file which includes the original        
illustrations4       ,see #cieff-;h4htm 
or #cieff-;h4zip3                       
7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu
b_/#cieff_/pg#cieff-;images4html7       
or                                      
7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#ci
eff_/cieff-;h4zip7         ,images of   
the original pages are available through
       ,internet ,archive4 ,see         
http3_/_/archive4org_/details_/curiositi
esofhea#jjteff      ,illustration3      
,,effect of ,,heat4  ,frontispiece4     
,,curiosities ,,of ,,heat4  by  ,,rev4  
,,lyman ,b4 ,,tefft4                    
,philadelphia3 ,the ,bible and          
,publication ,society1 #ecj ,arch       
,street4  ,entered according to ,act of 
,congress1 in the year #ahga1 by ,the   
,bible and ,publication ,society1 ,in   
the office of the ,librarian of         
,congress1 at ,washington4  ,westcott   
,thomson1 ,stereotypers1 ,philada4      
,,contents4                             
,,page    ,,chapter ,i4      ,,mr4      

,,wilton',s ,,bible ,,class             
#g    ,,chapter ,,ii4      ,,new        
,,thoughts ,,for ,,the ,,scholars       
#bf    ,,chapter ,,iii4      ,a         
,,difficult ,,question                  
#eh    ,,chapter ,,iv4      ,,heat ,a   
,,gift ,,of ,,god                       
#hc    ,,chapter ,v4      ,,conveyance  
,,and ,,varieties ,,of ,,heat           
#ajj    ,,chapter ,,vi4                 
,,management ,,and ,,sources ,,of ,,heat
             #abj    ,,chapter ,,vii4   
,,preservation ,,and ,,distribution ,,of
 ,,heat      #aeb    ,,chapter ,,viii4  
,,modification ,,of ,,temperature       
#agf    ,,chapter ,,ix4      ,,the      
,,ministry ,,of ,,suffering             
#aij    ,,chapter ,x4                   
,,transportation ,,of ,,heat            
#bac    ,,chapter ,,xi4      ,,an       
,,effective ,,sermon                    
#bcc    ,,chapter ,,xii4      ,,transfer
 ,,of ,,heat ,,in ,,space               
#bed    ,,chapter ,,xiii4      ,,ocean  
,,currents ,,and ,,icebergs             

#bgb    ,,chapter ,,xiv4                
,,combustion4--,,coal-,,beds            
#bib    ,,chapter ,,xv4      ,,economy  
,,of ,,heat                             
#cje    ,,chapter ,,xvi4      ,a ,,day  
,,of ,,joy ,,and ,,gladness             
#cbj     ,,curiosities ,,of ,,heat4     
,,chapter ,i4  ,,mr4 ,,wilton',s ,,bible
 ,,class4   ,the book of ,nature is my  
,bible4 ,i agree with old ,cicero3 ,i   
count ,nature the best guide1 and follow
 her as if she were a god1 and wish for 
no other4  ,these were the words of ,mr4
 ,hume1 an infidel1 spoken in the       
village store4 ,it was ,monday evening4 
,by some strange freak1 or led by a     
divine impulse1 he had determined1 the  
previous ,sunday afternoon1 to go to    
church and hear what the minister had to
 say4 ,so the ,christian people were all
 surprised to see ,mr4 ,hume walk into  
their assembly--a thing which had not   
been seen before in a twelvemonth4 ,mr4 
,hume did not shun the church from a    
dislike of the minister4 ,he believed   

,mr4 ,wilton to be a good man1 and he   
knew him to be kind and earnest1 well   
instructed in every kind of knowledge   
and mighty in the ,scriptures4 ,he kept 
aloof because he hated the ,bible4 ,he  
had been instructed in the ,scriptures  
when a boy1 and many ,bible truths still
 clung to his memory which he would have
 been glad to banish4 ,he could not     
forget those stirring words which have  
come down to us from the ,lord ,jesus1  
and from prophets and apostles1 and they
 sorely troubled his conscience4 ,he    
counted the ,bible an enemy1 and        
determined that he would not believe it4
  ,at that time there was an increasing 
religious interest in the church4 ,mr4  
,wilton had seen many an eye grow       
tearful as he unfolded the love of      
,christ and urged upon his hearers the  
claims of the exalted ,redeemer4 ,he    
found an increasing readiness to listen 
when he talked with the young people of 
his congregation4 ,the prayer-meetings  
were filling up1 and becoming more      

interesting and solemn4 ,the impenitent 
dropped in to these meetings more       
frequently than was their wont4 ,mr4    
,wilton himself felt the power of       
,christ coming upon him and girding him 
as if for some great spiritual conflict4
 ,his heart was filled with an          
unspeakable yearning to see sinners     
converted and ,christ glorified4 ,he    
seemed to himself to work without       
fatigue4 ,his sermons came to him as if 
by inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he
 felt a new sense of his call from ,god 
to preach the gospel to men1 and spoke  
as an ambassador of ,christ1 praying men
 tenderly1 persuadingly1 to be          
reconciled to ,god1 yet as one that has 
a right to speak1 and the authority to  
announce to man the conditions of       
salvation4  ,a few of the               
spiritual-minded saw this little cloud  
rising1 but the people in general knew  
nothing of it4 ,least of all did ,mr4   
,hume suspect such an undercurrent of   
religious interest2 yet for some reason1

 he hardly knew what1 he felt inclined  
to go to church4  ,that afternoon the   
preacher spoke as if his soul were awed1
 yet lifted to heavenly heights1 by the 
presence of ,god and ,christ4 ,reading  
as his text the words1 ,thou thoughtest 
that ,i was altogether such an one as   
thyself 7,ps4 l4 #ba71 he showed1 first1
 the false notions which men form of    
,god1 and then unfolded1 with great     
power and pungency1 the ,scripture      
revelation of the one infinite1         
personal1 living1 holy1 just1 and       
gracious ,jehovah4 ,this was the very   
theme which ,mr4 ,hume wished most of   
all not to hear4 ,that very name1       
,jehovah1 of all the names applied to   
,god1 was most disagreeable2 it         
suggested the idea of the living ,god   
who manifested himself in olden time and
 wrought wonders before the eyes of men4
 ,but the infidel1 with his active mind1
 could not help listening1 nor could he 
loosen his conscience from the grasp of 
the truth4 ,yet he could fight against  

