man spirit. It is a deity which is born to reign in triumph over the expanded realm of matter, looking upward for life and strength to the great Deity from whom it sprang. And this spirit is filled with the essence of immortality-it is attracted toward the great Magnet of the Universe, and so it is destined to advance in the shining pathway of beatitude, and to unfold in purity beneath the light of the Spiritual Sun. Therefore the vast system of Nature was not formed in vain, since through this as a medium has been developed a being, in which are destined to be reposited the joys of wisdom, the peacefulness of harmony, and the delights of celestial love. But wonder, O mortal, at the great Omega which is thus presented -wonder when the Divine life and image are felt within the depths of thy being; and when thou hast contemplated the Universe in its mighty birth--when the shining heavens bend above thee as a vail of glory, reflecting in their calm grandeur the brightness of the Eternal, then look down into the troubled heart of Humanity, and see there, beneath all its gloom, the germ of a soul more radiant than the stars! CHAPTER XI. THE CONCLUSION. 4 NATURE clearly demonstrates the fact, that the birth of the Universe comprehended the various processes and operations whose continuance sustains this majestic temple from age to age. And these processes and operations are shown to be established and unvarying, from the fact that they are based on the unchanging qualities of the substances with which they are connected ;-so that by the things which are visible, and by the hidden currents which stream through the myriad arteries of Creation, the contemplative mind may be introduced to a knowledge of the laws and forces which gave being to the constellations of the heavens. The theological conception of this subject is defective, because it is not based on this broad and substantial platform. Instead of embracing the evidence which the Universe itself presents of its own origin, it makes itself wholly dependent on the mythological tales of antiquity, and rejects the beautiful lessons which are constantly repeated by all living forms. This is the grand mistake of all man-made theology; and the soul that trusts thus blindly to the teachers of earth, without listening to the voice of Nature's own Divinity, does a wrong to the godlike powers which it innately possesses, and becomes deaf to the instructions which the Great Teacher is ever breathing down from his shining throne. As the Soul of the universe existed eternally, no mind can rationally affirm that this Soul can ever change; and if it be true, as it must be, that this is the original basis and source of being, then all elements, materials, and formations that now exist, have been rolled out by the same unvarying process through all past eternity. So far, therefore, as any period of time is concerned, there was, strictly speaking, no beginning, but the beginning can be found only in the Divine Mind, and that Mind is eternal. It is here alone that the soul can properly rest in its contemplation of the origin of being; and since in this beginning were contained the elements of all ultimate productions, so also were here embraced the immutable and uncreated principles by whose natural operation all forms were caused to exist. In view of this fact it may be seen that the love, will, and wisdom of the Divinity, which may be supposed to be primary agencies in the work of creation, were simply the definite, harmonious, and unvarying tendencies of the Divine substance, which were established from eternity; and in this case it follows that there can be nothing supernat. ural, miraculous, or even special in those wondrous methods of Deity which conduct the unending developments of the Universe. Time was in the past as time is now, and God has been in the eternity of by gone ages, as He will be in the endless cycles of the future The birth of the Universe, therefore, is not a transitory or limited process, but an eternal one-the measure of creation is not confined to any number of days or years, but cov ers the inconceivable expanse of all time! No force or prin· ciple that was ever in operation, has been destroyed; all the energies which were at any period put forth by the Divine Being are in exercise at this moment, and the sublime work of creation is continued through the action of that living Substance whose movements can never cease. So the realm of matter is being constantly peopled with ever-new and everchanging forms, while the great Spirit-Fountain from which they issue, remains the same forever! This, then, is the prominent conclusion which may be derived from the principles presented in this volume. The descerning mind will perceive that it is based on the deep foundations of Nature, though it will affect, if admitted, in the most fatal manner the cherished doctrines of the prevailing theology. Yet what is so dear as truth to the human soul ?-what among all theories and doctrines is so really valuable as those divine and changeless principles which are the very expression of the Deity himself? Truly, the thoughts of God are more beautiful and wise than the thoughts of men; and the teachings which are whispered by the earth and heavens-which are breathed from the flowers or descend in the glory of the starlight, are more to be sought and cherished than all that human minds may invent. Let the reader, therefore, seek to be wise in the wisdom which has its source in God, its sanctuary in Nature. and its throne in the developed soul. LIST OF BOOKS. The Harmonial Association would hereby announce that they keep constantly on hand and for sale, standard works on all the important topics of the age. In the following list are comprehended those which are deemed among the most useful and attractive in the departments of Philosophy and Reform: PHYSIOLOGY. CONSTITUTION OF MAN. By George Combe. Paper. Muslin. COMBE'S PHYSIOLOGY, applied to the im- NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN. By Dr. New- Muslin. Paper. NATURAL LAWS OF MAN, Physiologically OUTLINES OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOG- BUCHANAN'S JOURNAL OF MAN. A. PHRENOLOGY. COMBE'S LECTURES ON PHRENOLOGY. PHRENOLOGY PROVED, ILLUSTRATED, Muslin. Muslin. 1 00 1.00 13 PHRENOLOGICAL GUIDE; designed for the use of students. SELF-INSTRUCTOR IN PIIRENOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, illustrated with one hundred engravings. Paper. Muslin. |