WORLD-CREATIONS. 705 



were at any time stopped, it would be resolved into just the amount 

 of heat necessary to expand the mass again to its original dimensions. 



The attractive forces, gravity, chemical affinity, and cohesion, 

 whether these forces are many or one, are inherent properties of mat- 

 ter. Every atom has its definite capacity of attraction, which may be 

 exercised or not according to circumstances. For it is evident that 

 an attracting body may be at the same time drawing toward itself a 

 million other like bodies, or none at all, without change of its power of 

 attraction. In like manner the magnet has a definite lifting power 

 whether it is actually holding up a weight or not. If this attribute 

 of matter is not operative, or but partially so, it is because heat, or 

 motion, or some repellent force, is holding the atoms or the masses at 

 a distance from each other, and thus opposing the exercise of it. The 

 sum, however, of the attracting power belonging to the world of mat- 

 ter is as fixed as the quantity of matter itself. And I think it is in 

 the highest degree probable that there is in the universe precisely 

 enough repulsive force or heat to overcome all this inherent power of 

 attraction. When all motion of the masses and of the atoms is re- 

 solved into repulsive energy, and brought to bear on the elements of 

 matter, I imagine that they must completely fill the bounds or the 

 infinity of space. Then, if there were perfect equilibrium or rest, no 

 further changes or effects could ever be manifested. Such a condition, 

 however, could probably never result from natural causes, for the time 

 necessary to the perfect balance of the forces must be as infinite as the 

 space through which they extend, and to " set bounds to space" has 

 puzzled philosophy from a very ancient date. If, on the other hand, 

 the universe of matter was created in a state of absolute rest, we have 

 the further and necessary provision that the Spirit of God moved on 

 the face of his creation, and thus unbalanced the forces. But the equi- 

 librium once broken, in whatever manner, from that moment evolution 

 must inevitably proceed. For, let there be an overbalancing of the 

 aggregating force in ever so little or much, an equivalent of the op- 

 posing force must thereafter find some other work to do, and the field 

 is effectually given up to the mighty agency that combines, and con- 

 structs, and brings order out of chaos. 



So long and in proportion as the forming worlds continue to con- 

 tract their dimensions, the rotations and revolutions increase in their 

 velocity. Thus in the rapid and ever-speeding movements of the heav- 

 enly bodies there is stored up the ever-increasing reserve of heat that 

 is liberated from the great contest with gravity- But in the progress 

 of concentration there comes a time when the atoms of matter have 

 approached each other sufficiently near for other forces of attraction, 

 equally correlative of heat, to come into play chemical affinity be- 

 tween molecules of unlike nature, and cohesion between those of like 

 kind. Under the latter term are included all the changes of state 

 which are the result of cooling. By these attractions heat is set free 



TOL. x. 45 



