Stagnation of the Universe. 383 a dead star-a star scarcely noticeable by the astronomer, lives again. One, lately examined by Dr. Huggins, which had cooled down to lowest stages, became bright by an outburst of hydrogen. Does all this, like the rolling of the ocean, rhythmically repeated yet ever varying, while it rivets our attention and hurries us along, leave a final impression of solitude on the mind? No: the motions of the stars, orderly and stately in gorgeous hue, bear down into the beholder's soul conceptions of hitherto unimagined glory and beauty. Our own system: the rule of law within is a miracle, if wrought by chance. The chances against the uniformity being by chance are, Laplace stated, four millions of millions to one. The movement of the sun on its axis, of the planets round the sun, of the satellites round their primaries (those of Uranus, possibly Neptune, excepted), and the motion of all on their axes, is from west to east. There is nearly a regular gradation in their density, the distances are curiously relative, weaving them into one web of arrangement and harmonious agreement. Nevertheless, the uniformity is not an invariability. Variety prevails everywhere. Take the rates of axial rotation. The sun revolves in about twentyfive days eight hours; the moon requires a month to turn in; the earth occupies one day; Mercury, twenty-four hours and five minutes; Venus about twenty-three hours and a half; Mars, somewhat more than twenty-four hours and a half; Jupiter, less than ten hours; and Saturn, say, ten and a half hours. There is reason in all this: for "if the universe be delivered over to the undisturbed action of its physical processes, all force will finally pass into the form of heat, and all heat come into a state of equilibrium. Then all possibility of a further change would be at an end, and the complete cessation of all natural processes must set in . . . the universe from that time forward would be condemned to a state of eternal rest.” 1 From such a stagnation the world could not raise itself; and into such a state it would long ago have passed, did not Reason guide and Energy sustain. The leaps, surprises, reversals, new beginnings, found within our system (for the births of planets occurred at widely remote periods, and the stages of their growth differ enormously in duration) 1 "Interaction of Natural Forces: Prof. Helmholtz. are of a nature that requires not only might but wisdom for their maintenance. "We see our earth passing through a vast period from its first existence as a separate member of the solar system, to the time when life appeared upon its surface: then began a comparatively short period, now in progress, during which the earth has been and will be the abode of life; and after that must follow a period, infinite to our conceptions, when the cold and inert globe of the earth will circle as lifelessly round the sun as the moon now does." 1 We know that our earth may so change in the course of hundreds of thousands of years to come, that none of the present forms of life will live in those changed conditions; nevertheless, we also know that descendants of the creatures now living may then be as well fitted to existing circumstances as are the most favoured races of our time so great and marvellous are the varieties of God's handiwork. Wander whithersoever we may, far as we can, long as we can, we shall yet find ourselves within the populous dominions of Almighty God. This study of varieties may well end in leading heart and mind to some, though faint, conception of changes and catastrophes yet to come. At every transformation of heat-energy into work a large portion is degraded, and only a small part put into real work. It is easy to transform all mechanical or useful energy into heat, but only a little of this heat-energy can be turned back into work. Every change degrades or dissipates the heat: it becomes less and less available for further transformation: nevertheless, energy while dissipating may be available; thus the earth cools and loses its potential energy by radiation into space, but the rocks contract and lay up a store of available kinetic energy and curve the surface of the earth. Heat is the communist of the universe, tending ever and ever to equalisation; and the want of it will, no doubt, bring our system to an end. The sun, 2 supporting us with heat and energy, is becoming older and colder. By something analogous to ethereal friction, the earth and planets are spirally drawn nearer, to be engulfed in his mass. By that collision, energy will be converted 1 "Science Byways," pp. 15, 16: Richard A. Proctor. 2 Presidential Address to Geological Society, 1877: Dr. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S. Passing Away of Worlds. 