent

an

affection that

every

other

is forgotten.Such
fusion of spirits
must
a
person
hail from the shores of long distant loves,and its new

unrecognizedmastery developsa mightierunion than

would
be possiblein one
uninterruptedflow. The
poets like to symbolizethis as the blending of two
hemisphereslong since separated into their original

296

OF

WHAT

intimacies

tions
result
in

these

upon

memory's

residing
of

the

in

ancestral
earlier

many

scope,

idea

same

that

A
closest

they

ties,

The

affinities

combinations,
individuals.

and

kinships
which

have

like

such
of

familiarity
the

notwithstanding

confirmation.

families

of

repetitions

are

ancient

of

sense

HELL?

explanation

probable

most

the

AND

HEAVEN,

attachments.

of

sence

in

rests

previous
grows

The

whole.

perfect

DEATH,

powerful
may

bound

turning

well

ab

attrac

be

the

together
kaleido

XIV.
KARMA,

THE

COMPANION

TRUTH

OF

REINCARNATION

We

our

are

Nothing

children.

own

work

can

Our
Our

angels

our

good

or

are,

that

shadows

fatal

myself.

but

damage

me

acts

PYTHAGORAS.

"

ill

or

with

walk

BERNARD.

ST.

"

still.

us

BEAUMONT

The

We

make

is within

of heaven

kingdom

fortunes

our

Men

must

Force

and

from

force

JESUS.

"

fate.

call them

we

things they

the

reap

you.

must

FLETCHER.

"

B.

"

DISRAELI

sow.

flow.

ever

SHELLEY.

The
the

soul
is

event

the

only

Seldom
I

such

saw

of its

wicked

be

must

I hated

it, or

EMERSON.

"

such

with

pain

so.

such

deserve

to

befall

presently

thoughts.

grotesqueness

brute

shall

that

event

actualizing

went

never

He

the

in itself

contains

pain.
BROWNING.

Not
become

We
was

from

saint

sleep,

; but

"

become

one

conduct

by

loom

the

but

the

when

weaving

to-morrow.

does

birth

of

alone.

life

stops

never

birth

from

; not

does

is

the

and

when

weaving

pattern
it

which

comes

BEECHER.

Then
For

spake
all

Alone,
The

things
each

fixed

Which

of that

he

done

arithmetic

meteth

or

himself,

for

good

Measure

for

Making

all futures

measure

of
for

wrongfully,

the

universe,

good,

fruits

that

with

reckoning

unto

give

all must

answer

amiss

ill for

deeds,
of

one

GAUTAMA.

"

down

went

sun

slave

ill,

words,

all the

thoughts,

pasts.
THE

LIGHT

or

ASIA.

up

300

KARMA.

The

most

adamantine

of facts is that of

an

infinite

is the puls
of which
nature
all-comprehending
power
shapingthe shadowy ap
ing body,an eternal reality
named
of time,and variously
Force,Fate,
pearances
Love, Mind, The Over-Soul,
Justice,Righteousness,

God.

The

essential attribute of this unfathom

most

Being is that of Almighty Equity. Confronting

fact of our spiritual
this fact is the puzzling
personal
The thoughtalways asso
ityenvelopedin matter.
ciated with this,never
forsaken, though
practically
sometimes theoretically
denied,is individual responsi
bility. Two thingsfillme with wonder," said Kant,
of moral responsi
the starry heavens and the sense
asked
When
Daniel Webster
was
bilityin man."
stirred his
the greatestthought that ever
what was
account
soul,he replied, The thoughtof my personal
to God."
Every balanced mind agrees with
ability
this point. The inevitable
these intellectual giants
on
of groupingthese two actualities (God and
outcome
that the Universal
is the conception
responsibility)
Sustainer is givingevery creature the best thingfor it,
able

"

"

"

and

that each

soul is in

some

way

accountable

for its

Singleobservations seem to contradict this

verifiesit.
idea,but the longtrend of life'sexperience
shelter for culpableactions and
Because it offers no
necessitates a sterling
manliness,it is less welcome to
tenets of vicari
than the easy religious
weak natures
and death-bed
atonement, intercession,
ous
forgiveness,
But it rings
conversions.
throughthe inner soul-world
the key for
harmonic tone, setting
the fundamental
as
and art,and
all wholesome
religion,
poetry,philosophy,
is
of progress which
the magnificent
sweep
inspiring
For it is identical
Christendom.
modern
rationalizing

condition.

with

the

essence

tive sentences

of Bible
will

suggest:

truth,as
"

these

representa

301

KARMA.

for
diligence,
of life."
(Solomon.)
lest a worse
thingcome
more,

Keep thy heart

"

the issues
Sin

"

no

with

all

of it

out

are

thee."

upon

(Jesus.)
Work

"

Whatsoever
salvation.
own
your
that shall he also reap."(St.Paul.)

out

soweth,

man

embryos of all animals

from
one
indistinguishable
The

who

has

come

ture

lost

his

labels

fish,which

knows

are

tell which

cannot

which

and

past records

the

The

another.

cat, and

the earliest

at

stage

biologist
would

man

therefore

be

but

na

the future

simi
of each.
So within souls apparently
possibility
of vast difference,
lar there hide unsuspectedgerms
from the forgotten
resulting
pasts, which may develop
into corresponding
The
ancient
divergentfutures.
behaviors
of every soul have accumulated
a grand her
itageof influences from which our present bequest is
derived.
of
as each piece
new
Using another figure,
soil contains through all its depth a multitude of va
rious seeds sown
in past ages, which
patientlybide
their time to be broughtto lightand bear fruit,
the
so
kernels of remote
conducts
shall eventuallyall have
"

"

their unfoldmeut
at

last,if

germs,

The

we

refuse

we

shall bear

bonds

"

material

in the revolution of

and

harbor

"

character,
soul,but, of more
"

include

lives,until

only worthy
of good.

continual harvest

of action

for

its of the

weeds

our

the whole

range

of

hab
only the recognized

not

the un
still,
consequence
conscious inner thoughtwhence
the outward
manifes
tations

spring.

ished,these
environments

feed

Whatever
the

acts

to fit them.

killing
produces a thousand
continue wreaking crimes

cher
secretly

impulsesare
of

life,and

The
unseen

in

mould

nurtured

murders

all

our

thoughtof
and

must

immensely largerdegree

302

KARMA.

than

hangable

horrors.

show

what

have

Within

consequences

the stern

takes from

our

Alas ! we

sow

is

own

the

we

In the
the

punishment are

the action and

in

metes

out

ages.

coiled inter

our

fortunes

reap ; the hand that smites us

domain
of eternal justice,
the

event, because

same

between

which

ancient

vividlyportrayedby the
in their Nemesis, Fates,and Furies,
savingsthe giftsbestowed on us.

what

own."

our

offense and
as

doing in
conduct are
to-day's
of good and evil.

inclinations

justicemost

dramatists

Greek

favorite

been

relentless hand

The

"

of

the germ

minable

with

we

Our

there

connected
inseparably
is

its outcome.

no

real distinction
He

who

fact

injures
adopt

To
himself.
only wrongs
he is a wild beast who
fastens
Schopenhauer's
figure,
flesh.
But linked with the awful
his fangs in his own
for what we
fact of our undivided
now
responsibility
that we
have in our
assurance
are, goes the inspiring
control the remedy of evil and the increase of good.
another

We

can,

and

we

alone

can,

extricate ourselves

from

of
by the all-curing
existinglimitations,
powers
In eastern
the
love,spirituality.
phraseology,
purity,
of life is to work out our
bad karma
(action)
purpose
As surelyas the har
and to stow away good karma.
from
the seed-time of yesterday,
vest of to-daygrows
shall every kernel
of thought and
so
feeling,
speech
and performance,
bringits crop of reward or rebuke.
will
The inherent result of every quiverof the human
continuallytolls the Day of Judgment, and affords
for amelioration.
immeasurable
opportunities
is
The
worthy soul straitened with misfortune
shiftingoff the chains of old wrong-doing. The
is reapingthe benefits
vicious soul enjoyingcomforts
all situations conof old virtues. So intricately
are
the

303

KARMA.

nected

with untraceable

scient

can

is
To

world

The

men.

newlyplanteda huge
the

assortment

observer

common

Omni

in the real
appearances
is like a garden in which

penetrate below

of

natures

lineagesthat only the

of unknown

fresh

the

plants.
only
sprouts are

for the most

promisingstalk may prove to
deceptive,
be a weak, fragile
thing,and the uninvitingleaflets
introduce
a
sturdy growth. But the all-wise
may
each seed,and that it will ultimately
Gardener
knows
show its ancestry. The stupendousissues of conduct
endure
throughall changes. After one has climbed to
high summits of character the surprising
reappearance
of some
forgottensin may stay his progress and re
quireall his forces to conquer the viperwhose egg he
The man
plunged into
long ago nested in his bosom.
be a saint much
farther
the abyss of degradation
may
him.
than those exalted persons who despise
advanced

It is karma,

or

our

old acts, that draws

us

back

into

abode
spirit's

changesaccording to
forbids any long continu
its karma, and this karma
in one
condition,because it is always changing.
ance
So long as action is governed by material and selfish
motives,justso long must the effect of that action be
re-births. Only the perfectly
in physical
manifested
of material
elude the gravitation
life.
selfless man
can
Few have attained this ; but it is the goalof mankind.
returned
Some have reached it and have voluntarily
as
earthlylife.

The

saviors of the

race.

of karma
illustrious explanation

An

close of
KARMA

"

is the

self "

Crossed

on

it

at

"

Asia

all that total of

"

Which
The

Light of

The

"

appears

soul

things it did, the thoughtsit had,

wove

with woof

the warp

of viewless time

invisible of acts.

the

304

KARMA.

bringethwhat

hath been

What

Worse

better

"

angelsin

The

Fruits of

that

Deeds

of

the heavens

gladnessreap

holypast.

Who

ruled

and

merit

with

time,

prince

won

earth in rags

undone.

without

and
beginning,

Before

and
wander

king may

thingsdone

For

by.

anew

come

gone

age

purgedthereby.

slave may
gentleworthiness

For

an

fair virtues waste

sins grow

toiled

Who

out

wear

in

wicked

were

Nothing endures
Foul

firstfor last ;

last for firstand

"

devils in the underworlds

The

be, and is,

shall

end,

an

space eternal and as surety sure,

to
divine which moves
Is fixed a Power
As

Only its laws

endure.

of any
it loses,and who

It will not be contemned

thwarts

Who
The

Do

The

everywhereand

it gains;

serves

good it pays with peace

hidden illwith pains.

It seeth

and bliss,

all :

marketh

right it recompenseth! do one

equalretribution must be made,

It knows
Its
Times
Or

not

wrath

nor

tarry long.

pardon ;

naught,to-morrow
days.
many

as

after

"

utter-true

weighs;
judge,

mete, its faultless balance

measures
are

DHABMA

knife
slayer's
unjustjudgehath

this the

The

wrong

"

Though

By

one

hidden

The

good,

it will

did stab himself

lost his

own

Perfect Justice.

defender

305

KARMA.
its lie ; the

false tongue dooms

The

Which
The

to

moves

at last

righteousness,

turn

aside

heart of it is love,the end

of it

none

Is peace

books

The

which

is the law

Such

render.

rob, to
spoiler

And

creepingthief

The

can

and consummation

of his former

outcome

Obey !

sweet.

brothers ! each man's

well,my

say

bygone wrongs bringforth sorrows

The bygonerightbreeds bliss.
which

The
Was

sow

ye

sesamum

The

corn.

and

so

Him

much
and

corn

the darkness

knew

fate born.

cometh,reaper
Sesamum, corn,

And

woes,

yonder fields!

the

sesamum,

silence and

So is a man's

He

See

ye reap.

was

life

is ;
living

The

That

stay ;

or

weed
the

of the
so

much

and

thingshe sowed,
in past birth

cast

which
poison-stuff,

mar

achingearth.

