33-1 On InfindiS, 



Mr. Fisher observes, when rcmarkin;^ on the possibility 

 of an eternal creation as an effect of Divine power, ''If 

 there be any seeming inconsistency in the language eternal 

 effect, we may call it an eternal exifttence dependent on aii- 

 ollier eternal existence, in such manner, that if the latter 

 had nevt^r existed, the former never would. ! have some- 

 time? illustrated it to myself in this manner. Suppose a 



straij^ht rod to begin at the earth and to stn^tch towards the 



north. Let it be supposed immoveable, but that all other 

 matter gravitates in lines at right angles to it, and tends to 

 fal! away from it. A chain may be hung parallel to this 

 rod, by means of wires placed at moderate disiances. It is 

 self-evident, that the chain may be supported to as great a 

 distae.ce as the rod stretches ; and therefore if the rod 

 stretches to infinity, it will support a cliain of infinite 

 leniilh. The analojry of extension to duration admits this 

 conclusion to be extended with intuitive clearness to the 

 latter." To some it may perhaps appear necessary, that 

 if the agent and the work are cocternal, the volition and 

 the etfect must be in all cases contemporaneous. But if 

 the i^gcnt has been eternal, and if he has been eternally at 

 work, and if we admit the necessity in every case of a time 

 iaierven^ng between the volition and the effect, we see 

 wifh certainty that the admission involves no difficulty ex- 

 cept witii regard to the original act. But the supposed 

 original act of a being eternally at work is an absurdity. 

 To lliose however who still consider it indispensable that 

 the vohtion and (he eirect should be coincident with regard 

 to duration, it may be answered, that so they might be. If 

 it be said that the Deity necessarily requires any time in 

 which to perform one of his operations, that time may be 

 expressed by a finite number, or infinitesimal. But to say 

 th':)t he cannot perform an operation in a less time than a 

 given one. is virtually to say that his power is limited. It 

 will doubtless be objected, that if the work of creation has 

 been eternal, then some one portion of the universe must 

 alone have been eternal, and therefore could not have been 

 created. This portion the mind perceives must have been 

 the original one. But the original unit of an eternal series 

 is an absurdity. Besides if such an argument is admissible, 

 it will equally well disprove infiinte duration and infinite 

 space. For it is obvious that in past duration, any point 

 whatever may be assumed by a finite mind; but it sees 



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