80 LAWS AND DEVELOPMENTS. 



It should be added, however, that the idea of this concentric 

 annular form of structure can only hold when associated with 

 the supposition, that the primitive point of general gravitation 

 was at, or near, the center of the chaotic mass. If the gravi- 

 tative point was far out of the center, then the evolved 

 masses, instead of assuming the forms of circles, would assume 

 the form of ellipses, having a preponderance of their materials 

 on one side of the sun, where, indeed, the whole might be sub- 

 sequently drawn by the superior gravitating force of their 

 major quantity, and form a separate revolving mass. In 

 either case, however, the fundamental principles involved 

 would be the same. But of the general prevalence of the 

 annular, or, at least, elliptical form of structure, in the sidereal 

 realms, there is a sufficiency of ocular proof, as incidentally 

 exhibited in a previous chapter. 



The FIFTH law, governing a corresponding fifth develop- 

 ment, is the law of SEGREGATION, by which the materials of 

 the previous annular formations, obeying higher and more 

 specific elective affinities, separate into different masses, of 

 higher and lower degrees of refinement. 



The nature and modus operandi of this law, may be under- 

 stood by the following considerations : The completion of the 

 last or circular formation, brings the materials of the universe 

 to a triune degree above their primeval or chaotic state. Of 

 course, therefore, not only the essences, but the activities and 

 inter-activities of the \vhole structure, are more refined, 

 diversified, and systematic. Each nebulous ring is now itself 

 a comparatively independent theater of molecular force and 

 motion, and all of them act upon each other by their gravi- 

 tative and emanative forces, while the central sun, as the 

 great heart of the system, continues to send forth his vivify- 

 ing and generative influence to all. 



