222 THE LIGHT OF DAT 



■what it is all for, — this is the end of the world." 

 There is no end or heginning, and can be none. 

 Tried anywhere, nature presents the same front. 

 Every part is strong by the strength of the whole. 

 Can you prostrate a sphere ? Every point on its 

 surface is a centre. So everywhere. The earth, we 

 say, is forever falling into the sun and forever ceas- 

 ing to fall ; indicating all directions and going no 

 direction ; every point at the top, and yet no one 

 point at the top, etc. Is this a flat contradiction ? 

 Very well, this is nature, — this is the lesson the 

 earth teaches, and it satisfies. What is time ? It is 

 not the present moment ; before you can say " Now," 

 it is gone ; and it is not the next moment, because 

 that is not. Yet time is. So with the old sophists' 

 puzzle that motion is impossible, because a body can- 

 not move where it is, nor where it is not. Life is 

 as impossible of explanation, — it is neither the one 

 thing nor the other, but a constant becoming. To 

 this principle the last analysis brings you, and the 

 soul sees that the final explanation can never be 

 made, — that there is no final explanation. With 

 this sight comes perfect faith. When the mind sees 

 that the universe is self-sustained, yea, stronger than 

 this, that there is no condition or possibility of the 

 opposite thought, what more can be said ? Now 

 you may chant " unmitigated adoration." Now you 

 may praise with electric voice : — 



" Open mouth of my soul, uttering gladness, 

 Eyes of my soul, seeing perfection. 

 Natural life of me, faithfully praising things, 

 Coiroboiating forever the triumph of things. 



