the heat therefore that has ever been in the universe must be in it still. It only changes its place, or changes its form. Into what other force has it been transformed? Where is it? If it has passed to other systems, it is fair to assume that as much force in some form has come to this system from other systems. If not, then it can only be because other planetary systems are cooler than this, which has not been proved, and cannot be. Forces tend to equilibrium.

Besides, electricity is convertible into either light or heat. Sunlight is not heat-it only becomes heat by being absorbed by matter. That which comes forth from the sun as electricity may become light, heat, magnetism, or chemical affinity, according to circumstances; and that which comes forth from the sun in force of one form, ought to return thither in force of some form at least it is legitimate to presume that this is so until it shall be proved that either space or adjacent planetary systems are robbers, and robbers who are so intensely covetous that they are still unsatisfied though they have been pilfering from this insignificant solar system for unnumbered billions of years. No: in the universe, one part does not steal from another. If it takes what it needs, it invariably gives an equivalent. It could not otherwise get what it needs.

(c) The materials of the earth are not arranged according to density, as they should be, if the nebular hypothesis furnishes an explanation of the mode of its construction. There is a liquid sea of molten material in the center. The solid rock should have been at the center, the earthy material above it, then flowing lava, then air.

(d) Since more heat is required to fuse some metals than is needed to fuse others, and since some metals are

heavier than others, how does it happen that in many instances the less weighty and the easily fusible are embedded in the more weighty and the less fusible? Gold is embedded in granite.

(e) There is no positive proof that there ever was a nebulous mass; and the presumption is that there never was, for many supposed nebulæ have been resolved, by the powerful telescope of Lord Rosse, into planetary systems.

(ƒ) The hypothesis does not furnish a satisfactory explanation of the motions of the heavenly bodies.

(g) The hypothesis makes a large number of almost incredible assumptions: (a) the nebulous mass was heated to such an extent that all metals were in a gaseous state; (b) the homogeneous mass, while in the process of cooling, managed to produce an almost infinite number of heterogeneous results, a large number of different substances in each of three distinct states, the solid, the liquid and the gaseous; (c) all the heavenly bodies were formed from nebulous matter; (d) the entire mass was rotating, though no satisfactory cause of this motion is assigned; (e) this motion was more and more rapid, and the increasing rapidity was due to the process of cooling and contracting; (f) the elipticity of the orbits in which all celestial bodies move is satisfactorily explained by the hypothesis.

2. The second solution of these changes, as explained by theistic evolutionists, is what is denominated creative evolution-there is an immanent supernatural power, so operating and adjusting natural forces as to evolve designedly all changes, even those at present inexplicable, in a regular, gradual, uninterrupted order. According to this view, all transmutations in the vegetable and animal worlds, and all cosmical changes as well, result

by design from natural causes in which God is immanent; and never result from anything else than natural causes, and always in a graduated series which presents no breaks, though there are what we are disposed to denominate breaks. Jevons remarks, in his Principles of Science: "If occurrences can be designed and foreseen by a human artist, it is surely within the capacity of the Divine Artist to provide for similar changes of law in the mechanism of an atom, or the construction of the heavens."

Those who are indisposed to accept the theistic form of evolution, and consequently are inclined to repudiate both the above explanations, generally express themselves as believers in the immanence of the Divine energy in what are called the physical forces, which forces are incessantly operative, and produce a graduated, regular, unbroken series of effects; occasionally, however, God through higher forces-which are of course natural,though unusual or by the direct exercise of His Omnipotent Will causes great and otherwise inexplicable advances in the ordinarily slow progress of improvement. Such special intervention is indispensably necessary, it is affirmed, in order to account for what may be very properly regarded as new beginnings, -the origination of matter, the commencement of life, the origin of man, etc. Most of His operations in nature, for example, the production of varieties, of closely allied species, etc., are carried on through the ordinary physical forces, and are indirect and gradual; some of His operations, indeed many, though few comparatively, are by forces unknown to us and unknowable, if indeed they are distinguishable from His will.

CHAPTER XV.

FORCE.

IN reference to force the following opinions are entertained by advanced thinkers:

I. In its essence it is indefinable and unsearchable.

II. In its origin it is spiritual-it is the immanence of the Divine Will in nature.

III. It is immaterial-and is probably a substantial entity.

IV. It is convertible-one force can be converted into any one of the other forces.

V. It is indestructible-no force has been or can be annihilated.

VI. It cannot be evolved from matter, unless it has been previously involved therein.

I. FORCE, LIKE MATTER, IS IN ITS ESSENCE UN

KNOWN AND UNDISCOVERABLE.

It is not possible to determine all its properties. Some of its laws may be adduced; not all, however, can be. An enumeration may be made of certain forces that are operative on earth, throughout the solar system, and probably to the remotest limits of the universe, even in regions beyond the penetrating gaze of the most powerful telescope; but there may be forces in the world of which we can have no knowledge—of course, such may have potency in the untrodden pathways of immensity. The correlation and conservation of the physical forces

is an established fact. Light, heat, electricity, magnetism, and chemical affinity are intimately related. Each can be converted into any one of the others; but it does not follow that either can be transformed into some other force, if any other exists. These several forces may be only different modes in which the Divine Will manifests itself: it may possibly manifest itself in other modes, however. As is generally believed, they may be immaterial in their nature, and certainly are incapable of being recognized as any specific form of matter. It is conceivable, nevertheless, that they may be an unknown form, as different from any known form as platinum is different from ether. It is this conviction which has led to their being designated as "Imponderables," the design being to express the opinion that they were destitute of at least one material property-they were not subject to gravitation. They are regarded, moreover, as incapable of annihilation. This furnishes no warrant, however, for the assertion that they cannot be destroyed even by Omnipotence; much less that they cannot be held in abeyance by the Divine Will. The premises will not sustain a conclusion so sweeping. Reasons may be assigned, it is true, for believing that no force can be annihilated by any power inherent in the system itself: beyond this, assertions should be made with extreme caution. A universal conclusion from premises that are not universal is not a necessary inference, however plausible it may seem. Again: that no force can be evolved from matter unless it has been previously involved in matter is self-evident, and bears with irresistible weight against every atheistic form of evolution; still, it must not be understood as implying that nothing can come from any material cause, except what was communicated to it at creation. Omnipotence can communicate new energies from, through, or indepen