50 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



drance, obstruction, or retardation ; nowhere the semblance 

 of irregularity, the least touch of disorder. Every part is 

 equally suited for the work assigned. And thus the pro- 

 gress of a single ray affords abundant evidence of the 

 presence of mind. And every ray bears the same testi- 

 mony. Every ray that comes from the sun proclaims the 

 order which it finds in this wondrous sea. And every 

 ray that comes from the most distant star declares that 

 at every point in its travels it has found a welcome, it 

 has been sent forward and received a God-speed, and no 

 let nor hindrance in any the most insignificant measure. 

 This glorious medium forms one mighty sea, one magnifi- 

 cent machine. Behold, cry all parts of it from earth and 

 heaven, behold our unity. We are extended through 

 spaces vast and beyond all measures. But behold how 

 we act together, respond to, and are true to each other 

 throughout all our borders. There is not an indolent, 

 there is not an inefficient, there is not a disorderly part 

 among us. We are everywhere perfect, everywhere 

 efficient, everywhere ready for action, always ready. 

 And where is there action like ours ? Where can motions 

 be found rapid and beautiful as those which we are ever 

 executing 1 And we made not ourselves. We determined 

 not our own nature. We measured not our sensibility 

 and elasticity. We created not the perfection of our 

 harmonies. We are the children of mind. We are the 

 work of understanding. 



The suitableness of the velocity of light is remarkable. 

 In a minute it travels more than 11,000,000 miles. In 

 the same time sound does not travel thirteen. Had light 

 been conveyed at the same rate as sound it would have 

 taken a day to advance 18,687 miles, and would have 

 been nearly ten days in passing over the same distance as 

 it now covers in a second. It would have needed more 



