MATERIAL UNIVERSE. 29 



all-pervading, all-controlling, from eternity to 

 eternity, He saw the beginning and the end. 



In the centre of this invisible universe, He then _ 

 formed a solid nucleus, by condensing a portion 

 of the gaseous matter which he had formed ; and 

 a vacuum was produced around the nucleus, where 

 the condensation had been effected, the matter 

 forming the nucleus occupying much less space 

 than before, by which an impulse was given to 

 all the material universe, in the same manner 

 that air or wind is carried from a denser to 

 a rarer medium, or partial vacuum, which 

 impelled it towards this central vacuum ; the 

 laws of the attraction of cohesion and grav- 

 itation were promulgated ; the latent caloric 

 was set free ; and, throughout the vast expanse 

 of boundless infinity, all was activity, motion, 

 and life. Particles uniting with particles, form- 

 ing masses, and flying in all directions towards 

 each other, became ignited and fluid : small 

 masses being merged in larger, were carried 

 3* 



