MECHANISM OF NATURE 



present. (Prop. I, B. 1.) Then can force, infinite 

 in one respect, be limited in another respect ? And 

 what shall impose the limit upon it? 



And a Primary Sphere is incapable of change, 

 except that it may change its relative and its abso- 

 lute position. Then it must either move or not 

 move, but the must is an absolute compulsion. 

 Neither can the action of force be delayed or pro- 

 longed, for a Primary Sphere may not stop to ar- 

 gue the point or yield a reluctant obedience. 



Then, if manifestations of force require time, it 

 is because every manifestation works through 

 identities that are composed of particles which must 

 change, one by one. And if one manifestation of 

 force is weak and another is strong, we must 

 look to those identities that are concerned in the 

 manifestation for the reason. 



In old mythologies one Deity is stronger than 

 another. They divide heaven and earth into prov- 

 inces between themselves. 



Are forces likewise identical in their own nature, 

 one stronger and another weaker, with occult in- 

 herent strength? 



That idea belongs to the same old mythology. 

 But a force that is displacement only, in our per- 

 ception, must be infinite in origin, ever itself irre- 

 sistible and instantaneous, while the manifested 

 displacement is subject to time and distance. 



90 



