THE GENESIS OF NATURE. 



21 



pilgrim path of science, we must venture to approach the 

 centre of our sul)ject, to seek with reverent step to explore the 

 Holy of Holies of Nature. We must try how far we can get 

 to see into the very heart of the universe, to discern what is 

 its cause and origin, what has given it the power to be, the 

 energy to become, the potency to progress. Xature, evolution, 

 the laws of Xature, only lead to ic ; they are not it themselves. 

 They are only pathways to (to our perceptions " to," but in 

 their reality '-from") the centre, the focus, the origin of the 

 Universe. To that ultimate goal we must press forward ; for, 

 until that be found, the meaning of the universe cannot be 

 discovered, the arcana of nature cannot be revealed. 



We proceed, then, first to a survey of our storehouse. We 

 have not yet to deal with its data in detail; that will best be 

 left till we have obtained the key to their interpretation ; but 

 we have to take them now in general view, to look round with 

 bird's-eye ken on the vast facts of the existing and historic 

 universe (as far as we may know it), and inquire liow it can 

 be that they are what they are. What is their value as facts ? 

 What is their scope as a basis for deductions ? 



The answer is that, without exception, the visible in Xature 

 is the exposition of effect. What it tells us is that there is 

 force everywhere bringing things to pass. The buds swell on 

 the bare tree and traustorm it into a summer maze of foliage. 

 The spring air is suddenly filled with myriads of dancing- 

 insects. The clouds gather in the blue, and roll in majestic 

 masses through the sky. The resistless rivers are stayed in 

 their courses and transmuted into hard and unmovable solids. 

 All these are effects. And we are asked what produces them. 

 We may give in reply most elaborate and scientific answers 

 explaining most beautifully these effects. But these answers 

 will be generally found to be scientifically limited ; they do not 

 get to the bottom of the elucidation of force ; they do not 

 reach the scientific end of the catena of cause. Thus the 

 question, " How comes the ice ? " seems simply answered by 

 saying " by the cold." But that answer is defective. It is 

 trading with the unknown. If we go a step further and ask 

 what is the cold ? what is it ? not in relation or modification, 

 but in origin and intrinsic nature ? " we find ourselves 

 becoming entangled in those dim marches of science where the 

 roots of things abound and are inexplainable, where to attempt 

 an answer can only result in darkening counsel by words 

 without knowledge. Or again, if we ask " what makes the 

 buds to swell ? " the simple answer is " life." But when we 



