^^. 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



5 



• ^^^ the la^ 



^g • " in them produce such molecular 



^^ cii/-V< mr>riifii-Qfrnn<; nf fnrm anH n3 



may produce effects which, in part, manifest them- 

 selves in our consciousness as sensations of heat j or, 

 acting upon other bodies, organic and inorganic, ni,ay 



J 



;c 



arrangements 



x> 



does 



thosi 



\ 



unded belief 



such modifications of form and nature — as will suffice 

 to alter their qualities or attributes. Matter^ then, 

 may undergo changes of form — it may be now solid, 

 now liquid, and now an invisible gas j whilst the 



: to such different 



disguised Force or Motion 



investigators modes of collocation of the atoms of matter, may 



have alike \ manifest itself to 



tion of the 



r 



us in different ways, but in its 



essence it remains as the underlying and indestruct- 



neness andii ible cause of the attributes of matter. So that at the 



is indestructi same time that force is indestructible, it is moreover 



lodes of motit incapable of existing alone and independently of 



idea of nioti matter. We cannot conceive force save as inhering 



:Tht except it 



moves- 



in, and appertaining to some body; we cannot con- 

 .tlioi ceive a body, or matter, existing, devoid of all at- 



infinil tributes or force manifestations. Both are mutable, 



both indestructible, and both, so far as we know, quite 

 incapable of existing alone. 



The growth of modern scientific opinion concerning 

 force has necessarily had much influence in modifying 

 the doctrines concerning Life which were formerly in 

 vogue. During the present century the labours of earnest 

 workers of all kinds have done much towards the over- 

 throw of the ancient and long-predominating meta- 



3n, or motioi 



n of a plan^' 

 magine > 



,btle as to e 



ig 



have 



1*' 



.^ cO^"^^^ physical conceptions of Life. Chemists, physiologists, 



pu 



:lses of 



of 



£! 



,1' 



and others have striven manfully to dispel the mists 