If he shall labor
And

rightly,
rootingthese,
wholesome
where
planting
seedlings

Fruitful and
And

Endureth
His utmost

ground shall be,

liveth,
learningwhence

woe

springs,

to
patiently,
striving

pay
debt for ancient evils done

In love and

truth

making none

to

The

clean the

rich the harvest due.

If he who

If

fair and

theygrew

lie and

alway;

lack,he throughly
purge

lust of self forth from

all meekly,rendering
for
Suffering
Nothingbut grace and good :

his blood

offence

306

KARMA.

If he

shall
and

Holy
Desire

life-count

Whose
So

that

need
That

Is

fruits

hath

finished

Of

what

Never

his

Yet

lives
MANI

Into

the

is the

Only
Only

Death

when

is

sea

along

sins

nor

and

woes

deaths

nor

of

the

dross
like
with

Life

blest, ceasing

shining

dies

with

! the

life dies

through

purpose

him,

one

CM

the

near,

began

earthly joys

PADME,

all

and

quit,

goes

is

He

doctrine

and

life

he

the

peace

He

He

far

name

ye

torture

eternal

not.

dead

are

man.

of

recur.

when

when

him

ache

NIRVANA.

Unto

as

wrought

make

safe

lives

And

hath

nor

roots,

of him

sum

mighty,

in him

yearnings

him,

Invade

This

did

shall

Stain

OM,

he

bleeding

ills

live

to

began

rend

it.

follow

such

which

and

and

whose

quick

true

with

the

as

closed,
is

good

and

end

leaveth

"

merciful,

clings

of life have

dying

dwell

kind
it

where

love

"

No

just and

from

Till

He

day by day

dewdrop

sin

white
it.

be.

slips

KARMA.
of

to

Learn
is

quit,

flame

spent.

The

gloriesof

The

majesty

world.
There
or

ours.

BAYARD

"

of the world

beauty

life of

is no

Would'

"

but

man,

is

thou

st

infinite faculties of

Life

are

TAYLOR.

latent

are

in

any

iota of the

WHITMAN.

unrhymed.

deep

and

WALT

"

the Possible

man.

heroic

of its sort,

poem

plant for eternity:

then

rhymed

plant into

the

CARLYLE.

"

Every other definition of life is false,and leads

all who accept it astray.
Religion, Science,Philosophy, though still
at variance
points,all agree in this,that every existence is
upon
many
an

aim.

is

mission.

MAZZINI.

"

sacred

Look

walk

and

up

Fail not

it

it,lift it,bear

on

Stand

is this life ye bear.

burden

solemnly
it

beneath

falter not

for sorrow,

steadfastly;
for sin ;

onward, upward, till the goal

But

ye win.

A. KEMBLE.

FRANCES
Know

that this world

journeying
opened
to

God

in the

is

it is the road

right way,

in

the wilderness

may

collect and

stage of eternity. For

one

those

is but

where
prepare

Beginning,
We
In
We

Who

unto

means

and

mean,

live in deeds, not

feelings,not
should

in

thinks

end

an

of all

years

; in

by

that

"

end

figureson

time

count

GAZZALI.

end,

God.
things
thoughts, not breaths
"

dial.
He

heart throbs.

most, feels the noblest,acts

most

lives

the best.
BAILEY.

Heaven
But

we

From

And

is not

we

reached

build
the
mount

at

the ladder

lowly

are

religion. It is a market
those who
are
travellingon their way
provisionsfor their journey.
of

AL
Life

who

earth

singlebound,
by which we rise

to the

to its summit

vaulted

round

by

skies,
round.

J. G.

HOLLAND.

XV.

CONCLUSION.

WE

lotus-eaters,

are

attractions

around
which

through
and

heed

to

It

is

of

the

and

best

the

of

cycle

varied

All

of

all

cease

Why

ascent

ness

of

the

irrational

at

our

idea

the

through

Lotus-Eaters

weariness,

from

the
way

toil alone

we

this

nature

that
comes

and

pace,

distant
from

things

Nirvana,

it

But

necessity
until

goal.
the

and

of

the

neither

is

continuing
have

we

Heaven

eternal

an

life.
the

of

crown

for
in

belief

present
to

roof

longing

following

all the

neyed

only toil, the

religious to ignore

nor

at

can

we

wanderings.
we

immediately

that

wings

our

our

the

incal

the

meanderings

should

fact

traveled

to

Tennyson's
rest

rest, why

virtually

of

cause

of

have

else

have

should

is

cry

fold

ever

And

is the

destination.

reality of

repugnance

myriad

home,

perilous

have

route,

present

places

important

we

vital

Our

with

the

which

more

the

more

glorious
to

ignoble

from

away

many

our

by

our

lives,

things

things

Nor

still
of

of

ourselves

progress.

forms,

While

our

the

to

sequences

tain

wise

reach

can

we

pilgrimage

past

culable

This

necessity

the

forgotten

long strayed

only by rousing

hither,

the

not

before

journeys

have

we

have

to

as

us

with

engrossed

so

The

established

jour

restless
habit

310

CONCLUSION.

of

strayingabout in temporal realms, and has de

veloped a love of adventure in which the occidental
finds profounderdelightthan in the oriental
world
and
which shall have abun
yearning for inactivity,
dant exercise before it disappears.The only path to
is found
in complete
that perfectsatisfaction which
with the Supreme winds
oneness
through the ascend
ing planesof material embodiment.
The

if I would

I climb

Still must
bird

upward

soars

The

leaf

rest

to his nest

the

tree-tophigh
young
Cradles itself within the sky.
I cannot

in the

great horizons stretch away

The
Are

round
very cliffsthat wall me
ladders into higherground.

And

heaven

The

breeze

In which
reincarnation

draws

to

and

as

beckoningto

received

the Best

by

Sufi faith

rest ! l

guiseswe

shall receive

the individual.

depends upon
form

stars befriend.

of its various

one

I ascend

Thee, my God, for

it shall be in the crude

Persian

near

the
invites,

thingsare

I climb

as

valleystay ;

The

All

animals

on

of

transmigration
through

of

most

Whether

the world

or

in

the

unjustbanishment from
home by the powers
of evil ; or, following
our
proper
Egypt,Pythagoras,Plato,Origen,and the Druids, as
sins ; or, in the
a purgatorial
punishmentfor pre-natal
form of some
Christian teaching,as a probationary
stage testingour rightto higherexistence and usher
condition ; or, as
ing us into a permanent spiritual
Eastern philosophy
alike by the acutest
maintained
1

From

as

the

Lucy

Larcom.

311

CONCLUSION.

and

the

soundest Western

thought,as

wholesome

development of germinalsoul-forces ;
through all
the same
these phrasings
central truth abides, furnish
ing what Henry More called the golden key for
and explaining
the plot of this
the problem of life,
"drama
whose
prologueand catastropheare both
alike wanting." But the broadest
leads
intelligence
into the evolutionary
us
directly
aspect of reincarna
tion,and finds the others inadequateto the full meas
"

"

"

of

ure

is one

human

nature.

grade of

In

this view

the

present life

stupendous school,in which we are

beingeducated for a destinyso far beyond our com
that some
call it a kind of deity. The ex
prehension
needful
were
periencesthroughwhich we have come
for our
strengthening.Even though we have de
former
scended
below
altitudes,the onlypath to the
absolute lies through the sensuous
earthlyvale. Sin
after we have escapedit,will lead to a mightier
itself,
result than would
be possible
without it,or it would
not be permitted.The richest trees of all the forest
world
fens.
The
springfrom the unclean miasmic
severest
present disciplines,
coming from our earlier
trainingus for a loftier growth than we
errors, are
Our
knew.
ever
physicalschooling,
through all the
gradesnecessary to our best unfoldment,will build a
character as much
sublimer than our
condi
primitive
tion as virtue overtowers
innocence,and when the race
from
the jangling
turmoil of self-will
finally
emerges
into complete harmony with the Perfect One, as it
the multitudes of our
must
at last,
lives will not seem
of experiencefor the establish
too enormous
a course
ment

of

that

of Evolution
at

lengthbe

consummation.

The

victorious

march

through all the provincesof thoughtwill

followed
of
by the triumphalprocession

Reincarnation.

312

CONCLUSION.
There

in all thingsthat live

spirit
Which
hints of patientchange from kind to
And
can
give,
yet no words its mystic sense
is a

Strangeas
And

as

in time

Vague

of radiance

dream

kind ;

to the blind.

unspeakably remote

frenzies in inferior brains set free

no
language could denote,
power
So dreams
the mortal of the God to be.1

Presaged a

The
cate

Father's

us

as

His

with

purpose

children

so

us

that

to

seems

we

be

to

edu

shall be in

complete
only method

The
sympathy with the divine mind.
of accomplishingthis glorious
result is for us to enter
with Him
into all the phases of His being. Our long
series of physicallives will finally
giveus a thorough
knowledge of the grosser nature with which He cloaks

Himself.

We

form

penetrate the animal

in hu

existence

if
be possible
than would
successfully
of zoology; for
we
transmigratedinto all the species
here
sufficient intelligence,
we
along with the
carry
creatures
material
condition, to comprehend these
man

around

us

more

which

understand

cannot

themselves.

We

permanentlyleave this department

have
until we
of God's house
grasped the
essentially
of all earthlylife. The
secret
highestindividuals of
mankind, the saviors of the race, the true prophets
cannot

and
this

expect

to

poets,attain this intimate

mastery

strates

the

over

lower

creation,which

cept by the consideration

for
that

nature,
demon

higher stage.
the great geniuses
ex
they are the result of

their fitness for introduction

It is difficult to account

with

communion

to

Emerson
arrives at this conclusion
noble lives.
many
in his essay on
parlance,
Swedenborg. " In common
is said to learn by experience,
man
what
a
man
one
i

From

A. E. Lancaster.

313

CONCLUSION.

of

sagacityis said,without experience,

extraordinary

to

divine.

and Abu
mystic,
together
; and
that he

Khain, the
say that Abul
conferred
Ali Scena, the philosopher,
Arabians

The

sees,

partingthe philosophersaid, All

know ; and the mysticsaid, All that
'

on

'

knows, I see.' If
the solution
intuition,
he

which

Plato

impliedby
tion.

The

Hindoos

one

should

would

denoted

the

'

as

reason

of this

into that

property

ask the

lead

us

reminiscence, and
in the tenet

Brahmans

of

which

is

transmigra

having been often born, or, as the

the path of existence through
traveling
births,'
having beheld the thingswhich

soul

say,
thousands of

'

which

are

here,those

are

beneath, there

is

are

in

heaven, and

nothingof

which

those
she

which

has

not

gainedthe knowledge: no wonder that she is able to

in regard .to one
recollect,
thing,what formerlyshe
For
all thingsin nature
knew.
beinglinked and re
lated,and the soul havingheretofore known
all,noth
who
has recalled to
ing hinders but that any man
mind, or, accordingto the common
phrase,has learned
all his an
one
thingonly,should of himself recover
cient knowledge,and find out againall the rest, if he
have

but

researches.

courage,

For

and

faint not

in the midst

of his

inquiryand learningis reminiscence

all. How
much
if he that inquiresbe a holy,
more,
godlikesoul ! For by being assimilated to the origi
nal soul,by whom, and after whom, all thingssubsist,
the soul of man
does then easily
flow into all things,
and all things flow into it : they mix ; and
he is pres
ent and sympatheticwith their structure
and law."
A recent
instance of the glaringfacts inexplicable
by any other theorythan reincarnation appears in the
littlemusical prodigyJosef Hofmann, whose phenom
enal geniusholds complete mastery of the piano,and

314

CONCLUSION.

charms

audiences

of
exquisite
rendering
difficult concertos, and
most
with his
particularly
marvelous
improvisations
suggestedat a
upon themes
moment's
notice.
He presents the uncanny
phenome
vast

non

of

the

most

child of ten who

the Boston

any

candid

Herald

"It

has

difficult of arts.

occurringto
cert

his

with

almost
had

composer

been

The

as

to

more

natural
is thus

mind

in its
seems

little

report of
if the

put into this

learn in

explanation
suggested by

Hofmami

con

spiritof some
great
boy by nature, wait

developedin accordance with our modern

art to shine forth againin all its glory in his work."
of Mozart
if he actually
What
the reappearance
were
hasteningto fillout the life that was cut sadlyshort ?
There may be means
of verifying
such a presumption
when
he
by the character of his later compositions,
An art
of his natural bent.
gets the full expression
so
independentof time and place,as music, might
historic individuals,
fairlybe traced through two
when literature and paintingwould not permitit. At
that the young
prodigiesin
any rate it is significant
kind of skill do not come
until that
any particular
ing

be

to

skill has

been

well established

the earth.

on

Guido

followed

generationsof great painters.Pascal was

of mathematicians.
precededby a long course
Pope
of poets.
after a vast procession
lispedin numbers
"

"

And
mony

Mozart
had
who

waited

been

well

stand out

until the

new

era

of musical

inaugurated. The
from

the race,

with

colossal

har
char

predeces
sors
equal to them, like Homer, Plato,Jesus, Raphael,
Shakespeare,Beethoven, all reach their maturitylater
after infancy and
than other prodigies,
youth have
Lethean
the
the
fastened
prehistoric
gates upon
But
the unfrom
which
to hail.
scenes
they seem
acters

no

316

CONCLUSION.

abode

ethereal

climes.

