99 
tinuity to the visible Universe; our authors carry it physically 
into the invisible; even though existence (p. 47) may there be 
conditioned differently (p. 66). ’ 1 ° e 
,, l 7 -. -Extending the principle of physical Continuity beyond 
the visible, into the entire invisible and eternal Universe 
which is both antecedent and subsequent to the visible we 
fnT e T a - S i m ? Se ° f that Physical “immortality” of which 
fun. 1. in fin.) we are said to be in quest. 
Immortality may be conceived in three ways; either as 
(1) within the Visible Universe; or (2) as beyond 
it, and continuously connected with it, as Sweden- 
will! it“‘ tLT, as f1 be y° nl1 i 1 : ancl unconnected 5 ip S 
witii it. Ihe last hypothesis must be at once dismissed Continui ty. 
(p. 6/) if we maintain that the principle of Continuity holds 
throughout the Universe eternally. Existence would on the 
third hypothesis have no physical connection hereafter with 
existence now. Th ejirst hypothesis also is impossible, because 
there can be no immortality” pertaining to a world which is 
to come to an end, as this visible world will. This way of dis- 
posing of the first hypothesis must not, however, be taken for 
granted too hastily; and our authors discuss, (before pro- 
ceeding to the second or remaining view, that immortality may 
be found in a world connected with this, but beyond it), the 
position they thus far had assumed, that « this present visible 
Universe will become effete” (p. 68);-which is essential to 
this part of the argument. 
The conclusion of our authors’ second chapter is thus arrived 
a . 1 hey have not— it will be observed— yet explained pre- 
cisely what they mean by the “Visible or Phvsical Universe ” 
nor the term “ Creation.” As to the latter, they incline to 
Ea Place s view, — that the solar system was “ con- , 
c ensec into its present state from a chaotic mass of theor y- 
nebulous material”; and to Sir William Thomson’s, that there 
were pnmordial atoms of the \ isible Universe some- w ., r 
how produced in a pre-existing perfect fluid,” — if Thomson’s! 8 ” 1 
•hat prov-e to be “tenable ”(p.65); (so far as wejare able to judge.) 
Ihe Eternity of the whole Universe, as based on the Law of 
Continuity by our authors, is not to be confounded with the 
.Illogical belief that God was never without some action, or 
3 at “ e , ever worketh,” or ceaseth, as he may please— no one 
work having been Eternal, but only Himself. According to our 
authors, the whole Universe is perse, eternally continuous; each 
transition being what is but termed a “Creation,”— for if we do not 
misapprehend their meaning, a creation out of nothing is denied ; 
Creation itself “belongs to Eternity” (pp. 118 and 138) 
h 2 
