THE BREATH OF LIFE. 
99 
light, electricity, or chemical action, — -just as every word we utter 
acting on the material atmosphere around us resolves itself into 
aerial waves of sound, which for ever afterwards vibrate with 
diminishing intensity, but expanding area, from one extremity 
of the atmosphere to the other, retaining always the same 
amount of energy as it did when the mechanical motion of the 
breath and bps first gave it birth, — so do the forces once born 
to activity when the candle is lighted live to the end of time 
undiminished in intensity, although changed hi character. 
When the flame is naturally extinguished these living forces do 
not die, but become absorbed into that vast reservoir of energy 
which is the source of all life and light upon this globe. 
And shall we then suppose that the soul of man is of less 
account than the flame of a candle ? If philosophy can thus 
prove that the latter never dies, shall not faith accept the same 
proof that our own spiritual life is continued after the vital 
spark is extinguished ? 