Only the educa

of the spiritual
in us, of sacrifice,
and
nobility,
divorce us from these uneasy earthlyaf
can
divinity,
our

away
tion

finities to

the

While

must

we

beauty,power
the true

of

For
and

we
we

than

we

rest

permanent
not

and

abandon

the

to
invisible,

of

union

wean

our

transfer

affections from
the

to
magnetismsfrom shadows
bridgethe two kingdoms of matter

the

choice

God.

gloriesof physical
must
not forgetthat

our

have

with

the

we
pleasure,

business of life is to

the visible to
ance

to

between

them

preponder
substances.
and
more

spirit,
freely

know.

which was fancifully

transmigration
told in Grecian
mythology,gathered and beautifully
rendered by Ovid, which was
taught in the Egyptian
and
Pythagorean dogmas and still floats broadcast
throughoutthe vast realms of Brahmanism, Buddhism,
and
barbarism, which fascinates the thought of our
poets, and which is dailyenacted by a myriad objectlessons in nature, is merely the objective
of
expression
a subjective
truth,discerned by all the mystics,
seers,
and most
and philosophers,
stated by Sweelaborately
that the infinite progress
of the
denborg. It means
soul conveys it throughcountless epochs,
moving in per
fect succession by the dynamic laws of its own
being.
During this development,the universe arranges itself
to each individual accordingto his thought
peculiarly
and
character.
We
shape the outer world by our
inner nature, and we
stay shall
say justhow long our
be among
dust and mortality.
The true and wholesome
aspect of the earthlylife,
under the religious
trans
philosophyof reincarnation,
from a trivial show, or a gloomy
forms the spectacle
of despair,
to a majesticstage in the ascendarena
The

mechanical

317

CONCLUSION.

ing series of
solute.

In

on
sojournings

human

words

the

of the

the way

to the Ab

old

martyr-philosopher
and
Giordano
Bruno, the father of Descartes,Spinoza,
Leibnitz,the cherisher of that thought, beingpresent
in the body, is yet, as by an
indissoluble oath, bound
and united to divine things,so that he is not sensible
either of love or hatred for mortal things,
knowing he
"

is greater than

that he must

these,and

not

be the slave

of his

body,which is to be regarded as no other than

the prisonof his liberty,
for his wings,a chain
a snare
his limbs, and a veil impeding his sight." His
upon
life flows beauteously
in aspirationfor the invisible
this same
as
Bruno, the No
kingdom of permanence,
:
lan,phrasedit in verse
"

While
And

that the
to their

sun

source

upon

the

his round

doth burn

rovingplanetsflee,

Things of the earth do to the earth return

And
partedwaters hasten to the sea :
to the high gods turn
So shall my spirit
And heaven-born
thought to Heaven shall
Instead

of

carry

me.

cold pagan
philosophyas it is
frequentlyconsidered, reincarnation throbs with the

being a

vital

of Christianity.
It is no more
Bud
spirit
It is the hid
dhism, than kindliness is Christianity.
den core
of the gospelof Jesus as of all other great
religionsand philosophies.This is what has pre
served them
in spite
of their degradingexcrescences.
It is the religion
of all sensible men
who refuse the
weak
sentiment and bigoteddogmas that obscure
the
in the churches
it clearly
lightof Christianity
: for
unfolds
what
believe,in the laws
they unconsciously
of cause
and effect. It spurns the despairingdoctrine
of total depravity,
but shows
of partial
the cause
de
pravity. It teaches salvation as Jesus did, not by
most

"

"

318

CONCLUSION.

heaping our

sins upon

but

by recognizingthe
of the Supreme, enteringthe new
Fatherhood
birth
into spiritual
life,and watchfullygrowing Godward.
It revolts againstthe thought of everlasting
punish
for brief errors, but providesinfinite opportu
ment
nities for

him,

and

restoration

while

advancement,

em

phasizingmost

vigorouslythe unescapableresults

all action*

is therefore

It

of

corrective

of

modern

Christianity
holding fast to the strengthand beauty
of what the Nazarene
taughtand lived,but including
those very principles
which breed religious
skepticism
in

It

the

extreme

of

advocates

science

evolution.

and

to a grandercapacitythan
enlargesChristianity

has hitherto

known,

and

so

furnishes

at

once

an

it
in

for the loftiest spiritual

a
spiringreligion
aspiration,
and the
most
satisfactory
philosophyfor the intellect,
strongest basis for practicalnobilityof conduct.
There
is no reason
why reincarnation and Christian
advance
ityshould not grasp hands and magnificently
true.
together,each keeping the other steadfastly
Only in this union can Christianity
escape its present
Since
western
downward
religionfails to
sag.
to the
sustain us and has largely
spiritually
gone over

materialism,it is time for another oriental

enemy,
tide to sweep over
the West.
Having alreadya par
tial possession
here, reincarnation promisesto flow in
"

science.
to spiritualize
freelyto revitalize Christianity,
has degeneratedin the West, so has
As Christianity
reincarnation in the East, and the hope of the race
lies in an exalted marriageof them.
They need each

other,as

husband

and

wife,allied

in

purest devotion,

of
supplementingthe defects and strengths
their lower unassociated
and regenerating
of Jesus tends to sink into an
The religion

each

other,

tendencies.
irrational

319

CONCLUSION.

is

which
sentimentality

commonly relegatedto women

The
effeminate
and
men.
spiritual
philosophyof
fatalism or an
India declines into passionless
ungen
darkens
both
self absorption. Superstition
erous
thor
reincarnation keeps Christianity
But
alike.
will sustain reincar
oughly rational,and Christianity
-

nation in vigorous unselfishness.

This

alliance of the

best truths of both

tial submission

hemisphereswill

to the

teach

reveren

its sequelof

divine will without

its danger of
self-reliance without
a heroic
stagnation,
with the Highest
communion
atheism,a regenerative
without the sacrilegious
follyof selfish prayer.
into a uni
Reincarnation unites all the familyof man
versal brotherhood
than the prevailing
more
effectively
of mankind
humanity. It promotes the solidarity
by
the barriers that conceit and circumstances
destroying
have
and

raised

between
All

races.

justice.The
to

honor

and

individuals,groups,
alike favored

are

children of God
others

to

are

with
not

abasement.

perfectpoetic
ordained
There

mental
special
gifts.Physicalblessings,
moral

the laborious

nations,

result of

some
are

no

and
talents,

long merit.
Sorrows,defects,and failures proceedfrom negligence.
The upward road to the glories
of spiritual
perfection
is always at our
feet,with perpetual invitations and
aids to travel higher. The downward
into sen
way
sual wreckage is but the other direction of the same
We
cannot
despisethose who are
way.
tending
down, for who knows but we have journeyedthat way
ourselves ? It is impossiblefor us
scramble
to
up
for
is
alone,
our
destiny included in that of humanity,
and onlyby helpingothers along can
ascend our
we
selves.
The despondentsadness of the world
which
dims the lustre of every joy,chantingthe minor
key
successes

are

320

CONCLUSION.

of nature,
out

hauntingus

in unaccountable

in all literature and

poetry tragicand
unconscious
of life.

art, making

the subliniest music

voice of mankind,

While

realm of sense,

ways, cropping
the grandestof

continue

we

that must

sombre, is the

humming

to

dwell

prevail.But
guard herald

its

keynote
in the murky
the brightrifts
the approach

the advance
illuminating
of day, and assure
that the trend of restless human
us
gyrationsis away from that condition.
Contraryto the common
opinionof eastern thought,
reincarnation is optimistic.The law of causation is
tooth for tooth.
not a blind meting of eye for eye and

It opens
Science
naturce,
once

into

out

of

scheme

this in the
recognizes
the healingpower
in the creed

denied

beneficent

vis medicatrix

of

of the

progress.

remedia

What

nature.

alchemists

was

concerniiioO

the

ascendingimpulse of all

by science,which
"

matter

declares

in

contains within it the

all life."

All

minerals

thingsis

have

now

preached

TyndalTs words that

promiseand potency of
the rudimentarypos
Crystalsstrive after

of plantsand animals.
sibility
a
higher life by assuming arborescent and mossy
of low
shapes. Plants displaythe embryonicqualities
No naturalist can
mark
animals.
the boun
infallibly
daries of the three kingdoms,so closely
are
they inter
A zoologist
does not doubt
the possibility
linked.
of
minerals
becoming plants and these mounting into
animals.

The

movement

the cry of mankind

Poetry cherishes the same
and

of vital energy
is manward,
is " excelsior,"towards
God.
conviction

that somehow
Shall be the final
For

good

goalof ill,

pangs of nature, sins of will,

Defects of doubt and taints of blood ;

321

CONCLUSION.
That

nothingwalks

That

not

Or

cast

Behold
We

feet ;

destroyed

useless to the void

as

this

shall make
know

we

pilecomplete.

anything.

not

but trust that

can

At

life shall be

one

God

When

with aimless

good

shall fall

last,far off,at last,to all,

And

winter

every

turn

to

spring.

And
in

Tennyson'suncertain faith is an
the Orient,thus phrasedby Edwin
Ye

are

The

bound

not

heart of

Strongerthan
Doth

pass

! the soul of

undoubted
Arnold

is will

to better

thingsis sweet,

being is celestial rest

woe

verity

that which

was

good

best.