it1 and this he did1 determined that he 
would not believe in such a ,god--a ,god
 who held him accountable1 and would    
bring him into judgment in the last     
great day4 ,in this state of mind he    
dropped into ,deacon ,gregory's store4  
,deacon ,gregory was accustomed to obey 
,paul's injunction to ,timothy3 ,be     
instant in season1 out of season2       
reprove1 rebuke1 exhort with all long   
suffering and doctrine4 ,having taken   
,mr4 ,hume's orders for groceries1 he   
said1 ,i was glad to see you at church  
yesterday1 ,mr4 ,hume4 ,how were you    
interested in the sermon8  ,i like ,mr4 
,wilton1 answered ,mr4 ,hume2 ,i think  
him a very earnest and good man4  ,but  
were you not interested and pleased with
 the discourse8 ,it seems to me that ,i 
shall never lose the impression of      
,god's existence and character which    
that discourse made upon me4 ,i almost  
felt that ,mr4 ,wilton spoke from       
inspiration4  ,i suppose he was inspired
 just as much as the writers of that    

book which men call 'the ,bible4'  ,but 
can you wholly get rid of the conviction
 that the ,bible is the word of ,god1   
written by holy men inspired by the     
,holy ,spirit8  ,you know1 ,deacon      
,gregory1 that ,i do not believe what   
you profess to believe4 ,the book of    
,nature is my ,bible4 ,i agree with old 
,cicero3 ,i count ,nature the best      
guide1 and follow her as if she were a  
god1 and wish no other4  ,deacon        
,gregory had never read ,cicero1 and of 
course did not attempt to show1 as he   
might otherwise have done1 that ,cicero 
did not mean to deny the existence of a 
living1 personal ,god1 who governs the  
world4  ,but1 said he1 does not the book
 of ,nature--your ,bible1 as you call   
it--have something to say of ,god8 ,does
 it not speak of an infinitely wise and 
good ,creator and ,governor8 ,do not the
 works of ,nature tell of the same ,god 
whose being and character were preached 
to us yesterday from the ,holy          
,scriptures8  ,nature has never spoken  

to me of any ,god except herself4 ,what 
need is there of a creator8 ,who can    
prove that the universe did not exist   
from eternity8 ,nature has her laws of  
development1 and under those laws all   
the operations of nature go on4 ,you had
 better read ,darwin4 ,if one must find 
the character of ,god in nature1 he may 
as well picture an evil creator and     
governor as one that is good and        
righteous4 ,does ,nature punish those   
whom you call the wicked8 ,does ,nature 
reward the righteous8 ,do not the laws  
of ,nature bring suffering to the good  
and the bad alike1 and happiness also to
 all classes of men8 ,would you1 if you 
had power1 create a world like this--a  
world in which danger1 pain1 and death1 
in every shape1 lie in ambush against   
its inhabitants every hour of their poor
 existence8 ,but ,i must go4 ,pausing a 
moment1 however1 as if reluctant to go1 
with a voice sad and almost tremulous1  
which revealed a great deal more of his 
heart than he designed to express1 he   

added3 ,god knows1 deacon1 if there be a
 ,god1 how ,i wish ,i knew the truth    
about these matters4 ,the world and     
myself are to me great and dreadful     
mysteries4  ',he that will do his will  
shall know of the doctrine1' answered   
,deacon ,gregory2 and inviting him to   
come to church again1 they separated4   
,this conversation with the pious       
deacon1 though he had himself done most 
of the talking and had his say almost   
unopposed1 did not tend at all to bring 
rest to ,mr4 ,hume's conscience4 ,he saw
 that the deacon's faith in ,god did for
 him more than belief in ,nature and    
worship at the altar of ,science could  
do for unbelievers4 ,he felt also that  
he had spoken a little too freely1      
especially in revealing1 at the last1   
his unrest of spirit from the want of   
fixed convictions in regard to religious
 truth4 ,deacon ,gregory1 by the        
sincerity and manliness of his address1 
was accustomed to draw out the hearts of
 men so that they expressed them more   

freely than they designed4  ,upon a     
bench in a shaded corner of the store   
sat a lad of sixteen or seventeen years1
 unnoticed for the time being by either 
,mr4 ,hume or ,deacon ,gregory4 ,his    
name was ,ansel1 and he was the son of  
the senior deacon of the church4 ,he was
 in the village academy1 and had there  
been nearly fitted for college4 ,he     
stood at the head of his class1 and1    
with his sharp intelligence1 his        
impetuous energy1 and high ambition1    
every one was predicting for him a      
distinguished life4 ,he had grown up    
thus far in the bosom of a family where 
piety was no pretence4 ,earnest prayer  
had gone up for him by day and by night4
 ,he had been well trained in the       
,sunday-school1 and for a year had been 
a member of the small class of young men
 taught by ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,he had always 
shown a ready interest in all ,bible    
studies and a quick understanding of    
,scripture doctrine1 so that some       
thought him not far from the kingdom of 

