DISINTEGRATION. 



elements is altogether free from those degrada- 

 tion changes which cause its excessively slow 

 wasting away. The hardness of diamonds, the 

 strength of iron, the massive solidity of granite, 

 none of these procures exemption from this 

 universal decay. The process is a remarkable 

 instance of the mills of God grinding slowly 

 and grinding exceeding small. In a very literal 

 sense we have here no abiding city. Grant 

 millions enough of centuries, and every atom of 

 our world will have been scattered into its 

 component dust. 



215 