"

Acknowledging that the forces of evil are terrific and

be no ques
there can
multiplythemselves prodigiously,
tion that the predominant powers
are
infinitely
good.
dimin
And
the supremacy
of good in the universe
the higherattractions
makes
ishes the full force of evil,
outvie the lower, and hastens the final disappearance
of

This

darkness.

life

by

the

benign process

The

Heart

the

insures

of all is

of re-birth
boundless

Pulsingthrough every
In streams
And

The
rance

make

that

amelioration
;

of

all

for

Love

part

thrill the hosts above

the atoms

dart.

igno
permeatingall
depends upon

to reincarnation,
our
strongest objection

of

past lives,is

and

met

by

the

fact

that progress
experience,
ulness.
is
forgetf
Every great stage of advancement
accompaniedby the mental loss of earlier epochs. One
of Montaigne'sbest essays shows
of
the blessedness
defective memory.
All deep philosophy
agrees that
is absorbed
after an experience
into the soul,its purnature

322

CONCLUSION.

is

and the only chance of improve

accomplished,
consists in
ment
forgettingthose thingswhich are
behind and reachingforth unto those thingswhich are
before."
It would be intellectually
for the
impossible
to grasp
anythingnew, if it clungto all it
memory
had known.
One of the grandest discourses of that
Fred
greatestEnglishpreacherof the last generation,
pose

"

Robertson, is upon

erick W.
tian

Progressby

Oblivion

of the

affords

ence

race

the continuation
to
possible

the mind

of

is

only an

it decayswith the

theme

of the Past."

mortal

Chris

"

The

memories.

liberal scientific

instrument

body, the

of

experi

sufficient endorsement

no

our

the

escape

the

of the

of

It is im

teachingthat

soul, and

soul retains of

its

when

earthly

into the char

possessionsonly what has sunk down
The
acter.
logicianof the Scripturesexpresses this
there be knowledgeit shall vanish
in saying, Whether
of character insures
away." But the everlastingness
the permanence
of our
and
of our
dearest
identity
ties. And
the scale of being on
earth shows
as
a
from
the lowest progradualdevelopmentof memory
"

tozoon

to

man,

shall become
veals the

course

so

in
and

more

of

our

man

the unconscious

memory

until
conspicuous,
completecareer.
more

The

it re

of our
unfoldment
in
dormant
glorious
powers
repeatedlives presents a spectacle
magnificent
beyond
and approaches more
appreciation,
grandlythan any
other conception
of human
to the sublimity
develop
Addison wrote :
ment.
There is not, in my opinion,
a more
pleasingconsideration than that of the per
petualprogress which the soul makes towards the per
fection of its nature, without ever
arrivingat a period
in it. To look upon
the soul as goingon from strength
to consider that she is to shine forever with
to strength,
"

324

CONCLUSION.

is great.

tive power

ground to

It reveals

a back
magnificent

as

with its contradictions and

the present life,
the

prospect of

immortality
opens up an
the horizon
illimitable foreground,lengtheningout
of hope. It binds together
the past and the present
as
disasters,

in

the future

and

fects,the

inner

of which

thread

the individual

and

causes

ef

is both

personalto
impersonal,connectinghim with

and

one
eternities,

two

ethical series of

one

behind

and

the other before.

With

peculiar
emphasis it proclaims the survival of moral
and
individuality
personal identityalong with the
final adjustmentof external conditions to the internal
*
state of the agent."
words we place
Alongsideof the Scotch professor's
these

from

sentences

of the

wisdom

antipodesmay

"

sistent

regrets for the

future.

of the

fear

It is

death.

life,one

nity'snow

that

man

but

incarnation

is in each

There

hands

grasp

in

one

com

for the instruction of the world

brotherhood

mon

the

teacher, that

eastern

an

one

"

birth,one

these by per
follyto duplicate
past, by present cowardice,or

There

is

Time.

no

It is Eter

for past,present, and

mistakes

future.

forgingof earthlychains is the occupation

of the indifferent ; the awful duty of unloosingthem
of the heart is also their occupa
throughthe sorrows
"

The

tion.
"

Liberate

tions."

evil actions

by good

ac

Emerson,
limest

thyselffrom
who

unites

in

with

intuitions of the Orient

servations

of the

West,

Professor

An

may

sub-

the
personality

one

well

William

adept of India.

the

broadest

represent a

Knight.

ob

noble

325

CONCLUSION.

of

harmony
"

We

infer

must

We

which

periences

capricious,

desire

live,

and

of

taries

these

proportion
indicate

to

sibilities
All

do

not

the

yet

which

on

times

deposi
of

and

all

seems

and

pos

drawn.

never

me

and

and

is out

life

teaches

in

knowl

natural

have

we

found

with

therefore,

teachers
and

Be

of

poetry

the

mankind

Shall

be

the

urge
death

to

places

realms,

confide

than

more

pure

and

that

all

religion, philosophy,

so

of

and

conviction

soul

and

incarnation

every

varied

"

of

worthy

That
In

is the

more

resources

"

science,

there

in

know."

conclude,
best

always

single day,

immense

less

have

not

on

of

have

of

love

set

us,

unsup

knowledge

the

are

we

The

value

to

proper

but

with

life and

and

us,

conviction

I shall

We

the

to

nature

or

If

larger sphere,

gifts.

comfort

the

that

for

good

in

...

is because

it

may

assimilate

accidental,

by jumps,

ex

we

nothing

advances.

in

power,

are

power

and

is

or

moves

never

and

shall

we

preparation.

value,

before

says

innumerable

hive

there

supported

and
to

edge

Now

Nature

ported.

the

visible

no

whimsical,

or

from

to

lives

many

them.

exhaust

steady

of

are

through

revolve

instinct

by

he

when

kinships

destiny

our

driven

are

or

distant

these

to

learn

thy

worlds,

high.

to

live

soul
and

firmaments

APPENDIX.

Where

You

by

member

all

by

books.

workman.

only

the

in

indolence

in

or

by

event

absorbed

are

world, excepting

known

it

vani

but

re

nations,

savage

is

VOLTAIRE.

their

chambers

silent

Preserved

from

Than

that

accumulated

And

orient

The

Sultan

These

pleasure,

the

and

BRUYERE.

LA

lives

noble

with

you

judge

to

DE

"

whole
of

pursuit

"

Within

rule

other

no

whose

you

the

that

governed

the

ambition,

for

good

books

despise
of

ties

made

and

good

inspires

spirit, and

your

seek

feelings,

courageous

is

raises

book

age

hides

of

for

gold
of

day

of truth

unlock

can

you

need

tombs

in ancestral

deep

far

precious

more

store

which

gems,

hoards

to

age

lie

treasures

will.

at

WORDSWORTH.

I
wish

of

sources

our

students

can

literatures

world,

all

and

the

its nations

of

study
and

this

from

all

ones

newer

indebted

dead,

former

lands

beyond

ourselves

all its nations

as

always
the

to

measure

books

audible

soul

of

the

Past,

altogether
a

magic

accomplish
"

as

the

when
a

in

Runes

body

the
were

and
No

dream.
has

Time

Past

whole
the

mankind

preservation

miracles

CARLYLE.

that

of

like

vanished

All

book.
in

lying

men.

the

voice

it has
than

lies

done,

pages

fabled

cour

mother-

WHITMAN.

to

do

is stranger

been,

gained

or

Do

books

of

substance

Rune

magic

books.

articulate,

the

"

material

thought,
of

older

living.
WALT

In

the

all

"

but

Ameri

vastly enlarged.

bearing

"

(the eastern),

literature

comparison

derive

deferential,

all

to

supply
well

may

always

teous,

the

commend

only

not

not

They

is

still

persuade

APPENDIX.

REINCARNATION.

OF

BIBLIOGRAPHY

I.

LATIN.
De

Heinrich.

Schilling, Wolfg.

Dissertatio.

Metempsychosi

Lipsiae, 1679.

quatenus

ruin,

Humanarum

Animarum

biugae,

De

M.

De

Franciscus

Helmont,

Holland,

Seculorum.
De

Keil.

Huygens,

Metempsychosi.

London,

Mercurius

Seder

van.

Christian.

Animarum.

Conjectural.
Pythagorica

Porphyrius.

De

Vita

Pythagor*.

Animse

Humanse

Henry

More.)

(In opposition

London,

works.)
Sibbern,

Fred.

Animae.

C.

De

De

Job.

Schneeberga3,

Olam

sive

Ordo

de

Celestibus

Terris

1698.

Vita.

Didot, 1862.
Didot,

1862.

Corporibus
(In

his

prseexistunt.

non

Opuscula,

vol.

iv.

1687.

Havniae,

Doppert,

Irhove,

to

sive

Paris,

De

Isaac.

1793.

(In OpusculaJ)

Cosmotheoros,

lamblichus.

Barrow,

plura

1693.

Pre-existentia

Ornatu

earnmque

per

1757.

Nic.

Haeggroth,

sychosi

Tu-

Corpora.

Animarum

sive

Metempsychosi

Revolutione.

Corpora

tate

Transmigratione

in alia

Corporibus

suis

ex

1746.

1749.

Heusse,

his

de

Dissertatio

Adam.

Johami

Osiander,

Anima-

Transmigratione

cognosci potest.

Rationis

Lumine

ex

de

Dissertatio

Gotthard.

Haffner,

1699.

Transmigratione.

Animarum

De

Heinrich.

Henrici,

Prseexistentia, Genesi

et

Immortali-

1823.
vetusto

Commento.

Metempsycheos

1716.

Willem.

sic dicta

De

Palingenesia

Pythagorica

Libri

III.

Veterum

seu

Amstelodami,

Metemp
1733.

of

330

APPENDIX.

Wernsdorf, Gottlieb.

Disputatiode Metempsychosi Veterum

proprieintelligenda.Vitembergse,1741.
G. von.
Dissertatio historico-philosophica
Me-

sed
figurate

non

Vangerow,W.

sistens.

tempsychosinveterum
Sedermark, Pet.

De

Halle, 1765.

Metempsychosi

Veterum.

Pars

I-III.

Upsalte,1807.
Wendel, Joh. And.

De

Denuo

Metempsychosinuper

defensa.

Coburgi,1828.
Sai

Sinsin

an

tiorum.

Liber

sive

^EgypMetempsychosisveterum
funebribus
hieraticis Signis
exaratis
Papyris

duabus

primum edidit Latine

Brugsch. Berolini,1851.

vertit

nunc

Haupt,
Animarum

Eberh.

Dav.

De

De

sive

et

ad

mensura

actinarum

multarum

et

Pythagoraea

Ulmse,
Disquisition.

minimo
Triplice

speculatinarumscientiarum
1591.
Francofurti,
principia,

adjecitHenricus

Metempsychosi

brevis
Transmigratione

Bruno, Giordano.

Notas

1724.
trium

artium

II. GERMAN.

Bertram, J. F. Bescheidene
Priifungder Meynung von der
Praexistenz,oder dem Vorherseyn menschlicher Seelen in orgaPraeexistentianorum.
nischen
einer Historia
Leibern, sammt
Bremen, 1741.
E. von.
Schubert, Johann
Wandelung der Seele nach dem
Tode.
Jena, 1746.
Trinius,Joh. Anton.
Abhandlung von der Seelen wanderung.
Frankfurt

und

1760.
Leipzig,

Lessing,Gotthold

geschlechts.Berlin, 1780.
Robertson.

"

The

Die

Erziehung
Translated
by Rev.

Ephraim.

Education

of the Human

die

Schlosser,Joh. Georg. Ueber

Race."

des

Menschen-

Frederick

W.

London, 1855.

Seelenwanderung. Basel,

1781.

Beitragezur

Lehre

Wasseljew,W.
und

Literatur.

der

Der
St.

Seelenwanderung. Leipzig,1785.
seine

Buddhismus,

Geschichte

Dogmen,

Petersburg,1860.

Koeppen, Carl Friedrich.

Entstehung. Berlin, 1857.

Die

Religiondes

Die

Lamaische

und

Buddha

Hierarchic

ihre
und

Kirche.

Berlin,1857.
Herder, Joh. Gottfried

nesis

"

Ueber

die

von.

Das

Land

der Seelen

"

Palinge

1785.
Seelenwanderung. (Three Dialogues.)

832

APPENDIX.

schichte, 3

Leipzig,1866.

vols.

Psychologic. Berlin,

1868.

Buddhismus

Der

Berlin, 1870.

Beitrage zur vergleichenden

Weltaufl'assungder Buddhisten.
in seiner Psychologic. Berlin,

1882.
Lehre

Miiller.
II. 495

der

Siinde.

Ueber

den

von

Augsburg, 1854.

See

Vol.

et seq.

J.

Froschammer,
Marcus, Joh.
lichen Seelen

den

Vorstellungen liber

in den

Jahren

ersten

Fechner, Gustav

Theodor.

Welt,

die sichtbare

Ueber

Ursprung der

Kirche.

der

Sammtliche
Schopenhauer, Arthur.
Wille und Vorstellung. Leipzig,1873.

durch

menschlichen

1854.