,god4 ,but ,deacon ,arnold little       
thought what was in the heart of his    
son4 ,he might have known1 for to read  
his son's heart he had only to recall   
his own early manhood4 ,for years he had
 hung trembling upon the brink of ruin1 
swept1 at times1 by his self-will and   
turbulent youthful passions1 to the very
 verge of the precipice1 and had been   
preserved only by singular grace from   
falling over4 ,now ,ansel was following 
in his father's early                   
footsteps--self-willed1 and stubborn    
against the ,spirit of ,god1 and1 at    
times1 almost persuaded to cast off all 
religious restraint1 that he might carve
 out his worldly fortunes untrammeled by
 religious or conscientious scruples4   
,he had rarely heard infidel sentiments 
expressed1 but the little that he had   
heard had attracted him1 and had        
encouraged him to give loose reins to   
his own unbelieving disposition4 ,it had
 not escaped his notice that the two or 
three men whom he had heard spoken of as

 infidels were among the most           
respectable and shrewdest business-men  
in the village4 ,the idea1 moreover1 of 
rejecting all authoritative doctrine1   
and believing whatever should please    
him1 carried with it so free and        
independent an air1 and harmonized so   
well with his natural disposition1 that 
he easily drifted in the direction of   
unbelief4  ,sitting this evening        
unobserved1 he drank in every word which
 ,mr4 ,hume uttered4 ,some of the       
notions thrown out were quite new to    
him4 ,the book of ,nature my            
,bible--,nature reveals no ,god but her 
own laws--,no proof that the matter of  
the universe has not existed from       
eternity uncreated--,nature has her laws
 of development--,no need of a ,god to  
govern the world1--these were           
seed-thoughts in ,ansel's mind4 ,he had 
before thought of the only alternative  
to be set over against belief in the    
sacred ,scriptures as simply            
unbelief--bare1 blank denial of their   

truth4 ,he had not dreamed of building  
up a set of proud1 rationalistic        
notions1 and denying the truths of      
religion in the character of a young    
philosopher4 ,he kept his thoughts to   
himself1 and turned them over and over  
in his mind during the week1 and when   
again he met his pastor in the ,bible   
class his head was full of his new      
notions4 ,the lesson went on1 however1  
and closed as usual4 ,it so happened    
that this was the last in a series of   
lessons upon the ,gospel of ,john4 ,it  
was necessary1 therefore1 that another  
course of lessons should be decided     
upon4  ,mr4 ,wilton proposed the        
question to the class3 ,what shall be   
our next course of lessons8 ,would you  
like to study one of the ,epistles--the 
,epistle to the ,romans or that to the  
,hebrews8 ,and he briefly stated the    
subject discussed in these ,epistles of 
,paul4 ,perhaps1 he continued1 you would
 prefer to study one of the historic    
books of the ,old ,testament8 ,the class

 had no opinion4 ,they wavered between  
an ,epistle and a historic book and     
topical lessons which should confine    
them to no one book of the ,bible4 ,then
 ,ansel spoke up3  ,mr4 ,wilton1 why can
 we not study something which we know to
 be true8  ,ansel meant to be very      
cautious as well as very respectful1 and
 did not design to commit himself by    
suggesting his own thoughts4 ,he was    
respectful1 but in the confusion of the 
moment he had brought out the very      
thoughts which he meant to conceal4     
,mr4 ,wilton was startled1 though he did
 not fully understand the drift of      
,ansel's question4  ,what do you mean1  
,ansel8 he asked2 do you think ,genesis 
less trustworthy than the ,epistle of   
,paul8  ,ansel saw that he had committed
 himself and must now make the best of  
his situation4 ,he therefore answered   
cautiously3  ,some persons1 ,i have     
heard said1 do not believe the ,bible to
 be inspired1 and they say that we have 
no evidence that it is true4  ,what have

 you been reading1 ,ansel1 that has put 
such thoughts into your mind8  ,i have  
never read a book that said anything    
against the ,bible4  ,but what did you  
mean8 ,do you wish to study the         
evidences of the truth and inspiration  
of the ,holy ,scriptures8  ,i should    
indeed like a course of lessons upon    
that subject1 but that was not quite    
what ,i was thinking of4  ,what book can
 you find which is true if the ,bible is
 not true8  ,i do not know1 sir1 but ,i 
heard ,mr4 ,hume say that the book of   
,nature is his ,bible1 and that we do   
not need any other1 and that1 whether   
the ,bible be true or not1 we know that 
the teachings of ,nature must be true4  
,but we should find1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 
that the teachings of ,nature and the   
,bible would perfectly agree4 ,did ,mr4 
,hume say that what he calls ',the book 
of ,nature' contradicts the sacred      
,scriptures8  ,now that ,ansel could    
give the thoughts which filled his mind1
 not as his own1 but as ,mr4 ,hume's1 he

 showed no farther hesitation in        
speaking4  ,yes1 sir1 he answered2 he   
said that ,nature teaches us that there 
is no ,god1 because there is no need of 
any4 ,he said that we cannot prove that 
,god created the universe1 but that     
matter has existed from eternity        
uncreated1 and that all the changes in  
nature go on by certain laws of         
development1 and that a certain ,mr4    
,darwin had written a book and proved   
this4  ,the reader will notice that in  
the report of ,mr4 ,hume's language the 
scholar went somewhat farther than his  
master had done4 ,mr4 ,wilton was well  
acquainted with the present shape of    
scientific infidelity1 and saw that     
,ansel's statements were somewhat       
exaggerated1 but he understood in a     
moment the drift of ,ansel's thoughts1  
though he could not tell as yet how deep
 and fixed an impression had been made  
upon his mind4 ,but he did not care to  
probe ,ansel's conscience just then and 
there1 in order to learn the exact state

 of the case4  ,if ,i understand you1   
then1 he said1 you would like a course  
of lessons in the teachings of ,nature8 
,of course1 ,i did not suppose that you 
would allow us to have a course of      
lessons in the works of ,nature instead 
of the ,bible4  ,but if ,i were willing 
to give you a course of lessons showing 
the footprints of the ,creator1 so to   
speak1 in the physical world1 how would 
it please you8  ,i should like it very  
much4  ,how would such a plan please the
 other members of the class8  ,the idea 
was entirely new2 no one of them had    
ever dreamed of studying in a ,bible    
class anything except the ,bible2 but   
young people are not averse to          
novelties1 and they readily gave their  
assent4 ,yet ,i should do the class     
injustice by leaving the impression that
 they were influenced simply by the love
 of something new4 ,they were of just   
that age when one hardly knows whether  
to call them lads or young men2 they had
 been well instructed1 and were just    

