THE CYCLES OF MATTER. 429 



first choice. There can be no farther decompositions or 

 recompositions. The forces of matter have spent them- 

 selves. After a fierce conflict, they lie mutually slain, upon 

 a long-contested battle-field. The struggle is ended — noth- 

 ing stirs — night comes down and casts her pall over the 

 corse of matter. 



From this exit of material existence we shrink back to 

 the times in which we live, and inquire, What are all the 

 myriad activities of the passing world — what are rolling 

 tides, and surging waves, and ocean streams — what are 

 mountain births, and volcanic eructations, and continental 

 throes — what are wasted lands, and Niagara gorges, and 

 ocean sediments — what are worn-out continents, and ex- 

 tinguished populations, and terrestrial revolutions — what 

 are all these vicissitudes through which the earth has 

 passed, and all these phenomena which to-day are transpir- 

 ing — what are they all but the incidents attending the 

 progress of the active forces of Nature toward their des- 

 tined equilibrium? In their restless and active lifetime 

 they show themselves under myriads of guises, and work 

 out their myriads of incidents ; but the great law which is 

 over them hurries them ever onward in but one direction, 

 and the end of that is equilibrium, stagnation, death. 



Is this, then, the end of matter ? Is it for this that space 

 has been populated with worlds innumerable ? Was it for 

 this brief ferment that a past eternity should brood over 

 nothingness, and an eternity to come should ache with the 

 recollection of creation foiled ? The forces of matter can 

 do no more. The machinery of the universe has run down. 

 Beyond and above is only the Eternal Omnipotence. There 

 is now no power in the universe but Deity. When he wills 

 the resurrection of matter shall dawn. New life will thrill 

 through every vein of the ancient corse. When he wills 

 the forces of matter shall hie again from their hiding-places. 