Miinchen,

Seelen.

der

Urspnmg

Die

Welt

als

Seeleiifrage
; ein Gang

die uusichtbare

uni

1854.

Werke.

die

mensch

zu

finden.

Leip

zig,1861.
Versuch

Philo.

Philo's
griffs

Spiesz, E.
Zustande

raphy

Zeitschrift der

Eichhorn's

All-

Morgenland. Gesellschaft.

Buddhismus.

1882.
Leipzig,

Entwicklungsgeschichte der
dem

nach

at the end

Miiller, J.

Lehrbe-

XXIX.

VI., IX., XXVII.,

Der

Stahl.

H.

des

(IV. 767-890.)

Seelenwanderung.
Kern.

E.

Alexandrien.

von

Bibl. 1792.

gem.

systematischenEntwurfs

ernes

Tode.

of each

Jena, 1877.

chapter.)

Geschichte

G.

Vorstellungenvom
(Containsa bibliog

der

Amerikanischen

Urreligion.

Basel, 1867.
Simrock, K.

Handbuch

der

Deutschen

Mythologie. Bonn,

1878.

Pfleiderer,O.
J.
Db'llinger,

Berlin, 1878.
Religions-Philosophic.
J. I.

Heidenthum

und

Judenthum.

Regens-

burg, 1857.
Karsten, S.

Verhandeling

sychosis. Amsterdam,
Weber.

Indische

Twesten,

C.

der

asiatischen

Die

over

Palingenesie en

1846.

Studien.

religiosen,
politischenund

Culturvolker.

2 vols.

socialen

Ideen

Berlin, 1872.

fiir die Seelenlehre.

Vierteljahrschrift
Delitzsch,Franz.
System der Biblischen

zig,1855.

Metemp

Psychologie. Leip

333

APPENDIX.

III. FRENCH.
Me

La

Olivier,Jean.

tenipsychose, discours

Pythagore dans 1'ecole de Crotone.

Pythagore,ou
Duguet, Charles.
cienne

la nature

dans

moderne

et

ou

Precis

et

par

Paris,1760.

de

philosophicanles metamorphoses de

rapportsavec
la metempsychose. Paris,1841.
Jean.

Reynaud,

ses

du
PhilosophicReligieuse

Paris,1854.
Bouchet, Pere. Lettre
Ceremonies.
Paris,1867.
Erckmann-Chatrian.

Essai

la

sur

Le

R.

Linner, Jean
et du

prononce

Amsterdam

metempsychose.

Docteur
les

sur

de

Dogmes

et

In

Ciel.

Picart's

Paris,1859.

Maltheus.

les Bramins

enseignepar
Purgatoire

Tierre

la

Metempsychose

de 1'Indostan.

Berne,

1771.

Leroux, Pierre. De FHumanite.

Review, V. 17, 1872, p. 324-333.)

r^tat

passe'et

sur

Paris.

ou
Philosophique,
Palingenesis

La

I'e'tatfutur des etres

Pluralite

La

Pezzani, Andre.

(See Fortnightly

Histoire du Manicheisme.

Beausobre, Isaac de.

Bonnet, Charles.

Paris.

vivans.

des

Ide'es

sur

Geneve, 1769.

Existences

de

1'Ame.

Paris, 1865.
Entretiens sur
Le Bouyer de.
la Plu
Fontenelle, Bernard
National. Paris,
ralite des Mondes.
Paris, 1686.
Bibliotheque
1871.
La

Flammarion, Camille.
Paris, 1864.

et les
Imaginaires,

and

delnfinite'.

Histoires

of
analysis

Mondes

Fourier, F. Charles

Marie.

1'Antidote,PIndustrie

et

monde

peuplesdu

Franck,
Paris, 1875.

Ad.

12 torn.

Dictionnaire

See the article

"

Les

Mondes,

the

(Containsa
of worlds.)
plurality

La

Fausse

list

Industrie

Naturelle,combine'e.

Ceremonies

Picart,Bernard.
les

on

Paris,1867.

Habitue's.

Paris,1865.

Re'el.

all the works

Mondes

Pluralite' des

Morcelee,
Paris,1835-36.

de
religieuses

et coutumes

tous

Paris,1807.
des

Sciences

Philosophiques.

Metempsychose."

Chef-d'o2uvre

Litteraires

de

1'Inde,
Tomes
et de la Chine.
4. Paris,
de la Perse, de 1'figypte
II. Hymnes
Vol. I. Rig Veda.
Sanscrit,
1872-78.
Persans,
Egyptiens,Assyrienset Chinois. III. Burnouf, E. IntroducUn Autre
Grandville.
Monde, Transformations,Visions,IiiParis,1844.
cartations,etc.
BibliothequeOrientale.

Balzac, Honore' de.

Seraphita. Paris.

334

APPENDIX.

tion

1'Histoire du

Buddhisme

IV. Le

Indien.

Koran

Ana

lyse.
Elzevirienne.

BibliothequeOrientale
1873-1880.

(A

collection

vast

Plotinus.
miere

Les

fois

the

de

franc,
ais,accompagnee

en

30.

works

Paris,
the

upon

East.)

Plotin.

de

Enne'ades

valuable

of

and peoplesof
literatures,
religions,

Tomes

Traduits

pour la pre
sommaires, de notes
"

(With frag
from Porphyry, lamblichus, and other Neo-Platonists.)
ments
Regnaud, P. Materiaux pour servir a 1'histoire de la philo
sophicde 1'Inde. Paris,1876.
par

M.

N.

Bouillet.

Tomes

Paris, 1858-61.

3.

Paris.
Draward, L. La Science Occulte.
Indien.
Burnouf, E. Introduction a 1'histoire du Buddhisme
du Sanscrit,
Traduit
Le Lotus de la Bonne
Loi.
Paris,1844.
d'un

accompagnee

Commentaire.

IY.
Cud

and

ENGLISH.

worth, Ralph. The True Intellectual System of the Uni

London, 1678.
(" A storehouse of learningon the an

verse.

cient

Paris,1852.

of
opinions

the nature,origin,
pre-existence,
transmigration,

future of the

soul.")

More, Henry.

" A
Poems.
Platonick Song of
Philosophical
treatingof the Life of the Soul, her Immortality,the

the Soul ;
Sleep of the

Unitie

Soul, the

of

Souls, and

Memorie

after

Death."

Cambridge,1647. (See page 180, above.)

More, Henry. The Immortalityof the Soul, so farre

demonstrable

from

the

knowledge

of Nature

and

the

it is

as

Light

of

Reason.

London, 1659.
(See Book II, chapterxvi.)
Glanvil, Joseph (Rector of Bath). Lux Orientalis

Inquiry into the

Prse-existence

of Souls.

teries of Providence

don, 1662.

or

an

opinionsof the Eastern

Being a key

in Relation

Republishedwith

sages concerningthe
to unlock the Grand
Mys

to man's

annotations

misery. Lon
by Dr. Henry More.

of the Soul

before

sin and

1682.

Dunton, John.
the

Body.

Helmont,

In
F.

The

Visions

several
M.

Dialogues. London,

Two

pounded concerningthe

Hundred
Doctrine

1692.

Queries
of the

it comes

(Satirical.)

moderately

Revolution

into

Pro

of Human

Souls.

London, 1684.
Parker, Samuel
(Bishop). A Free

and

Censure
Impartial

of

335

APPENDIX.

of the Origenian
account
an
Philosophic
; with
Hypothesis,
concerningthe Pre-existence of Souls. London, 1666.
Evidence
(An) for Immortality,and for Transmigration. To
Treatise concerning those who sleep in the
which is added
a
Platonick

the

Dust

London, 1732.

of the Earth.

(Chapter
of pre-existenee
doctrine
"a
the reasonable
III upholds
as
of the main
mysteriesof Providence,which no
key for some
other can
so handsomely unlock.")
The

Mede.

of Godliness.

Mystery

London, 1708.
"

"

Warren, Edward.

Pre-Existence

No

againstthe Hypothesisof
cedaueous

Souls

Humane

or

brief Dissertation

livingin

state ante-

London, 1667.

to this.

Addison, Joseph. The

and

Spectator. London.

See

Nos.

211

343.
Thomas.

Newcomb,
Poem.

Pre-existence

and

Transmigration. A

London, 1743.

Pre-existence.

(In Dodsley'sCollec

Bath, 1763.

Poem.

tion,I. pp. 158-172.) (See pp. 181-187, above.)

Berrow, Capel, Rector of Rossington.A Lapse of Human
Souls in

State of

the only OriginalSin, and

Pre-existence,
of the Gospel Dispensation. London, 1766.

Groundwork

considers

(He
brute

creation

than

the human

aeons

past.)

that

labors
race

men

apostate angels,and

are

under

stroke

severer

because

it was

that

of divine

than
guiltier

the

the

justice

mankind

in

Several Subjects. London,

on
Disquisitions
Jenyns,Soame.
1782.
Disq.Ill, pp. 27-46.
(See page 87, above.)
Preexistence
Minutes

and

of Souls

and

Universal

Correspondenceof

Restoration.

the Burnam

From

the

Society. Taunton,

1798.

Ramsay,
Revealed

Chevalier.

of
Philosophical
Principles

Religionunfolded

in

Geometrical

Natural

Order.

and
Edin

burgh, 1748.
An Explicationof Gospel Theism
Brocklesby,Richard.
the Divinityof the Christian Religion,
the true
containing
count of the System of the Universe.
1706.
(Maintainspreexistence.)

and
ac

Works.
Goodwin, John.
London, 1652.
(Defends,preexistence.)
An
Bulstrode, Whitelocke.
Essay on Transmigration,in
Defence of Pythagoras. London, 1692.

336

APPENDIX.

Wheeler, J. T.

History of India. London, 1874.

(For
Hindu
see
Transmigration,
pp. 72-76.)
Classical
Garrett, J.
Dictionaryof India. 1871.
(See
Transmigration,on pp. 637-642.)
Rational Theology and Christian Phi
Tulloch,John, D.D.
losophy in England in the 17th Century. Edinburghand Lon
don, 1872.
(Vol.II : The Cambridge Platonists.)
"

"

Wilkinson, Sir John

and

ners

Customs

etc.
ligion,

Bunsen,
5

tory.

to

London,

vols.

worshipand

Literature.

London.

Taylor, Isaac.
New

series of the Man

Egyptians,
includingtheir

in Universal

York,

(Vol. IV.
metempsychosis.)

Kabbala

PhysicalTheory

Re

(Vol. II. chap, xvi.,pp.

1878.

London, 1848-1860.
The

and

second

transmigration.)
Carl J.
Egypt'sPlace

Ginsburg,Dr.
and

Christian

of animal

treat

of the Ancient

3 vols.

440-451, relate

Gardiner.

its

His

pp. 638-653,

Doctrines, Development

of Another

Life.

London

1836.

Essay on Immortality. In his Essays,moral,

and literary.Edited by T. H. Green and T. H. Gosse.
political
London, 1875.
(See p. 94, above.)
A Popular Introduction to
W.
What
I ?
am
Cox, Edward
Mental
Philosophy and Psychology. 2 vols. London, 1871.
Vol. I.,chap.42, "Pre-existence."
Hume,

David.

Hudson, C. F.
a

Future

Life.

Timbs, John.
London, 1880.
43 and

Debt

and

Grace, as related

to the Doctrine

of

Boston, 1858.

(See p. 111.)
The
Mysteries of Life, Death
(See the chapterson Pre-existence

and

Futurity.

of

Souls,pp.

262.)

Butler, Win.

Archer.

Lectures

on

the

History of Ancient
Thompson. London,

Philosophy,edited by William Hep worth

1856.
240-264, Psychologyof
(See Vol. II.,Lecture IV.,"pp.

Plato.)
His
Mozley,J. B., D.D. (Canon of Christ Church). Essays,
torical and Theological.London, 1878.
(Vol. II. pp. 317 sq.,
doc
Indian
Conversion," severelyattacks the Brahmanical
"

trine.)
Liddon, H. P., D.D.
of

Religion.Lent

95-106, is devoted
H.
Jennings,

Paul's).Some Elements
Lectures.
London, 1870.
(LectureII. pp.
to a refutation of Preexistence.)