beginning to think independently4 ,they 
were rapidly becoming conscious of their
 own mental power1 and were eager to try
 their strength upon every line of      
thought4 ,their own weakness they had   
hardly begun to learn4 ,perhaps they    
were all the more ready to undertake    
such a course of study because they knew
 nothing of the difficulties attending  
it4  ,the tinkling of the               
superintendent's bell warned them to    
close their conversation4  ,we have not 
time to-day1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 to fix  
on the particular line of study which we
 shall follow4 ,of course we cannot     
examine all the works of ,nature1 and   
study every science1 and trace the      
footprints of the ,creator in every     
place where he has walked2 we must fix  
on some small part of the works of ,god1
 and direct our attention closely to    
that4 ,we shall find this course more   
profitable than roaming carelessly over 
a much larger space4 ,our next lesson   
will have to be a general one--a kind of

 preface to what shall come after4 ,in  
the mean while1 you can be collecting   
your thoughts upon the subject1 and     
calling to mind anything that you have  
read bearing upon the handiwork of ,god 
manifest in ,nature4  ,the school       
closed1 and as the scholars pass out let
 me introduce to you the members of the 
pastor's class4 ,this class was small   
for several reasons4 ,the church to     
which ,mr4 ,wilton preached was not the 
popular church4 ,the fashionable people 
and all who loved popularity and drifted
 with the tide went to another church4  
,careless1 thoughtless young people     
naturally went with the crowd1 and of   
those who attended his church some did  
not care to join his class4 ,he was too 
much in earnest to please them4 ,he made
 religion a reality1 and his instruction
 compelled them to think1 and of course 
those who did not like to think were not
 well pleased with him4 ,but there were 
a few of the young men who were greatly 
interested in his instructions4 ,they   

were earnest readers of instructive     
books2 they liked conversation which    
called out thought2 they were most of   
all pleased with questions and themes   
which gave them new ideas4 ,indeed1 in  
the community1 there were two classes of
 persons who held ,mr4 ,wilton in the   
highest esteem and regard3 one of these 
was composed of men and women of        
earnest1 intelligent piety1 experienced 
,christians2 the other1 of those who    
were not ,christians1 but who respected 
sincerity and disinterested godliness1  
and liked sermons filled with meat and  
marrow4  ,thus1 at the present time1 we 
find his class composed of but three    
young men4 ,with ,ansel you are already 
acquainted4 ,the second is ,peter       
,thornton1 the son of a                 
master-carpenter4 ,he was frank1        
outspoken1 quick in the acquisition of  
almost every kind of knowledge1 but very
 little given to silent reflection4 ,he 
listened to his pastor's instruction as 
he would go to a well-filled library1 to

 draw out its stores of information4    
,morals and moralizing he did not like4 
,he was not pious1 and gave no          
indication of serious impressions4 ,the 
third was ,samuel ,ledyard1 the son of a
 poor widow4 ,by painful industry and   
economy his pious mother was giving him 
the best advantages for education which 
the village afforded1 praying the ,lord 
to give him a part in the blessed work  
of preaching the gospel and winning     
sinners to ,christ and salvation4 ,when 
but twelve years of age he gave himself 
to ,christ1 and had been trying         
faithfully to follow his ,lord4 ,the    
long winter evenings were spent in      
reading books of history and            
science--books fitted to furnish and    
strengthen his mind--and long ere the   
light dimmed the morning star he was    
poring over his ,bible1 alternately     
reading the word and praying that his   
mind might be opened to understand the  
truth in its beauty and greatness1 and  
that the truth might be wrought in him  

by vital experiences4  ,with such habits
 it was no wonder that he grew in       
grace--it was no wonder that he grew in 
all manly qualities4 ,he was silent1    
meditative1 and retiring1 as gentle in  
his ways as a quiet girl1 yet all who   
knew him recognized in him a singular   
weight and worth of character4 ,those to
 whom the ,lord revealed his secrets    
began to say that ,samuel was appointed 
of ,god to preach the gospel1 and his   
mother felt the assurance growing strong
 in her heart that her prayer was       
granted1 and that the ,lord was         
preparing her only son and only child   
for a place in the gospel ministry4 ,if 
only she might train up a son to such a 
work1 and when she should go to her rest
 leave in her place a man working for   
,christ in his harvest-field1 gathering 
sheaves unto everlasting life1 she felt 
that her cup would be full4 ,she was    
ready to say with ,simeon3 ,now lettest 
thou thy servant depart in peace1 for   
mine eyes have seen thy salvation4 ,how 

unlike she was to those mothers who lay 
all hindrances in the way of their sons 
entering the work of the ,christian     
ministry1 willing that they should do   
anything but this6 and how different    
from those who declare that their       
daughters shall never wed ministers of  
the gospel1 teaching them to despise the
 service of a pastor's wife6 ,how often 
,god gives over such sons and           
daughters--children consecrated from    
their birth to worldliness--to be       
entangled and lost in worldly snares6   
,as such mothers sow1 thus also do they 
reap4  ,these were the three lads1 just 
growing into young manhood1 at this time
 under the instruction of ,mr4 ,wilton4 
,he was not ashamed of his class1 though
 it was small4 ,as he saw them expanding
 in thought and taking shape under his  
hand1 he felt that in them he was       
perpetuating his influence in coming    
generations4 ,he believed that in one or
 more of them he should preach the      
gospel after his body was sleeping in   

the earth awaiting the resurrection4  ,i
 trust the kind reader will be          
interested in following the course of   
study through which their pastor shall  
lead them4     ,,chapter ,,ii4  ,,new   
,,thoughts ,,for ,,the ,,scholars4      
,the little class which has been        
introduced to the reader came together  
the next ,lord's ,day interested and    
expectant1 yet not knowing what to      
expect4 ,they had chosen a course of    
study1 yet they could not tell what that
 course was to be4 ,they had tried to   
think of something definite about it1   
but could fix their minds upon nothing4 
,in fact1 the whole subject was new1 and
 they could not decide where or how to  
take hold of it4 ,they came together1   
therefore1 with no more knowledge of the
 subject than when they separated4  ,mr4
 ,wilton himself came before his class  
in a state of doubt4 ,he had given the  
subject many hours of thought1 and had  
carried it to his closet and besought   
the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit1 for  

