THE IDEAL INVISIBLE WORLD. 5 



hence, that in all the visible and corporeal world we 

 perceive no interruptions, no chasms. Down to the 

 lowest and most inorganic parts of matter, we find 

 everywhere that the several species are linked together, 

 and differ but in insensible degrees. And we have, 

 therefore, reason to think that it is in accordance with 

 the magnificent harmony of the universe, and the de- 

 sign and infinite goodness of its great Author, that the 

 species of creatures should also by gentle degrees ascend 

 upwards from us towards Infinite Perfection, as we see 

 they gradually do from us downwards. We have, 

 therefore, reason to conclude that there are far more 

 species of creatures above us than there are beneath us ; 

 man being so much more remote from the Infinite Per- 

 fection of God, than from the very lowest state of 

 being, or that which approaches nearest to nothing*." 



That our planet may at the present moment be the 

 abode of numberless invisible intelligences of a higher 

 nature than man — as it was, in the ages antecedent to 

 the creation of the human race, of thousands of beings 

 now extinct — neither religion nor philosophy requires 

 us to disbelieve f. However this be, all attempts to 



* Locke's Essays. 



t '' The Scriptures assure us, that beings raised as far above the limited 

 powers of man, as man is raised above the insect tribes, actually exist." — 

 Dr. Dick's '* Philosophy of a Fut'.ire State," 2nd edition, p. 291. 



