is an undoubted truth, and it is manifest that such Being must be not only existing in the present, but also that it must exist at every possible point in the future. Now, if this Being were created in the present, or had been created at any point in the past less distant from us than the Infinite Past, there must necessarily be a point or many points still further distant in the past that must have existed previously to its creation. Let the imagination travel back to this point in the past, and thence contemplate the future prospect. From that imaginary present but past point of contemplation, we should perceive another point in the future from which Being without end is to take its rise, and beyond which it would be existency in the Infinite Future. Being, be it remembered, not yet in existence at the point of contemplation, but nevertheless Being which cannot have an end. We have seen that the property of existing in the Infinite Future can never be absent; that the property of Being without end can never be lost or destroyed. The Being therefore, the beginning of which we imagine at a point in the future, must be Being without end. But Being without end must be now present, and cannot receive a be

F

ginning in the future; there is, therefore, no point so far distant in the past but that Being without end must still be then existing.

Since, then, Being without end must exist in the Infinite Future, is now existing in the Present, and must have existed at any point in the past less distant than the Infinite Past, there remains no point of time in which it could have been created. Its duration, therefore, is the Infinite Past, and the Infinite Future must be Being without beginning.

ETERNITY.

ALTHOUGH it is always dangerous to treat subjects of this nature mathematically, it might, however, be satisfactory to some if the true nature of Eternity could be thus illustrated. We therefore propose to introduce what is in fact merely an attempt at such an examination, expressing a doubt as to its aptitude.

But, before we attempt to enter into this mathematical inquiry, let us turn our attention to a mode of expression which, although it may be well adapted for ordinary discussion, appears to be susceptible of improvement when applied to the subject now under consideration. The sense will not be altered, but we shall make use of language which carries clearer meaning, and is, I think, calculated to lead us more readily to a correct result. I propose here to employ the word end (the term of logicians) whether alluding to the beginning or to the termination of any portion of space or of duration. A short illustration will explain my intention. Let us imagine

in the past, present, or future, a material object O, which during the continuance of its limited existence occupies a portion of space or a portion of duration, and let us in each case suppose this portion to be included between A and B. Now, with reference both to space and duration, it is manifestly of no importance whatever whether A or B represent that point which would ordinarily be called the end of O, because while we dwell upon the portion of space included between A and B we are regarding that amount of extent which O occupied; and when we pass either A or B we enter that portion of space wherein O has no existence, or we are regarding that portion of duration wherein O existed; and when we pass either A or B we enter that portion of duration wherein O has no existence: that is, both A and B represent the termination of the existence of O, whether considered in reference to space or to duration.

Therefore, in this sense, the word end may be correctly applied to the beginning and to the termination of any portion of space or of duration.

Let us once more conceive the idea of Being without beginning, that is, the idea of a portion of duration which extends into the Infinite Past;

and let us also once more conceive the idea of Being without end, that is, of duration which extends into the Infinite Future; and, if it be possible, let us conceive the termination of the Infinite Past or of the Infinite Future at some fixed point in the past, present, or future. And let us represent this portion of duration by the letter E, and let the point of termination be represented by T. That is, E has existed in the Infinite Past, or will exist in the Infinite Future, but terminates when T is present. Now if, as before, we suppose this space to be included between A and B, then T must coincide either with A or B. If T coincide with A, that is, if E cease at A, then B must represent continuous duration, or eternity. If T coincide with B, then A must represent continuous duration, or eternity. First let us suppose that T coincide with A, that is, that the duration of E is limited by A; but, by our hypothesis, E is without termination towards B, for B must represent infinite duration either in the past or in the future. Now, how far soever we may imagine B to recede, E still continues in existence, for it is without one end; it therefore never ceases to be, it actually and really endures. It is not of a material