he believed the divine ,spirit to be the
 best guide in understanding the works  
as well as the word of ,god4 ,he felt   
that his prayer had been heard and      
answered4 ,he was prepared1 therefore1  
to speak with the force of clear        
understanding and positive convictions4 
,but the precise line of study he had   
left to be determined by circumstances1 
perhaps by the previous studies of his  
class in their academic course4 ,this   
was to be decided by further            
consultation4  ,since no lesson was     
assigned upon which you could prepare   
yourselves1 ,mr4 ,wilton said1 after the
 opening exercises of the school were   
finished1 ,i shall spend the half hour  
to-day in a kind of conversational      
lecture4 ,you may call this the preface 
or introduction to the lessons which    
will follow4 ,i shall try to make plain 
some general principles which we must   
keep in mind1 whatever department of    
,god's works we shall attempt to        
examine4 ,i wish you to feel entirely   

free to interrupt me at any time1 and   
ask any question or present any         
objection which may strike your minds4  
,we must1 if possible1 have no prowling 
bands of enemies in the rear4 ,i wish to
 make everything as plain as the case   
will admit4  ,one thing let me remind   
you of in the beginning3 ,i shall not   
try to prove to you that there is a     
,god4 ,i shall not try to prove that the
 world had a creator4 ,there are some   
things which men do not believe merely  
on account of good evidence1 nor        
disbelieve for want of proof4 ,men      
believe in their own existence1 but not 
from a course of argument4 ,most men    
believe in the real existence of the    
outward world--the earth1 the hills1 the
 rivers1 the trees1 everything which we 
see and hear and feel--but not on       
account of proof4 ,here and there a     
strange man is found who professes to   
disbelieve the real existence of all    
material things1 but he disbelieves not 
for want of proof4 ,men believe that    

their sight and hearing and touch do not
 deceive them1 but their confidence in  
them is not the result of a course of   
reasoning4 ,to believe in our own       
existence1 and in the existence of the  
world outside of us1 and in the         
truthfulness of our senses1 is natural2 
to disbelieve these things is unnatural3
 it shows a state of disordered mental  
action4 ,when such disbelief is not     
practically corrected by a man's        
understanding he is counted insane1 and 
is treated accordingly4  ,belief in the 
existence of ,god is also a natural     
belief4 ,a denial of ,god's existence   
shows1 not disordered mental action1 but
 a disordered moral and spiritual state4
 ,it shows the absence of that spiritual
 faculty by which we receive spiritual  
impressions1 and are brought into       
contact with the spiritual world1 and   
hold intercourse with ,god and ,christ  
and the ,holy ,spirit4 ,men must be     
convinced of the existence of ,god      
through their conscience1 their moral   

and spiritual nature4 ,do not           
misunderstand me4 ,i do not say that    
good evidence cannot be brought to prove
 to one's reason the existence of ,god1 
but ,god has not left his existence to  
be proved3 he has revealed himself to   
men's consciences and to their faith2   
and those in whom conscience and faith  
are well developed1 sound1 and right do 
not need an elaborate argument to prove 
the divine existence4 ,i shall simply   
try to show that the works of creation  
exhibit the wisdom and goodness of ,god4
 ,if any man1 looking at such           
indications of wisdom and kindness1 can 
believe that it all comes by chance or  
is the work of some evil agency1 and    
that no ,being of boundless             
intelligence1 wisdom1 power1 and        
goodness has anything to do with the    
making and governing the world1 he      
certainly shows great prejudice3 he does
 not want to recognize ,god's existence4
 ,he must be one of those spoken of by  
the ,psalmist who say1 'no ,god4'       

,during my recent visit to ,greenville  
,i visited a mill1 the largest of its   
kind in the country4 ,in one room was a 
machine1 something like a huge          
straw-cutter1 working with great power4 
,in another room was a large steam      
boiler hung upon a shaft and made slowly
 to revolve while filled with steam4 ,in
 a third room were large oval tanks1 or 
cisterns1 which might be filled with    
water4 ,across each tank was a heavy    
shaft carrying a drum set with steel    
blades1 and as the drum revolved these  
blades passed other blades in the bottom
 of the tank1 cutting whatever came     
between like scissors4 ,in a fourth room
 were certain long and complicated      
machines4 ,each machine was composed    
mostly of rollers4 ,there were large    
rollers and small rollers1 solid rollers
 of enormous weight1 and hollow rollers 
to be heated by steam within4 ,over and 
around a portion of these rollers passed
 a broad wirecloth belt4 ,over others   
passed a like belt of felted cloth4     

,with these machines before you1 could  
you tell me whether the inventor were a 
wise and skillful machinist8  ,how could
 we tell1 asked ,peter1 without knowing 
what kind of work the machine was       
designed to do8  ,you could not tell1   
answered ,mr4 ,wilton2 you would need to
 know both what the machine was designed
 to do and all the processes by which   
the work was to be carried on4 ,this    
brings out the first point which ,i wish
 you to fix in mind4 ,it is this3 ,to   
judge of the wisdom of any contrivance1 
we must understand the purpose1 or      
object1 which the inventor had in view2 
we must understand the work to be       
accomplished1 and also the difficulties 
to be overcome4 ,an ordinary locomotive 
steam-engine is admirably fitted to run 
on iron rails1 but he would be a foolish
 man who should purchase such an engine 
to draw a train of loaded wagons over a 
common road of earth4 ,on such a road it
 could not even move itself4 ,it is good
 for that for which it was made1 and for

 nothing else4 ,how would you apply this
 principle to the subject we are now    
considering8 ,you may answer1 ,samuel4  
,i think you mean1 said ,samuel1 that1  
in order to judge of the wisdom and     
goodness of ,god in creating and        
governing this world1 we must know the  
object he had in view in making such a  
world4  ,that is my meaning1 and ,i am  
glad that you understand me so          
perfectly4 ,if this world were created  
with no other object than to be the     
grazing-field for herds of cattle1 which
 see no difference between the beauty of
 the violet and the dull shapelessness  
of the cold earth upon which it grows1  
and never lift their eyes above the     
horizon1 then all the beauty of earth   
and sky would be useless2 there would be
 no wisdom or goodness in the creation  
of this beauty4 ,there would be no      
wisdom or goodness in laying up in store
 beds of coal1 buried deep beneath the  
surface of the earth1 if ,god designed  
the world to be inhabited only by       

