4 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



camel, not a man, who passed my tent last night ? By 

 the footprints," was the reply. Pointing to the sun, he 

 said, " That is a footprint, and not of a man but a God." 

 How easily we may know in the morning, after a time of 

 drought, that rain has fallen in the night, and after rain 

 that a cycle, a waggon, a two and a four wheeled machine, 

 a man and a flock of sheep have passed along the road. 

 Eain has fallen plentifully, for the ground is soaked. A 

 cycle, a waggon, and machines have been on the softened 

 surface, for each has left its distinctive track. A man 

 and a flock of sheep have gone on before them, for the 

 footprints are clear, and of the latter there are many. 

 The signs are as certain as if we had seen the various 

 objects soaking the ground, making the tracks, printing 

 the footsteps. And it is our purpose to show that the 

 signs of mind on matter are as clear and distinct, as 

 trustworthy and certain, as if we had seen the Eternal 

 Mind marching in majesty through space, leaving suns 

 and planets behind Him as His footprints ; as if we had 

 been endowed with vision and understanding so powerful 

 as to be able to see them in their magnitude, and com- 

 prehend at a glance the order kindled in every particle. 

 We have had experience of the former signs, it may be 

 said, but not of the latter. But the latter are more 

 distinctive and clearer in meaning, more trustworthy and 

 certain, than the former, for they are in the very nature 

 of things, and that which is in the nature of things is 

 more to be trusted than all experiences. 



From whatever distance also in the heavens a sign 

 comes, it is received without distrust ; unlimited faith 

 is placed in it ; its truth is never questioned ; its message 

 and interpretation obtain a settled place among the 

 verities of science. One of the most wonderful dis- 

 coveries of modern times is that of the lines in the 



