The 
ence of a God 
is self-evident. 
CHAPTER II. 
Leaving the Religious speculations awhile, we have before us 
now a purely physical investigation. Our authors write for 
students of Science generally, and first state the position they 
take their “ Physical Axioms/ 5 
Thev “ assume as absolutely self-evident the ex- 
. t istence of a Deity, who is the Creator and Upholder 
of all things. 55 “Every phenomenon, 55 says H. Spencer, 
whom (3rd edit.) they quote, “is the mamfesta- 
S e ut m> C Zh tion of some power. 55 (Darwin would add “of a lower 
/>. 169 , where p 0wer into a higher ? 55 ) “ The laws of the Universe 
u* theaZliute are those laws according to which the beings in tie 
X'okJon.™ Universe are conditioned by its Governor, as regards 
vnd laws of time, place, and sensation 55 (p. 47).— (The statement 
the worm js made afterwards, that the “conditioned cannot 
governor^ ,te proceed from the unconditioned. 55 Comp. pp. 169, 
173 174. — The Eternal Father is not Creator? ) 
13. We cannot conceive of purely finite beings existing in 
the Universe without some sort of embodiment. “Materialists 
ao-ree with us 5, (p.48) in disbelieving in disembodied spints(p.o3). 
Finite beings But here they may ask, whether this necessity of con- 
are condi- ce ivin<>- some “embodiment 55 does not show that there 
;iremwT der is a “reality about matter which there is not about 
mind 55 ? Say, finite consciousness c.g. may be distinct from 
matter; but may it not be the result of the position of a certain 
number of material particles, brought about by different forces 
and ending when that position ends? The answer is that we 
have nothine to justify us in so concluding. Io say, that the 
brain consists of particles of phosphorus, carbon, &c , suck as 
ice know them in the common state (p. oO), and that when 
the particles of the brain have, in consequence of the 
operation of physical forces, a certain position and 
ness^nota motion, then consciousness follows, 55 exceeds all that 
of nown pb r y e S icai we are warranted in affirming. We are unable to 
conditions. identify consciousness with its known physical con- 
ditions. Nor may we assume that consciousness, however 
nroduced is less permanent than matter; because the latent 
nossibility of consciousness remains behind. The connection 
1 ' between mind and matter is granted to be most 
intimate ; but we are in profound ignorance of its 
exact nature. How intimate the connection is, the 
physical facts of Memory may teach us. For memory 
is a requisite “organ 55 of continued conscious exist- 
ence (p. 52 ). Bv it we retain a hold on the past ; as truly as by 
an inner life we have also latent capacity of action in the present. 
Need of 
Memory and 
Activity, for 
continuous 
conscious 
being. 