The

(Canon

of St.

Rosecrucians.

Their

Rites

and

Mysteries.

337

APPENDIX.

London,

(References to transmigrationoccur

1870.

on

pages

94, 97, 101, 106.)

London,

Druids.

Christians

in

L.

First

the

Concord

The

of

British

the

of

London

Centuries.

Origen.)
Conflict of Ages

Relations

God

of

New

Ages.

Affairs

the

on

of the
New

and

for

The

the Moral

on

Three

27-29

Beecher, Edward.
bate

Commentaries

von.

(See Sections

York.

Rites

1809.

Joh

Mosheim,

and

Mythology

Davies, Edward.

Great

the

or

De

Boston, 1853.

Man.

and

York,

1860.

of a Fu
A Critical History of the Doctrine
R.
Alger, Wm.
1860.
ture Life.
(See p. 100, above.)
Philadelphia,
Great
Ten
Freeman.
Religions. Boston,
Clarke, James
1871.
; chap. iv. Buddhism
;
(Vol. I. chapter iii. Brahmanism
chap.vi. The Religionof Egypt. Vol. II. chap. vi. The Soul
and its Transmigrationsin all Religions.;

Boston,

Oriental

Samuel.

Johnson,

Religions. India.

and

Races

1875.

Channing,

Win.

Lectures

Henry.

Eastern

on

Religions.

London.
Haldred.
D'

Account

An

Curiosities

Isaac.
Israeli,

II. contains

short

section

R.

Spence.
Hardy,
Development. London,

Edward.

"Metempsychosis." )

on

of
New

1853.
Lectures

The

illustrated.
popularly

Buddhism, in its Modern

York, 1886.

ReligiousOpinionsof

the

on

Doctrine

History and

London,

1829.

of

Buddhism,

(Transmigrationoccupies

25-43.)

Buddha
Lillie,Arthur.
More
Brewster, David.
Faith

and

Man

the Christian's

Fragments

of

and

Science

of the Finite and

Esoteric

Sinnet, A. P.
Five

Years

Arnold,
the

of

Edwin.

Faith.

Early Buddhism.

Worlds

Magic,

White

Infinite Life.
Buddhism.

Theosophy. London,
The

One

than

the

Hope. London.
Forgotten History. By

London, 1885.
Hartmann, Franz, M.D.

of

(Vol.

Hindus.

Upham,
pp.

London.

of Literature.

Manual

Wilson, Prof. H. H.
the

Land.

of the Hindoo

Light of

Boston, 1883.

and

Philosopher's
Two

Black

Chelas.

or

the

London, 1886.
Boston, 1884.
1885.

Asia.

Boston,

1879.

Pearls

338

APPENDIX.

Lighton the Path. Boston,1885. Through

A Fragment of Thought. Boston, 1887.

Collins,Mabel.
of Gold.

the Gates

Tredwell, Daniel N. Apolloniusof Tyana. New York, 1886.

Chasseaud, Geo. Washington. The Druses of the Lebanon
:
their Manners, Customs, and History. With
translation of
a
Code.
their Religious
London, 1855.

Fleming'sVocabulary

of

Philosophy.London,

(See

1886.

under

Metempsychosis,etc.)
Hedge, Frederick Henry. Ways
Boston, 1877.

says.

Tyler,E. B.
Myers, F. W.

Spiritand
120.)

(See above, page

Culture.

Primitive

Modern

H.

New

other Es

York, 1876.

Essays. (See page 55.)

In his Complete Works.

Eureka.

Allan.

Poe, Edgar

of the

New

York.
The

Smedley.
land and

Occult

Ghostland.

3 vols.

Hodson, B. H.

ligionof Nepal

King,C.

the

Tibet.

The

New

and

Language, Literature

and

and

Remains, Ancient

their

and

York, 1864 and 1887.

Strong'sCyclopedia of Biblical,Theological

and

Literature.

Ecclesiastical

New

York, 1867-1877.
Pre-existence,Origen,etc.)
Gnostics,Metempsychosis,

Blavatsky,H. P.
Mysteriesof Ancient
Yrork,1877.
carnation

Frith,J.

Ben

nection

with

and

Modern

Master

Science

in index to

and

Key

(See
the

to

Theology.

New

Metempsychosis,Rein

Transmigration.)
Life

Qabbalah.
Hebrew

The

Gebirol

Ibn

Yehudah
the

Bruno, the Nolan.

of Giordano

Boston,1887.
Meyer, Isaac.
Solomon

Isis Unveiled

(See references

and

Re

London, 1874.

Gnostics

London

McClintock
and

and

Dream

London, 1855.

London, 1887.

Essays on

W.

Medieval.

Sciences.

London

and

PhilosophicalWritings of
or

Avicebron, and their

con

Qabbalah and Sepher haz-Zohar, etc.

1888.
Philadelphia,

V.

Manu,

The

ENGLISH.

Institutes

(TRANSLATIONS.)
of.

Transmigration. Trans, by
Works.

Rig
gon.

The

Sir Wm.

Twelfth

Book
Vol.

Jones.

treats

VIII.

of

of his

1807.
Veda.

Vishnu

London, 1840.

Piwana.

Translated

by

Prof. H. H. Wil-

340

APPENDIX.

Richter,Jean Paul.

Levana.

Israel,Manasseh
[/hide. (A rich mine
and Jewish

Ben.
of

London, 1848.

(p.346.)
Translated
Conciliata.
by Dr.
information concerningthe Kabala,

preexistence.)
Passions

Fourier,Charles.

of the Human

by Hugh Dougherty. London,

Soul.

Translated

(For Fourier's

1851.

ideas

on

see
Introduction,
immortality
pp. xiv-xviii.)

II. cap. 123.

Timseus,the Locrian. (A Pythagorean.)
Book

Herodotus.

Will and Idea.

Trans
The World
Arthur.
as
Schopenhauer,
3 vols. London, 1883lated by R. B. Haldane and I. Kemp.
86.
(See Vol. III. p. 468.) Essay on Death and Immortality.
Phi
Translated by C. L. Bernays in the Journal of Speculative
Vol. I. 1867.
losophy,
Talmud, The. J. Barclay. 1878. Selections from the Tal
H. Polano.

mud.

Figuer,Louis.
R. Crocker.

1848.

The

To-morrow

Translated

of Death.

by

S.

Boston,1872.

Bonnet, Charles. Philosophic

Palingenesis.Paris.
Hen, LJywarch. Heroic Elegies. Translated
by Owen.

(Welsh1 oems of Druidism.)

DiogenesLaertius. Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philos
ophersof Antiquity.Translated by C. D. Yonge. In Bonn's
Standard
Library. London, 1853. (See Plato, Pythagoras,
Empedocles,Hierocles.)
Dacier,A.
Verses.
Golden
gow,

Life of

From
Verses

1756.

with
Pythagoras,

the French.

of the

his

London, 1797.

Symbols and

Hierocles,
upon

Pythagoreans.Trans, by J. Moor.
with his Symbols and
Pythagoras,

Life of

Golden
the

Glas

Golden

with the Life of Hierocles and his Commentaries

Verses,together
upon

the Verses.

From

Christian

Julius.
Miiller,
Pulsford.

the French.

In Clark's

Hagenbach,Karl

Doctrine

London, 1721.
of Sin.

Trans,

by

Wm.

ForeignTheological
Library.Edinburgh.

R.

Historyof Doctrine. Trans, by Carl

Library. Edinburgh.
ForeignTheological
Patristic
Preexistence
see
(For
pp. 143-, 285-.) New York, 1863.

W.

Buch.

In Clark's

W.
Schlegel,
In Bohn's

F.

Library.

von.

1849.

National

Esthetics

and

Miscellaneous

Works.

(See p. 468.)

and Universal
Kuenon, A.
Religions
Religions.
Trans,
(HibbertLectures,1882.)
by Rev. P. H. Wicksteed.
is
V.
New
York, 1882. (Lecture
upon Buddhism.)
Balzac,Honore' de. Seraphita.Translated,with an Introduc
tion,by GeorgeFrederic Parsons. New York, 1889..

341

APPENDIX.

of Ancieut Egypt. (HibRenouf, P. Le Page. The Religion

bert Lectures for 1879.) New York, 1879.

Teutonic

Grimm's

Mythology.

See the article

on

Transmi

Vol. II. pp. 655, 826.

gration,
Buddha, his Life,his Doctrine,his
Oldenberg,Hermann.
Translated by William Hoey. London, 1882.
Order.
Translated by
Buddhist Birth Stories. Edited by Faurboel.
Rhys David.
FICTION.

VI.

St. Agnes of Intercession.

D. G.
Rossetti,

ical story. In Rossetti's Collected Works.

p.

An

autobiograph

London.

(Vol.I.

399.)
N. P.
Willis,

A Revelation of
In his

sketch.
graphical

"

Dashes

Previous Life.

An

at Life."

York, 1841.

New

autobio

Macnish, R. The Metempsychosisby a Modern

Pythago
In Tales,Essays,
and Sketches.
rean.
London, 1844. Also in
Blackwood's
496; Littell,LVII. p. 500;
Magazine,XIX.
Tales from Blackwood, Vol. II. ; Good Stories,
Part II.
Confessions of

XII.
Metempsychosian.Eraser's Magazine,

496.

Cooke,Rose Terry. Metempsychosis.Atlantic Monthly,II.

59.

Henry.
Fielding,
In his

Journey from
London.

CompleteWorks.

Sinnet,A. P.

Hogg, James.
Tales.

Boston, 1886.

Karma.
The

to the Next.

this World

Wool

Gatherer.

In his Winter

Evening

Glasgow.

The
Stevenson,R. L.
Hyde. New York, 1887.

Adventures

of Dr.

Archibald Malmaison.

Hawthorne, Julian.

Jekyl and
New

Mr.

York, 1885.

Trans, by
Infinity.

S. R.

Wendell.
Duchess Emilia. Boston,1887.
Barrett,
E.
B.
The Wards
of Plotinus. London
Hunt, Mrs.

and

Flammarion, Camille.
Crocker.

New

Boston, 1873.

York,

1881.

(In thishistoricalnovel Plotinus and the Neo-

Platonists of his time

of their

Stories of

of
philosophy

Balzac,Honord

de.

the

principal
figures,
thoughnot
preexistence
appears.)
Pe"au de Chagrin. Paris,1839.

are

Erckman, E.,and Chatrian,A.

Paris,1859.
Athertou, Mrs.

G.

W.

What

L'lllustre Docteur
Dreams

may

much

Matheus.

Come.

New

York, 1888.
An

Unlaid

mous.)

New

Ghost.

York, 1888.

Study in Metempsychosis. (Anony

342

APPENDIX.

Fechner, Gustav

T.

Dr. Mises.

(These stories of doubles

less the impersonation
of
or
embodiments
:)
Sintram

Fouqud.

and

Andersen, Hans

C.

Browning,Mrs.

E. B.

Gautier.

Le

Hale, E. E.
Poe, E. A.

VII.

his

The

William

higher and

as

showingmore

lower self in

separate

Shadow.
Romaunt

of

Margret.

Double.

Double

My

added,

Companion.

The

Chevalier

also be

may

the

Leipzig.

and

How

he undid

me.

Wilson.

ARTICLES

PERIODICALS, PAMPHLETS,

IN

ETC.

Cliristian Metempsychosis. Prince

Bowen, Prof. Francis.
ton Review, New
Series,VII. 315.
(May, 1881.)

Alger,Wm.

R.

The

of
Transmigration

58.
Review, LXXX.
Glanvil,Joseph,wrote

ican

Baxter, in defense

among

the

Baxter

North

Amer

(January,1855.)
long letter full of curious learningto
of the soul's preexistence,
which
is

Richard

Souls.

