COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



cases, the hitherto invariaJDle antecedent is not 

 accounted the cause : but why ? Because we are 

 not sure that it is the invariable antecedent." 



Furthermore let it be noted that " such cases 

 of sequence as that of day and night not only 

 do not contradict the doctrine which resolves 

 causation into invariable sequence, but are ne- 

 cessarily implied in that doctrine. It is evident, 

 that from a limited number of unconditional 

 sequences, there will result a much greater num- 

 ber of conditional ones. Certain causes being 

 given, that is, certain antecedents which are un- 

 conditionally followed by certain consequents, 

 the mere coexistence of these causes will give 

 rise to an unlimited number of additional uni- 

 formities. If two causes exist together, the ef- 

 fects of both will exist together ; and if many 

 causes coexist, these causes will give rise to new 

 effects, accompanying or succeeding one another 

 in some particular order, which order will be 

 invariable while the causes continue to coexist, 

 but no longer. The motion of the earth in a 

 given orbit round the sun is a series of changes 

 which follow one another as antecedents and 

 consequents, and will continue to do so while 

 the sun's attraction, and the force with which 

 the earth tends to advance in a direct line 

 through space, continue to coexist in the same 

 quantities as at present. But vary either of these 

 causes, and the unvarying succession of motions 

 226 



