122 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



we distinguish after the same fashion — according 

 to their effects or according to the forms of Matter 

 in which they become cognisable to us. But if 

 we trace all our conceptions on the nature of 

 Force to their fountain-head, we shall find that 

 they are formed on our own consciousness of 

 Living Effort — of that force which has its seat in 

 our own vitality, and especially with that kind 

 of it which can be called forth at the bidding of 

 the Will. If we can ever know anything of the 

 nature of any Force, it ought to be of this one. 

 And yet the fact is that we know nothing. If, 

 then, we know nothing of that kind of Force which 

 is so near to us, and with which our own Intelli- 

 gence is in such close alliance, much less can we 

 know the ultimate nature of Force in its other 

 forms. It is important to dwell on this because 

 both the aversion with which some men regard 

 the idea of the Reign of Law, and the triumph 

 with which some others hail it, are founded on 

 a notion that when we have traced any given 

 phenomena to what are called Natural Forces, we 

 have traced them farther than we really have. 

 We know nothing of the ultimate nature, or of 