savages too rude and ignorant ever to   
mine it1 and turn it to some practical  
use4  ,but let me give you another      
illustration1 which can better be       
applied to the condition of things in   
this world4 ,just in the outskirts of   
one of our inland cities ,i once saw a  
large and elegant building1 whether a   
private dwelling or a public institution
 ,i could not at first tell4 ,it stood  
high and airy1 commanding the most      
pleasing prospect that all the region   
presented4 ,we will follow a visitor as 
he goes to examine that noble           
establishment4  ,as he comes nearer1 he 
sees that the edifice is simple and     
classic in its style and chaste in its  
architectural adornment4 ,it is a       
pleasure for the eye to rest upon its   
graceful symmetry4 ,but in place of the 
light and graceful fence which he       
expects to find enclosing its grounds1  
he sees a stockade strong and high4 ,the
 janitor turns the heavy key1 the rusty 
bolt flies back1 and the visitor enters 

the enclosure4 ,within the stockade he  
finds a portion of the ground laid out  
with taste and cultivated with choice   
and beautiful flowers2 another part is  
devoted to the culture of garden        
vegetables4 ,he finds workshops also for
 the manufacture of pails and tubs1     
brooms and mattresses4 ,the visitor is  
ushered into the mansion itself4 ,he    
finds everything more than comfortable2 
the rooms are heated from furnaces      
below2 every part is perfectly          
ventilated2 the windows command a view  
of the country around which must please 
the most cultivated eye2 a school-room  
is provided with all needed apparatus   
for the most thorough instruction4      
',surely1' says the visitor1 'the       
founder of this institution must have   
been both wise and good4 ,he must have  
loved the young in order to study and   
supply all their needs so completely4'  
,but some things strike the visitor     
painfully4 ,the windows are grated with 
iron1 and some of the rooms are almost  

like prison cells4 ',can it be          
possible1' he thinks within himself1    
'that the young need to be confined by a
 stockade in so pleasant a place and    
shut in by grates of iron for the       
enjoyment of such advantages8' ,the     
master as he teaches his pupils seems as
 kind and gentle as a mother1 yet there 
is a firmness and authority in his tones
 and a rigidity in his training1 as if  
his government were kept braced against 
a mutinous spirit4 ,the means of        
punishment also are provided1 and1 when 
occasion requires1 stern chastisement is
 employed4 ,all this seems to the       
visitor like an enigma4 ,the institution
 appears to him like a bundle of        
contradictions4 ,a father could not have
 provided a pleasanter home or larger   
advantages for his children1 but fathers
 do not commonly surround their homes   
with stockades1 and cover their windows 
with bars of iron1 and train their      
obedient children with a hand of such   
firm1 unyielding force4 ',pray1 sir1' he

 says to the master1 'what is this      
strange contradictory institution8' ',it
 is the ,state ,reform ,school1' the    
master answers4 ',and who are these lads
 and young men for whom all this work   
and wisdom is expended8' ',they are     
those who have taken the first steps in 
crime1 but have not as yet become       
hardened and fixed in wickedness1 and   
are sent here with the hope of          
overcoming their vicious propensities   
and training them to virtue and an      
honorable manhood4'  ,everything is now 
made plain4 ,the need of the stockade1  
and the grated windows1 and the rigid   
government1 as well as of the pure air1 
the garniture of beauty1 and the kind   
loving care1 is manifest4 ,it is a place
 unsuited to a family of obedient       
children1 and equally unsuitable as a   
place of confinement for confirmed      
criminals1 shut up1 not for reform1 but 
for punishment4 ,it is wisely adapted to
 the work designed to be accomplished1  
and to no other4  ,in like manner1 if we

 would judge of the wisdom and goodness 
of ,god in the creation and government  
of this world1 we must understand the   
use for which the world was designed4   
,is this plain to you1 ,ansel1 and does 
it seem reasonable8  ,yes1 sir2 ,i think
 ,i understand it1 and ,i can see no    
objection to the principle4 ,i think    
even ,mr4 ,hume could find no fault with
 that4 ,but how shall we know the object
 for which ,god made and governs the    
world8  ,that is the next point to be   
considered4 ,perhaps you will tell us   
what seems to you to be that object8    
,young people sometimes have thoughts   
and opinions upon the greatest          
questions4  ,i have never formed an     
opinion of my own1 ,ansel replied1 but  
,i have always heard it said that ,god  
designed to show how perfect and good   
and beautiful a world he could make4    
,but many things in the world seem to me
 neither perfect1 nor good1 nor         
beautiful4  ,why1 ,ansel6 exclaimed     
,samuel2 the ,bible says that ',god saw 

everything that he had made1 and behold 
it was very good4'  ,and1 ,mr4 ,wilton1 
asked ,peter1 does not the ,bible say   
that ',god created all things for his   
own glory'8  ,before answering any of   
these questions1 let me ask ,samuel a   
question4 ,what do you understand to be 
the meaning of the words you quoted from
 the last verse of the first chapter of 
,genesis8--',god saw everything that he 
had made1 and behold it was very good4' 
,i suppose it means1 answered ,samuel1  
that ,god made everything just as good  
and beautiful as it can be1 so that any 
change must be a change for the worse4  
,the lecturer last winter said that if  
men could entirely destroy any one of   
the most troublesome species of insects1
 their destruction would be a great loss
 to the world1 and that if a single atom
 of matter belonging to the earth were  
annihilated1 it might throw the solar   
system out of balance1 so that it would 
finally be destroyed4  ,i remember1 said
 ,mr4 ,wilton1 that some lecturer last  

