296 THE REIGN OF LAW 



them as applied to the phenomena of Matter ? Is 

 it only by a distant analogy, or as expressing 

 ideas really the same, that we use the same terms 

 of both ? 



Undoubtedly the first thought which suggests 

 itself to the mind is, that a material Force and 

 a moral or intellectual Force are essentially dif- 

 ferent in kind, — not subject to conditions the 

 same, or even similar. But are we sure of this ? 

 Are we sure that the Forces which we call ma- 

 terial are not, after all, but manifestations of 

 mental energy and Will ? We have already seen 

 that such evidence as we have is all tending the 

 other way. The conclusions forced upon us have 

 been these : — first, that the more we know of 

 Nature the more certain it appears that a multi- 

 plicity of separate forces does not exist, but that 

 all her forces pass into each other, and are but 

 modifications of some One Force which is the 

 source and centre of the rest : secondly, that all of 

 them are "governed in their mutual relations by 

 principles of arrangement which are purely mental : 

 thirdly, that of the ultimate seat of Force in any 

 form we know nothing directly : and fourthly, 