MSS.

in

Red-Cross

the

Street

Library,

Cripplegate.
and

Oct. 11,

Pre-existence
546.

The

(May 17,

Radical, III. 517.

PresbyterianReview, II.

American

of Souls.

(March, 1854.)
Doctrine

Knight,Prof. William.
nightlyReview, XXX.

of

(See p.
Transmigrationof
422.

Pontius, J. W.
terlyReview, XXVIII.
Pre-existence
From

Journal.

1845.)

of Pre-existence.

Doctrine

Chamber's

of Pre-existence.

Sentiment

Keil's

Quar

Reformed

Souls.

Fort

625.
S acra,

Bibliotheca

of Souls.

Opuscula

Pre-existence.

Metempsychosis.
96,above.)

XII.

(Jan.,1855.)

Acad.

Review, Oct.,1853.

Methodist

Penn

Concerning Preexistence.

Monthly, VIII.

655.

Sept.,

1877.

Bishop of

Rust, Dr.

cerningOrigen and

Dromore.

the Chief

the collection of Tracts

wood's

of

The

Child who

Magazine,Vol.

of his

Letter

of Resolutions

con

Opinions. Republishedin

called the Plicenix.

Oliphant,Lawrence.
Narrative

Land

of Gilead.

remembered

CXXIX.

Remarkable

previousLives.

Jan.,1881.

Black-

343

APPENDIX.

University Magazine.

Pythagoras.
Preexistence.
; III.

453, 517
; XI.

319

ciety,No.

of
A

5.

by

comments

Sense

Series, Vol.
; V.

157, 234, 298

II.

; VII.

303

341-343.

Transactions

with

; IV.

132

50-52,

Second

Queries.

and

Notes

Sept.,1879.

of

the

London

Lodge

paper

on

Reincarnation

Mohini

M.

of Preexistence.

Metempsychose

Miss

by

Chatterji. London,

Littell's
les

chez

Theosophical So

the

Living Age,

Babis.

Ammdaler

1886.

LIV.

222.

Asiatique, VIII.

Journal

488.

Metempsychose

chez

les Tibetains.

Asiatique,XIV.

Journal

409.

VIII.

PHILOSOPHICAL

The

Path.

Edited

The

Theosophist.

Lucifer.

Ed.

by

W.

Ed.
Mabel

by

New

Q. Judge.

by

MAGAZINES.

THEOSOPHICAL

AND

H.

P.

York.

Blavatsky.

Collins

H.

and

P.

Adyar,

India.

Blavatsky.

Lon

don.
The
N.

World.

Occult

Ed.

by

Mrs.

Cables.

J. W.

Rochester,

Y.
The

Journal.
Philosophical
Religio-

The

Journal

Journal
La

Journal

Speculative Philosophy.

Savants.

des

Revue

Revue

of

Asiatique.
1'Histoire

IJew York.

Paris.

Philosophique.

de

Chicago, 111.

Paris.

Paris.
des

Religions.

Edited

by

Jean

Reville.

Paris.
Le

Lotus.

Les

Jours

Ed.

Krohn

und

Ed.

by

Paris.
de

Duchess

Poma.

Paris.

Paris.

Sphinx.

Zeitschrift

K. Gaboriaux.

Nouveaux.

L'Aurore.
Die

by

fiir
Rich.

Jamai-ul-Uloom.

Munich.

Hiibbe-Schleden.

Philosophic

Falckenberg.
Urdu.

philosophische Kritik.

und

Dr

Halle.

India.

Arya Magazine. Lahore, India.

Occult
The
Magazine. Glasgow.
Edited
The
Platonist.
by Thomas

M.

Johnson, Osceola, Mo.

INDEX.

[Including

American

consciousness,

Ammonius

Analogy
Andersen,

Boethius,

of

Tyana,

! Bonds

10, 23, 224, 321,

39, 76, 243,

333, 340.
I Boullier, 27.
Prof.
Francis
X., 34, 42, G7, 102.
Bowen,
I Boyesen, H. H., 170.
284.
transmigration,
Brahman,
a, upon

British

210.

Aristotle,
Arnobius,

223.

250, 252, 256,

Edwin,
126, 240,
2G2, 298, 303, 321, 337.
168.
Arnold, Matthew,
42.
Ashton,
Eugene,

Arnold,

66.

hypothesis, 247, 284.

of, 284, 285.
transmigration
Atoms,
236.
Augustine,
original sin, 32.
Augustinian
processions, 6.
Bailey, Philip T., 153, 288,
H., 341.
Balzac,
Isaac, 329.
Barrow,
Basilidiana, 72.
Bastian, A., 331.

BACCHIC

Beaumont

and

Beecher,
Berrow,
Bertram,

Fletcher,

308.

Burnouf,

Butler,

J.

F..

330.

by J. T.
10, 339.

14G-1G8.
335.

inquiries,

54.

Trowbridge,

reincarnation,
Bible, The, and
113, 114, 214-221.

C.

J., 336.

E.,334.
Wm.
Archer,

50, 9G, 209, 336.

6, 80, 211, 336, 338, 340.

CABALA,
C:esar, Julius, 5.
81.
Cardan,
Platonists,
6, 65, 179.
Cambridge
T., G5, 177.
Campanella,
Carlyle, T., H, 308, 328.
Mental
Physiology, 54.
Carpenter's
Cathari, 227.
Cato, 228.

298.

7, 35, 47, 67, 337.

Edward,
67, 298.
Ward,
Henry
Capel, 335.

Beyond,
poem
Bhagavadgita,

poets,

Brocklesby,
Richard,
Brodie's
psychological
Brooks,
Phillips, 67.

Bunsen,

I., 333.

Beausobre,
17.
Bede,
Beecher,

David,

Sir Thomas.
1(5. 07, 82, 272.
E.
Browning,
B., 126, 342.
Robert, 155, 208.
Browning,
7, 65, 169, 229, 330,
Giordano,
Bruno,
338 ; quoted, 27, 317.
Bruch, J. F., 331.
De
la, 288, 328.
Bruyere,
Buckle's
History of Civilization, 31.
69, 70, 196, 242-247, 274.
Buddhism,
Bulstrode,
W., 335.
37, 97, 126.
Bulwer-Lytton,

Atomic

243-

i Browne,

reincarnation,

Astronomical

241,

the, 6, 80, 87.

7, 66, 337.

Brahmans,

20-48, 88,

Brewster,
81.

195,

reincarnation,

Brahman

338.

103.

Aristobulus,

301.

Charles,

245, 274.

reincarnation,

for

action,

of

! Bonnet,

22.

329-343.

Arguments

65.

j Bonaveiitura,

323; 325.
Apollonius
Appendix,

227.

j Bogomiles,

C., 342.

quotations,

Anonymous

Jacob,
7, 65.
81, 272.

I Boehme,

36-4C.

Anecdotes,

Appendix.]

'

54.

poets, 129-145.
Saccas, 229.
favoring reincarnation,
Hans

the

329-343.
of reincarnation,
Bibliography
Orientale, 334.
Bibliotheque
I
169.
i Bjorn"en's
"Saline,"
poem
94.
I Blake, Wm.,
! Blavatsky,
H. P., 338, 343.
66.
I Bode,

ADDISON,
Joseph, 153, 276, 322, 335.
from
Adept, quotation
an, 324.
Adepts, 2G4.
276.
African
transmigration,
T.
134, 136.
by,
B.,
Aldrich,
poems
the
Alexander
Great, 5, 197.
by, 148.
Dean,
Alford,
poem
R., 100, 337, 342.
Alger, Wm.
Alternate

in

authors

141.

34, 72, 83,

Cebes,
i

81, 104.

Channing,

W.

H., 337.

346

INDEX.
Edda, 71.

Chapman, George, ii.

Chasseaud, G. W., 338.
Children, 33, 40, 77.
Christian
(Prof. F.
metempsychosis
Bowen), 103.
Christianityteaching reincarnation,72,
225, 227.
to reincarnation,
Christianity married

Education
72.

of the Human

Race

(Leasing),

Egypt, 5, 80, 197.

Eleusinian mysteries, 6.
Emerson, R. W., 7, 16, 23, 98, 126, 178,
190,214, 229, 277, 298, 312, 324.
Empedocles, 5.
English divines, 6, 67.
English books
reincarnation,334upon

317.
Christina (Robert Browning), 155.
Church
fathers,G, 8G, 87, 226, 232, 275.
Cicero, 81.
Freeman, x, G7, 97, 240,
Clarke, James
337.
Clemens
Alexandrinus, 226, 232.
Coleridge, S. T., 35, 54, 156, 229.
Collins,Mabel, 338.
Collins,Mortimer, 168.
Concord
of Ages (Dr. Beecher),47, 67.

338.

Enoch, 2G9, 291.

Erckmanri-Chatrian, 333, 341.
Erigena, 65.
Ernesti,7.
Esoteric
Oriental reincarnation,263-270.
Essenes, 210.
Euclid, 81.

Euripides, 81.

Concord

of Ages (Dr. Beecher), 47, 67.

Conflict of Ages (Dr. Beecher), 47, 67.
Continental
poets, 168-177.
Conzius, C. P., 331.

Evidences
103.

Cooke, Rose T., 341.

Cox, E. W., 336.
Crookes, Prof.,4.
Cudworth, Ralph, 20, 65, 334.

Experiences requiringreincarnation,36-

FACING

Prof.

Bowen

Death,

The

Secret

on, 116.
on, 67.

of

(W. Whitman), 143.

139.

(Sanskrit poem),

Flammarion, C., 7, 66, 341.

Fleury, 338.
Folk-lore,276.
Fontenelle, 66.
Fouqu6, 342.
Fourier, 66, 340.

252.

Delitzsch,216, 226,

Westward

Fawcett, Edgar, 31.

Fechner, G. T., 21, 332, 342.
Fernelius, J., 81.
Fichte, I. H., 65, 74, 331.
Fichte, J. G., 331, 339.
Fielding,H., 341.
Fiquier, Louis, 7, 340.
Final
(M. Thompson).
Thought, The

Life of Pythagoras,282, 340.

Damascius, 229.
Davies, E., 337.
Davy, Sir Humphry, 123.
De Profundis
(Tennyson),151.
Death, 289-296.
Death in Esoteric Orientalism, 269.

Death, Schopenhauer

reincarnation,15-48, 88,

Evil, originof, 32, 85, 116.

Evolution, 4, 19, 24.

DACIER'S

Death,

of

332.

Denton's
Soul of Things, 284.
Descent
of the Soul (Plotinus),229.
Destiny of Man (Ficbte),74.
Disraeli,Benjamin, 298.

French

books

upon

reincarnation, 333.

Frith, J., 338.

D'Israeli,Isaac,10, 337.
Dialogues on Metempsychosis (Herder), Froschammer, J.,26, 332.
75.
Future punishments, 35.
Dickens, Charles, 41.
Diogenes Laertius, 340.
GALEN, 81.
Disquisition on
Prseexistent
State
Garrett. J., 336.
a
(Jenyns),87.
Gauls, 5.
Gates
Dollinger,J. J. I.,332.
Between, The (E. S. Phelps),
Donne, Dr., 168.
292.
Doppert, J., 329.
Gautama, 298.
Dorner, Dr., 7, 47, 66.
Gautier, 342.
Dowden's
Life of Shelley,
92.
Gazzali,308.
Genius
Dravard, L., 334.
explained by reincarnation,59,
of Pythagoras (E. Tatham), 156.
Dream
314.
German
books upon
Druids, 5, 6, 71, 275, 337.
reincarnation, 330332.
Druses, 39, 276.
Duchess, The, 341.
Ginsburg, Dr., 336.
I Glanvil,Joseph, 66, 91, 214, 334, 342.
Duguet, C., 333.
1
Dunton, John, 334.
Gnostics, 6, 72, 226, 227.
de
Dupont
Nemours, 97.
i Goethe, 7,175.
Du Prel, Baron, 54.
of Pythagoras, 281.
I Golden
verses
,

EASTERN
Eastern

poetry, 251-260.
reincarnation,7, 240.
Ebers, George, 282.