winter made statements of that kind1 and
 ,i have heard other people declare that
 the least possible change in the world 
would be injurious1 if not destructive1 
to the interests of man1 and that the   
most troublesome beasts and insects and 
the most loathsome reptiles are         
necessary to human happiness4 ,does that
 seem to you to be true1 ,samuel8  ,i   
have always tried to believe it1 because
 ,i thought ,i ought to believe it4 ,it 
has seemed to me to be dishonoring ,god 
to believe that he did not make the best
 possible world4  ,you are right in     
trying to believe what seems to be right
 and true1 even though difficulties do  
lie in the way4 ,difficulties do not by 
any means show that an opinion is false4
 ,we must certainly believe that ,god   
made this world perfect for the object  
which he had in view in making it4 ,but 
not a few skeptics deny the existence of
 a good1 wise1 righteous ,creator and   
,governor1 because they have a wrong    
idea of the end for which the world was 

created1 and1 consequently1 a wrong idea
 of that in which its perfection must   
consist4 ,let me ask you a few questions
 which will lead your minds in the right
 direction4 ,do not men produce by      
cultivation better fruits and vegetables
 than ,nature ever grows when left to   
herself8  ,yes1 sir1 said ,ansel2 the   
peach and apple and potato have been    
brought up to their present state of    
excellence by great care and exertion4  
,originally1 they were almost worthless4
  ,and not only that1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1
 but when once that careful culture is  
relaxed they begin to return to their   
former badness4 ,again1 do we not       
improve upon ,nature by drainage and    
improve upon the climate by             
irrigation8--in fact1 do not men by     
drainage and irrigation and all manner  
of culture greatly improve the natural  
climate of a country8  ,i think that is 
true1 said ,ansel4  ,i never thought of 
that before1 said ,peter4  ,moreover1 do
 you not suppose that heaven will be    

more beautiful than the earth1 and that 
a thousand troublesome things besides   
sin--loathsome sights1 discordant and   
jarring noises1 disgusting and nauseous 
odors--will be absent from that 'better 
land'8  ,and ,i never thought of that   
before1 said ,samuel4 ,i am sure that   
many unpleasant things besides those    
which sin has brought into the world    
will not be found in heaven4 ,i see that
 this world might be changed and not be 
made worse for holy beings to live in4  
,the world is very good1 said ,mr4      
,wilton1 for the purpose for which it   
was created1 but we need not look upon  
it as designed for a specimen of the    
most beautiful1 pleasant1 and desirable 
world which the ,creator could produce4 
,but you have not told us1 said ,peter1 
what the ,bible means when it says that 
,god created all things for his own     
glory4 ,does it not mean that he made   
the world so good and perfect that all  
creatures ought to praise him on account
 of it8  ,we ought1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1  

to praise ,god for the wisdom and       
goodness displayed in the works of      
creation4 ,that is the teaching of the  
,bible in many places2 it is also the   
sentiment of the ,bible that ,god       
created the world and carries on all    
things for his own glory1 but it nowhere
 uses the exact language which you have 
employed4 ,in ,isa4 xliii4 #g1 speaking 
of 'every one that is called by my      
name1' the ,lord says1 ',i have created 
him for my glory4' ,in ,prov4 xvi4 #d it
 is written1 ',the ,lord hath made all  
things for himself2 yea1 even the wicked
 for the day of evil2' and the four and 
twenty elders fell before the throne of 
,god saying3 ',thou art worthy1 ,o      
,lord1 to receive glory and honor and   
power2 for thou hast created all things1
 and for thy pleasure they are'--that   
is1 exist--'and were created4' ,i might 
quote other texts of similar meaning4   
,we are taught also that our first and  
supreme aim in all our conduct should be
 the glory of ,god4 ',whatever ye do1 do

 it all to the glory of ,god4' ,but here
 two questions arise3 ,what is the glory
 of ,god8 and1 ,what is it for ,god to  
glorify himself by his works of creation
 and government8 ,who will tell us8     
,all were silent1 and ,mr4 ,wilton went 
on speaking3 ,the word glory means1     
first and literally1 a halo of light4   
,the glory of ,god is the radiance1 or  
halo1 so to speak1 of his infinite      
attributes and holy character4 ,god     
glorifies himself when he reveals       
himself1 and makes known his character1 
and causes the uncreated splendor of his
 attributes to break forth1 so that his 
creatures recognize them and adore him4 
,this1 you see1 is very different from  
the idea of glory among ambitious men4  
,god glorified himself in the creation  
of the physical world1 because from that
 creation his wisdom1 power1 and        
goodness are manifest4 ,he glorified    
himself in the creation of angels and   
men1 because they were created in the   
image of ,god and are finite pictures1  

so to speak1 of the infinite ,creator--a
 revelation of his spiritual being and  
personality4 ,he glorifies himself in   
his government of the world1 because his
 administration of affairs exhibits his 
justice1 mercy1 and holiness4 ,this is  
what we mean by the glory of ,god and   
his working all things for his own      
glory4 ,this is somewhat difficult for  
persons of your age1 so we will leave it
 and return to the exact subject of     
discussion4 ,admitting that ,god created
 the world and governs it for his own   
glory--that is1 to reveal himself--for  
what specific purpose did he design this
 earth8  ,i don't know1 said ,peter1    
that we understand what you mean by     
'specific purpose4'  ,very well1 then1  
said ,mr4 ,wilton2 ,i will suggest the  
answer4 ,does the world seem as if      
fitted up to be the dwelling-place of   
holy beings8  ,i have never thought of  
the question before1 said ,ansel2 but it
 seems to me that many things in this   
world would give pain even to angels if 

they lived here with bodies like ours4  
,i agree with you1 ,ansel4 ,if men were 
sinless and holy as the angels of       
heaven1 many things in this world would 
bring them distress4 ,but does it seem  
reasonable that the world was designed  
merely as a place of punishment for men 
by reason of their wickedness8  ,some   
men are not wicked1 replied ,samuel4    
,there have always been men willing to  
die rather than disobey ,god4 ,surely1  
,god does not punish such men4 ,and many
 beautiful and pleasant things are found
 in the world--arrangements plainly     
designed for the welfare and happiness  
of men4  ,i think you are right1        
,samuel4 ,but1 without asking further   
questions1 ,i will give you the         
conclusions to which my study upon this 
subject has brought me1 and some of the 
reasons for those conclusions4  ,this   
world was made chiefly as the           
dwelling-place of man4 ,the world was   
not planned merely as the abode of brute
 animals4 ,men are nobler than the      

