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of the material. Nay, the more real and solid the physical 
world is. the more essential is it to place above it, around it, 
and within it, a spiritual power to rule, guide, and master it : 
“ to load it with God.” * 
For again : Matter is not the only element required. Every- 
where we hear of force or forces — mechanical, chemical, 
dynamical forces, but all resolvable into aspects or modes of 
one central force. What is force ? As Sir John Herschel has 
shown, we must come at last to regard it as the manifestation 
of power. But what of power ? Where does power arise ? 
Where does it reside ? f The most profound thinkers fail to 
suggest any source of power but mind ; any residence of power 
but mind. And when I recall the fact that such men as Herschel 
and Clerk-Maxwell declare the atoms of matter to be “ manu- 
factured ” articles, I suggest to you the only sufficient and satis- 
fying idea of “ first beginnings ” — beginnings, that is, in which 
power was manifested and force employed equal to the causa- 
tion, evolution, and eternal government of the universe. From 
the thing made, an “ inherent impulse ” lifts us to the Maker : 
from the created universe, to the Creator. J If there be law, 
there must be mind ; if order, there must be reason ; if skill, 
there must be intelligence ; and if everywhere and at all times, 
there must be causes and effects, there must be mind behind 
them. Take any of the postulates of thought and an argument 
for God may be safely conducted. Take law, which the scientist 
assures us, is universal and everlasting. What is the first and 
most natural remark we have to make about law ? Clearly this, 
that the things subject to it did not make it, and did not impose 
it upon themselves. Need I add, that the subjects of physical 
law cannot repeal the law ? It is above them, beyond them, 
independent of them. Though some of the creatures in the 
world, — man, for instance, — can rebel against law, he cannot 
annul it. He is obviously under laws of health, against which 
he very frequently sins. But he is powerless to annul any law 
of health. Let him break one of them and he will suffer. He 
would, if he could, so modify, or suspend, or annul physical law, 
as to secure for himself immunity from pain. But he cannot. 
He is impotent to do so. As he feels his utter subjection to law, 
and his inability to escape or annul law, what does man reason- 
* I borrow this phrase from an able paper on “ The Principles of Modern 
Pantheistic and Atheistic Philosophy.” By the Rev. C. A. Row, M.A. 
See Transactions of the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of 
Great Britain, 1874. 
t Note VI., Appendix. % Note VII., Appendix. 
Q 2 