Goodwin, J., 335.

Crosso, Edmund
W., 146.
Greek
philosophers,20, 200,201, 226.
341.
Grimm,

348

INDEX.

of Forgotten Historv,
: Fragments
264, 337.
Manichseans, 6, 72, 225, 226, 227.
Manu, laws of, 245, 272, 273, 275, 338.
Marcionists, 72.
Marcus, J., 332.
Marvell, Andrew, 167.
Materialism, ix, 19.
Mazzini, 308.
and Strong, 338.
McClintock
Man

Mede,

335.

Memory of past lives,51.

Memory, On (Tupper), 154.
See Reincarnation.
Metempsychosis.
Metempsychosis, Dialogues on (Herder),

Orpheus and Eurydice,295.

Ovid, 5, 23, 168, 194, 200, 272,278, 339.
50, 65.
Paradise, 83, 221.
Parker, S., 334.
W., 145.
Parsons, Thomas
Paul, Jean, 75, 272, 288.
Paul, St.,85, 116, 221.
Paulicians,227.
Paulinus, 17.
Pelagian sin,32.
Periodic year, 82, 247.
Persian
Magi, 5, 80, 87.

PARACELSUS,

Persian

75.

A., 329.

J.

Grander,

poem,

257.

reincarnation,199,247, 274.
Personality,26.
The
(T. B. Aldrich), Peru, 6.
Pezzaui, A., 66, 97, 333.
Pfellus,81.
Mexico, 6, 276.
of Plato, 201.
Phaedrus
Meyer, I., 338.
Phelps, E. S., 292.
Meyer, J. B., 331.
Philo, 6, 81, 210, 224, 332.
Meyer, J. F., 331.
Philolaus,194.
Michelet, 272.
Picart,B., 333, 339.
Miller,J. G., 332.
R.
250.
Pilgrimage philosophy, 60. 61.
150,
M.,
Milnes,
Plato, 5, 27, 71, 81, 104, 126, 201, 280,
Milton, 1C, ISO, 181.
339.
Mohammedan
reincarnation,6, 71, 247.
Platonic poets, 178.
Montaigne, 321.
Platonists,7, 178.
Moore, Thomas, 194.
Dr.
6,
G4,
34,
78,
179,
Platonists,Cambridge, 6, 05, 179.
65,
Henry,
More,
Plato's year, 82, 247.
180, 334, 340.
J.
337.
Plotinus,
5, 51, 81, 224, 228, 229, 274,
L.,
Mosheira,
334, 339.
Mozley, J. B., 336.
Plurality of the Soul's Lives (Pezzani),
Mulford, Eliaha, 26.
97.
Mailer, 332.
Plurality of worlds. 66.
Miiller,Julius,7, 35, 47, 66.
Plutarch, 339.
Miiller,J. T., 331.
Pos, Edgar A., 38,338,342.
Mliller,Max, 339.
:
Poetry of Reincarnation
American,
Mulock, D. M., vi.
129-145 ; British, 146-168
; Continen
Myers, F. W. H., 338.
tal, 168-177 ; Eastern, 251-260 ; Pla
Mysteries, Eleusinian, 6.
153.
178-191.
The
J.
(P.
tonic,
Bailey),
Mystic,
Pomponatius, 81.
of the soul requires reincarna
NATURE
Pontius, J. W., 342.
tion,29, 120.
Porphyry, 66, 196, 229, 282,329.
Nemesis, 302.
Preexistence.
Argued by F. H. Hedge,
Nemesius, 226, 236.
120 ; argued by Prof.
Knight, 95 ;
Neo-Platonism, 5, 226, 228, 282.
32?
342 ; books
articles upon,
upon,
New
truths
the oldest,4.
87 ; Dr.
343 ; Disquisitionon (Jenyns),
Nevvcomb, Th., 335.
Hodge on, 34 ; experiences of, 36-47 ;
Nirvana, 244, 306, 309.
129; in
on,
Hayne's (Paul H.) poem
and Queries, 40, 343.
Notes
the
Bible, 215-221
; Miltoniu
poem
Novalis, 26.
on, 181, 335; Plato's, 96, 201, 209;
Niirnberger, J. C. S.,331.
See Reincarna
seven
pillarsof, 92.
Metempsychosis
Taylor), 131.
Metempsychosis,

of

the

Pine

(Bayard

to reincarnation,51-61.
Oetingen, F. C. von, 52.
Oldenberg, H., 341.
Oliphant, Lawrence, 40, 342.
Olivier,J., 332.
Years Ago (C. G. Leland),
One Thousand

OBJECTIONS

tion.

Prevalence

of

reincarnation,4-7, 65, 70.

Priesthood, 280.
Priestlyrites,6.
Priscillians,225, 227.
Proclus, 5, 81, 229, 275.

Prodigies,313.

137.
Word

(Robert Browning), 13"".

34, 6(5,81, 86, 123, 226, 233,

More

One

Origen,

Persian

6.

339.

Originalsin, 32, 85, 116.

Prose

writers

upon

reincarnation, 65-

123 ; Appendix.
Prudentius, 237.

Psychicalresearch, 19.

349

INDEX.
Psychological proofs
29-31, 120.
Psychometry, 284.

of

reincarnation,

18.

Ptolemy.

Pythagoras, 5. 39, 71, 76, 78, 80, 194,

200, 274, 280, 298.
of (poem), 158.
Pythagoras, Bream
Pythagoras, Life of,282, 340.

QUARLES,
RABBINS,

ii.

G.

(Longfellow), 142.
Ramsay, Chevalier, 34, 66, 83, 335.
Recognition of friends iu the future, GO,
292, 295.
Record, A (W. Sharp), 154.
Regnaud, P., 334.
Reincarnation, ancient, 195-212 ; an
swers
problems of original sin, 32 ;
curious
experiences, 3G-46 ; evil, 46,
116 ; nature
of
the
soul, 29, 120 ;
for, 20 ; Biblical,25-221 ;
arguments
Rain

in Summer

Christian, 225-237, 317, 318 ; Eastern,

poets on, 251-200 ;
; Eastern
Esoteric, 2G3-270 ; objections to, 5161 ; optimistic, 320 ; prevalence
of,
3-7, 70; probability of, 117; science
309-325
;
confirming it, 19 ; summary,
transmigration through animals, 273 ;

241-247

evidences, 11 ; Western
poetic, 127-191,
upon,

Western
thors

65-123;

What

is it?

au

prose,

11.

Religio Medici, 67, 82, 272.

A (Dean Alford), 148.
Remembrance,
Renouf, P. L., 341.
Repulsiveness of reincarnation, 59-61.
Retreat, The (Henry Vaughan), 189.
(Milnes),150.
Returning Dreams
Reynaud, Jean. 66, 333.
Richter, Jean Paul, 75, 272, 288, 340.
Rig Veda, 338.
Ritgen, F., 331.
Robertson, F. W., 72, 322, 339.
Roman
Catholic Purgatory, 6, 35.
Rossetti,D. G., 16, 42, 153, 341.
Rowe, Mrs. Elizabeth, 190.
Riickert, 7.
Ruffinus, 226.
Rust, Dr., 342.
SAGAS
of Iceland, 169.
Sakoontala, 251.

books, 338, 339.

Sanskrit poetry, 251-256.
Schelling,7, 26, 65.
Sanskrit

Schiller,175.
Schilling,W. H.,329.
Schlegel,16, 340.
Schlosser,J. G., 330.
Schopenhauer, 7, 65, 67, 288, 332, 340.
Schubert, G. H., 331.
Schubert, J. E. von, 64, 330.
Science, 7,19, 25, 27.
Scott, Sir W., 36, 214.
Scott's

Christian

Scotus, 7.

See Biblical.
ScripturalReincarnation.
of Death
Secret
(Sanskrit),252.
of Reminiscence
175.
Secret
(Schiller),
Sedermark, P., 330.
Senses, seven, 267.
Separation from friends,60, 292, 295.
Seven in Oriental philosophy, 265.
Shakespeare, 272.
Sharp, William, 154.
64. 298 ; anecdote
of, 92 ;
Shelley, P. B

Life, 67.

poetry of, 187, 188.

Sibbern, F. C., 329.
Simomsts, 72.
Simrock, K., 332.
Sin, original,32, 85, 116.
Siimet, A. P., 337, 341.

Smedley, 338.
Socrates,7.
Solomon, 84, 216.
Spirits(Goethe),17o.
Song of the Earth
Soul, immortality of the, 20, 94.
of the, 29, 120.
Soul, nature
Soul of Things (Deutou), 284.
Southey, 94.
Spencer, Herbert, 19, 28.
Spenser, 16.
Spiesz,E., 332.
Stahl, G. E., 26, 27.
Stanzas (T. W. Parsons), 145.
St.

Bernard,

298.

L., 55, 341.

and Tait's Unseen
Stewart
Universe, 17,
289.
Stories of reincarnation,41, 42, 55, 341.
Successful Search
(Poem), 260.
Sudden
Light (D. G. Rossetti),153.

Stevenson,

R.

Sufis,247, 251 259.

Swedenborg, 7, 65.
Symbols of reincarnation,282.
Synesius, 81, 236.
Syrianus, 275.
,

6, 72, 340.
Emma, 158.
Taylor, Bayard, 131, 133, 308.
Taylor, Isaac,16, 50, 288.
Taylor's (Isaac)Physical Theory of a
Future
Life,19, 29, 336.
Tennyson, A., 151, 152. 309, 320.
Theologians, G, 7, 18, 32, 47, GG, 8G.
Thompson, Maurice, 139.
Through the Gates of Gold, 16,264, 338.

TALMUD,
Tatham,

Timseus, 201.340.

Timbs, John, 336.

To my
Daughter (E. W. Gosse),147.
Translations
into English, 338.
Transmigration (H. H. Boyesen), 170.
Transmigration of Souls (Be"ranger), 173.
Transmigration through animals, 77, 87,
273-285.

Tredwell, D. N., 338.

Trench, R. C., 257.
Trinius,J. A., 330.
Trismegist, 80.
of teaching by
Triple form
hood, 280, 282.
Trowbridge, J. T., 141.

the

priest'

350

INDEX.

Tulloch,

John,

Tupper,

154.

Two

332.

(J.

Twilight

R.

Voices
E.

Tyler,

D.,

Webster,
Wedekind,

C.,

Twesten,

336.

Welsh

142.

Lowell),

C.

Upham,

F.,

writers

What

J.

Sir

Vane,

Henry,

Vaughan,
5,

Voltaire,

81,

E.,

of

H.,

Wordsworth,
as

of

G.,

J.

the

Mind,

336.

282,

41,141,341.

P.,
H.

328.

308,

144,

130.

338.

337,

146,

W.,

Idea,

and

Will

328.

The,

67.

ii.
335.

W.,

Wasseljew,

Weber,

N.

Wilson,

328.

WADDINGTON,

Ways

Sir

Willis,

189.

168.

143,

Duality

(Dr.)

11.

G.,ii,

Wilkinson,

330.

World

Warren,

J.

Wigan's

7.

G.,

W.

the

332.

YOUNG,

Thomas,

ZOHAR,

the,

16.

330.

Spirit

(F.

H.

Hedge),

poetical.

336.

T.,
Walt,

Whittier,

Harry,

Vangerow,

Virgil,

Whitman,

72.
228.

Valentiiiius,

Appendix

Reincarnation

is

Wheeler,
VALBNTINIANS,

Reincarnation:

upon
and

65-123

127-191.

331.

337.

E.,

330.

G.,330.

Wernsdorf,

prose,

UNGERN-STERNBERG,

275.

169,

6,
A.,

Z.

Western

338.

331.

Triads,

Wendel,

151.

(Teunyson),
B.,

300.

G.,

120.

Zoroaster,

212.

80,

194,

199,

247,

274.

44.