the movement of the central body. The outer flame is, in fact, another planet revolving round the central body, and uniting with them, in forcing the interior sun to turn round in the opposite direction.

That the exterior flame has, to some extent, a different movement from the body of the sun, has been well ascertained, inasmuch as the different periods assigned to the sun's rotation cannot be ascribed altogether to inaccuracy of observation. Laugier, who has devoted particular attention to this subject, has observed spots which indicate a rotation of twenty-four days seven hours, and others which indicate a rotation of twenty-six days eleven hours.

Here is a difference of more than two days in the entire revolution, which is about two hours of difference every day. The whole subject requires to be reinvestigated, with a view to ascertain whether the rate of motion can be reduced to any law, according to which different zones, or different periods, determine the velocity. It is also important that not only the size but the form of the sun should be subjected to a renewed scrutiny, to determine whether the orbit of the flame be circular or elliptical. If it be found that it is elliptical, we might yet discover the amount of eccentricity, by observing the rate of motion according to Kepler's law.

It might appear, at first sight, as if the rotation of the planets on their own axes, and in the same direction with their orbits, were as conclusive an objection to any relative transverse force, as the sun's rotation on its axis. It might be said, Where is there any reaction here? But the answer to this is very simple. If, by means of the sun's influence, a circular motion was established in the meteoric matter of the different zones from which the

planets were formed, that motion would be sufficient to originate the axial motion of the planet in the same direction. We find in the solar system, that the difference in velocity, at different distances, has produced a separation at regular intervals of the different zones, and that the accumulation of meteoric matter towards a central line in these zones kindled in each a star, which gradually attracted towards it all the meteoric matter which the zone contained. The combustion and formation of the planet would continue so long as the meteoric matter lasted, but when it was used up, the combustion would cease, and the sphere which had been formed would gradually cool, and become coated over with a solid film of oxidised matter. The rotation of such a planet on its own axis, as well as round the central body, would be a necessary consequence of such a formation. If we suppose the meteoric matter of the zone from which the planet was formed, to have been revolving round the sun at the time that the planet was a-forming; when the incipient planet attracted the matter which was before it in the orbit, it would drag it backward, so as to make it lose part of its centrifugal force, and on

that account incline inwards towards the sun. On the contrary, the meteoric matter of the zone that was behind and following the planet, would be attracted forwards in the orbit, so as to increase its centrifugal force, and cause it to incline outwards from the sun. Both of these forces combined would give the growing planet a revolving motion in the same direction with its motion in its orbit. The satellites would appear to have been formed in the

same manner as the planets, a reaction taking place on the primary body, and tending to retard its rotation on its own axis, though not to destroy it. The phenomena of the planets and their satellites, may afford most important assistance in the search after the law.

Turning from the solar system to the binary, ternary, and multiple systems, which we find in the sidereal heavens, we have no difficulty in applying the principles suggested in this chapter to their formation. Each star, as it was kindled, would, by its tangential force exerted on its companions, produce a rotary motion round a common centre.

And now, where, or how, are we to look for the law? And here we must confess our utter ignorance. One or two thoughts only we would offer, in the form of questions, before closing.

1. Does not the fact of a revolution in one direction imply a polarity in the force, or something analogous to polarity? So that the positive polarity induces revolution in one direction, and negative polarity in another?

2. Is there anything analogous to polarity in the molecular properties of matter in its gaseous and its solid states? That is to say, is there a solid polarity of matter producing attraction, and a gaseous polarity producing self-repulsion?

3. May not two bodies, attracted towards each other, be subject to a tangential force in certain circumstances -perhaps according as they yielded to that attraction, or according to their relative heat, or their relative electric states?

4. If tangential motion produces radiating force (as suggested in page 62), may not the converse be true, so that radiating force may produce tangential motion?

C.

THE PERSONAL REIGN OF CHRIST.

THE present personal reign of Christ, and the prospect of His second coming, constitute the very soul of a living Christianity. Belief in the doctrines, and love to the cause, are good and powerful, but until Christianity has become a personal matter—that is, until we trust in, and love Christ as a person whom we know, it is not capable of exhibiting any remarkable effects, either in kind or quantity. We might as well expect the planets to revolve in their present orbits without a material sun, as a man to be powerfully influenced by an impersonal Christianity.

The religion of Jesus has now obtained a dominant ascendancy in the world; and its name has been assumed by a large body of mankind, who, having discovered its excellency and power, call themselves by its name, and have become advocates of its cause: but the price of their loyalty is a moderation of its pretensions. They like its abstract doctrines, and they admire its morality-as a code; but they think it may be carried too far, and, if received undiluted, they as thoroughly believe that it would end in fanaticism.

Now, this is simply a mistake-and we would invite every man who loves truth, to examine the matter philosophically, and to say whether this diluted Christianity, which is acknowledged to be the religion of Europe, is

really a thing of power. No doubt, it is immensely better than heathenism, but its professions and its powers are evidently inconsistent. For this reason it is the duty of every scientific man to view the matter in a scientific light; and, after carefully examining the Bible, to make up his mind as to the fact whether popular Christianity is an accurate representation of what he finds there. If it be not so, we would say that Christianity is entitled, at the very least, to get a full trial as its Author Himself propounded it, and not as we think it should be modified. Waving, at present, His right to demand its reception, we put it to every candid mind—and on purely scientific grounds-whether, since all acknowledge that Christianity has already accomplished a most wonderful success, even when partially adopted, it is not, on that account, entitled to an honest study and a fair trial?