385 into heat, and the power of the sun have partial and temporary restoration to do more work; but this process also will come to an end. Then the fall together, say of some other sun, distant as Sirius, and our sun, would generate thirty or forty times as much energy for future radiation to other planets. Then, the fall together of other suns will convert more energy into heat and matter to be evaporated and transformed into gaseous or nebulous condition. Ages and ages pass away, but ultimately all masses share the same fate, give out their light and heat into space, become dark, and no more are seen. Whether this process completes itself independently in different parts of the sidereal system by local integration and disintegration, or by aggregating the whole matter of the sidereal system, the diffusion will undo all previous concentration. Without entering transcendental inquiry as to the existence or non-existence of infinite systems, but keeping to a practical and solvable question, there is reason to think that all existing solar systems will be reduced again to nebulous form. The universally co-existent forces of attraction and repulsion cause, when attraction prevails, creation to predominate; and when repulsion predominates, chaos rules. The actions of the past are repeated in the future, in form, in motion, in life; the same in principle, never the same in concrete result. Destruction follows destruction, through periods long delayed, until the things seen and temporal are no more. Then, if He will who rules, other beginnings and creations arise to occupy an immeasurable future as preceding rhythms of Divine Power occupied the mysterious past. The We contemplate with awe the sublime spectacle of space. and time, of creation and chaos, of life and death, shrined within the omniscience and omnipotence of God. epochs of transformation may be separated by time-intervals so enormous that the duration of life on our earth and the duration of our earth itself, may be but a second as compared with a thousand years. Energies wholly unknown to us are at work, and at any moment may produce weal or woe. That which overtakes other worlds may happen to our own; for this, and, something yet nearer, our own dissolution, we have to prepare. Many considerations are involved in it. Take one that fits our study-The life-sustaining orbs around us, are surpassed, probably a thousand-fold, by those yet lifeless, or those long since dead. It is not unscientific to think that some of us may wander as spectres among inert lifeless masses of ruined worlds-where the dead bury their dead; while others, entering that which is now invisible, possess worlds truly amazing. The lower animals are a parable. At certain seasons they abandon their usual haunts, turn from wonted enjoyments, and seek some asylum as if to prepare for new untried condition-they follow a sure guiding of Nature. Even the insect is not deluded in preparing for metamorphosis-no, not one; and awakes unto the gaiety of a new and higher life. Nor shall human dust be irrecoverably scattered by the winds: for good purpose our eyes traverse and oversee the immensity of space, our minds form true notions of the universe. The sun, the stars, the planets, are "brilliants floating in an upper ether," to light us in that pathway of the just which shineth more and more unto perfect day. Beside all this, we have the loving influence of human soul on human soul. We are conscious of a baptism and consecration in which the true belief of holy men binds us to purity and rectitude. Blessed influence, not calculable by algebra, not deducible by logic; mysterious, effectual, mighty, as the hidden processes by which life is quickened. Words are but poor ghosts of the grand reality of things that make themselves felt as if they were our flesh. They breathe upon us with warm breath, they touch us with responsive hands, look at us with sincere glad eyes. The presence of soul to soul is a power filling with emotion, attractive as flame to flame, drawing with gentle compulsion to the sweet enjoyment of union with the Lord. For this union we are being prepared by the existing variety in Nature. Eternal Energy is not limited to natural uniformity, but comes forth in all changes of the world's ever-varying forces. Similar antecedents do not always determine similar consequents. Involution and evolution of a Divine character advance by manifestations increasingly unlike their precedents. From chaos went forth creation, out of the dead came the living. From present creation and present life, by different degrees in Nature, as lower steps to the higher, we shall ascend those glorious heights, whither Divine thought and work successively conduct. No Coming Hallowed Glory. 387 wonder that our discipline is somewhat sharp, for the destiny before us is very splendid; and in the coming hallowed glory, that our Creed tells us of, the universe will never lose its loveliness. "My spirit was entranced With joy exalted to beatitude; The measure of my soul was filled with bliss, William Wordsworth. "Thou who hast given me eyes to see Give me a heart to find out Thee And read Thee everywhere." Keble. |