these atoms which is termed space, whose soul and sun are God. Thus eternity was in the beginning as eternity is now, inconceivable but real, and so infinity was then, as infinity is now, incomprehensible but necessary. Moment after moment makes the deep of endless years, while atom after atom composes the expanse of endless space. Picture then to thyself, O soul, a boundless immensity of substance inconceivably refined, within whose bosom is enshrined the Divine Soul. Feel now that God is the perfected essence from which the human spirit is itself created—that his very being is composed of that living fire of which thou art but a feeble spark, and then see in him, together with the unlimited realm by which He is surrounded, the pure well-spring from which all the streams of universal life have flowed-the self-existent and productive seed from which the flower of creation has bloomed in beauty.

What has been referred to as the Central Germ of being, is not only eternal and indestructible in its nature, but likewise fixed and perfect, in its form and essence. It is a sun of spiritual light and fire which contains, in a concentrated and perfected state, the elements of immensity. This, therefore, was and is the positive and controlling power in the infinite system of being, from which an irresistible and life-giving influence flowed ever out into the bosom of space, and toward which all things are ever tending by the force of a necessary and all-powerful attraction. In this manner were created, as may be seen, two forces or currents, one of which is constantly flowing from, and the other as constantly returning to, the Divine Germ. By virtue of the positive relation which this germ sustains to allexisting substance, it naturally throws off an emanation or atmosphere as an effect of the sublime and unceasing motion

which is a principle of its existence; and so, on the other hand, by virtue of the same relation, it naturally attracts to itself as the magnet attracts particles of steel, all suitable and homogeneous elements, or, to speak more correctly, draws from all directions that portion of the universal substance which, by refinement, has been prepared to assimilate with its own nature. These currents or tendencies, it is perceived, correspond with the centripetal and centrifugal forces whose action is rendered apparent in the movements of the heavenly bodies, causing them to revolve in circles of greater or less perfection. Hence in the operation of these two forces as connected with the original condition of matter, the entire mass of refined substance within the sphere of the primary Germ, was caused naturally to assume a circular motion around this as a center; and this motion being more or less rapid and intense, in proportion to the distance from the center, the substance thereby affected was accordingly resolved into different states or spheres of refinement in the same proportion, these expanding and widening in every direction as brilliant circles of light, until they become merged and lost as it were in the ocean of immensity.

The reality which is here expressed will be found to correspond with the principles that govern the existing constitution of things. From the revelations of Science it appears as a probable certainty, that the entire system of the Universe represents a connected series of concentric circles or spheres, all of which revolve around some distant and unknown center in the immensity of space. This fact may be recognized as a suitable index to a more interior reality. The movement of the planetary bodies in their several orbits around the sun, and the movement of suns in all their inconceivable splendor around a

parent-sun of still greater magnitude, should be viewed only as an external manifestation of the same immutable and eternal principles, by which matter in its refined and spiritual essence was arranged in circling spheres that surrrounded the central Germ of being. In this instance we are not without a reasonable data on which to base our conclusions. From the effects which are every where apparent to the external view, may be easily traced an analogy which will reveal the effects that were produced previous to the formation of material bodies, since the operating laws in both cases must have been essentially the same. Thus if it is found that the gross matter of the Universe, consisting of planets, suns, and systems, is subjected to a circular movement by the action of two forces proceeding from a common center, the inductive mind will readily perceive that the primitive elements of which this matter is composed, must inevitably have manifested a similar effect as represented in graditional circles, this being a consequence attendant on the inflowing and outflowing influences of the great Spiritual Sun.

It is possible to illustrate the manner in which these circles are formed, by referring to a simple, yet beautiful analogy in Nature. Let the reader stand by the side of a still, calm lake, whose waters are unruffled and serene while the zephyrs sleep. Now take from the shore a pebble-toss it forth on the bosom of the water, and carefully note the result. You will observe that there occurs a peculiar movement of the water commencing at the point where the pebble falls, and continuing as far as the motive power extends,-which movement will be manifested by a series of complete circles, one succeeding the other and expanding from the center of motion, until the last wave reaches the shore on which you stand. Will you now seek to

understand the principle on which this effect is produced? This may be found by carefully analyzing the nature of the producing cause. The pebble thrown into the lake communicates its own motion to the water, causing its elements to be repelled in every direction from the spot where it was introduced. At the same time, however, that the pebble in its descent displaces and disturbs the water, it produces by this means a temporary vacuüm in the same, so that, in the effort to regain an equilibrium, the recuperative power becomes equally as strong as the repelling force; and thus between the two currents flowing in both directions from and to the center of motion, the movement of the water is rendered circular, on a principle nearly analogous to that by which the planets of the solar system are caused to revolve around their parent-sun. The significance of this illustration may be readily perceived, as relates to its bearing on the formation of the spiritual spheres, to which allusion has been made; this distinction, however, being borne in mind, that the action of the pebble is but momentary and will soon cease, while the action of the Divine Mind is eternal and must be attended with corresponding results.

From the foregoing reasonings and illustrations, it will be apparent that the substance of infinity was not entirely a mass of chaotic elements, but that on the contrary it ultimated in a form which is the most simple and natural, and at the same time most perfect, of any which the mind can conceive. But this form had no localized or independent position in relation to space, because it was a portion of space itself. So the circles or spheres of which this form was composed, were not placed within each other on the same parallel plane, like the

rings of Saturn, but represented successive degrees of refinement and sublimation tending to a common center, one being the interior of the other by virtue of its increased purity, yet having no established place or position, except as relates to its nearness to, or remoteness from, the interior Sun. There is but one point, therefore, on which the soul can rest in its conceptions of infinity, and that is the great Soul of space-the Original Germ, which men term God. From this Soul radiates in every direction the divine light of which its very being is composed, and around this expands in circling spheres that living substance which makes its universal home. Let, then, the mind first endeavor to conceive of God as the germinal soul of being, which is a substance infinitely more refined than any form of external matter, and to be conceived of as the centralized and sublimated essence of Intelligence. In this conception the mind is furnished with a basis on which its thoughts may peacefully repose; and here too is presented a starting-point, from which it may extend its researches into the depths of the surrounding expanse, until at last, soaring in an aimless flight, it becomes almost swallowed up in the boundless infinitude, even as also, commencing with the unit, it may be lost in the computation of inconceivable numbers.

At this point in the discussion of the present subject, it may be well to present a brief and comprehensive summary of the conclusions which may be entertained as the result of principles disclosed; especially as in these conclusions is contained the basis on which the process of reasoning to be hereafter unfolded, is chiefly dependent.

1. Space is a universal, all-pervading, and infinite substance —a substance which, though inappreciable to the outer senses,