brutes4 ,men have permanent interests   
and advantages4 ,aside from the glory of
 ,god1 men are an end unto themselves4  
,to become and be men is the noblest    
object of human life1 but the animal    
tribes exist for the use and benefit of 
others4 ,to be an end to itself1 a      
creature must be immortal2 but the      
brutes exist for the use and advantage  
of man1 live out their transient life1  
and exist no more4 ,this is the view    
presented in the sacred ,scriptures4    
,god gave to man lordship over the      
earth--not only over the soil to subdue 
it1 and over the great forces of ,nature
 to bring them into subjection for human
 advantage1 but also over the brute     
creation1 'over the fish of the sea1 the
 fowls of the air1 and every living     
thing that moveth upon the earth4' ,i   
conclude also that ,god did not prepare 
this world as a prison-house and place  
of punishment for rebels against his    
government4 ,too many pleasant things   
abound for me to believe that4 ,the     

pleasant breezy air1 the glorious       
sunlight1 the refreshing showers1 the   
treasures of mineral wealth stored up in
 the earth1 the fertile land and golden 
wheat1 the beauty spread over all       
nature1 the sweet consciousness of      
existence1 so that just to live and act 
is joy1 and the comfort and hope of     
immortal pleasure enjoyed by truly      
,christian men1--all these things1 and  
many more1 assure me that not the subtle
 shrewdness of a tormentor nor the      
unmingled justice of an inexorable      
judge1 but the heart of a kind and      
loving ,father1 planned our earthly     
dwelling-place4 ,you said1 ,samuel1 with
 truth1 that there are many pious men in
 the world who are dear to ,god1 and    
,paul says1 ',we know that all things   
work together for good to them that love
 ,god4' ,for those dear ones ,christ has
 such love that he counts               
everything--whether good or bad--that is
 done to them as if done to himself4    
',inasmuch1' he says1 'as ye have done  

it unto one of the least of these my    
brethren1 ye have done it unto me4'     
,moreover1 ,jesus said3 ',for ,god so   
loved the world1 that he sent his only  
begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth 
in him should not perish1 but have      
everlasting life4' ,from these words of 
,jesus we see that there is love        
manifested in the dealings of ,god with 
the inhabitants of our world4 ,were it  
not so1 there would nothing remain but a
 'fearful looking-for of judgment and   
fiery indignation1 which shall devour   
the adversaries4'  ,on the other hand1  
,i conclude that ,god made the world as 
the dwelling-place1 not of obedient1    
holy children1 but of those who are     
disobedient1 fallen1 and alienated4     
,these disobedient and alienated ones he
 holds under discipline and             
chastisement1 in order to keep their    
wickedness in check1 to recover them    
from their sins1 and train them up in   
virtue and holiness1 or to remove from  
the obstinate and incorrigible all      

excuse for their sins and all plea      
against their final condemnation4 ,in   
doing this he glorifies himself by      
manifesting his wisdom1 goodness1 mercy1
 and holiness4  ,this opinion seems     
probable from the fact that this is the 
purpose for which ,god has actually used
 and is now using the world4 ,here he   
keeps and governs the human race4 ,this 
race is made up neither of holy beings  
nor of hopeless reprobates4 ,they are   
the creatures of ,god2 fallen indeed1   
yet loved2 sinful1 but objects of divine
 compassion2 deserving of righteous     
wrath1 but the recipients of the offers 
of salvation through ,christ4 ,even     
penitent believers in ,christ and       
devoted servants of ,god are not free   
from evil propensities1 but need to be  
kept under constant training and        
discipline4 ,this is the use to which   
the ,creator has actually put the world4
 ,is it not reasonable to believe that  
he designed it for their use8 ,ought we 
to believe that ,god planned the world  

for an object for which it never has    
been and never will be employed8  ,if   
sin were removed from the world1 the    
chief part of human suffering would be  
removed4 ,this no man can deny4 ,wars   
would cease2 the want1 disease1 and woe 
resulting from selfishness1 idleness1   
and vice would disappear1 and nothing   
would stand between man and his ,maker4 
,what new life and joy would fill the   
world if free communication were        
restored between man and ,god1 and the  
divine smile were again to enlighten the
 world6 ,it would seem that heaven had  
enlarged her borders to embrace this    
earthly ball4 ,but the fact would still 
remain that this physical world is      
unfitted to be the dwelling-place of    
sinless beings4 ,the constitution of the
 world would bring upon them pains and  
evils which would seem a most unworthy  
heritage for loving and obedient        
children of our heavenly ,father4 ,let  
sin be taken away1 and wearisome toil in
 subduing the earth would remain4 ,the  

soil of the earth is hard and clogged   
with stones1 and clammy with stagnant   
waters1 and sown well with the seeds of 
noxious weeds1 and overgrown with thorns
 and thistles4 ,endless watchfulness and
 toil is the price of a livelihood4     
,with the sweat of his face man must eat
 his bread4 ,an army of enemies have    
pre-empted the soil which man must till4
 ,this state of things the word of ,god 
refers to sin3 ',cursed is the ground   
for thy sake2 in sorrow shalt thou eat  
of it all the days of thy life4 ,thorns 
also and thistles shall it bring forth  
to thee4' ,the necessity of toiling as  
we do now for our daily bread1 ,god     
denounced upon man as a curse on account
 of sin4 ,we cannot1 therefore1 regard  
this as a suitable condition for sinless
 beings4  ,this burden of toil is       
lightened by the progress of modern     
sciences and inventions much less than  
some men think4 ,every step of progress 
has been made by the sacrifice of       
hecatombs of human lives4 ,from our     

laboratories and workshops products of  
human skill1 rich and rare1 are sent    
forth2 but what are they but smelted and
 hammered and graven and woven human    
bones and sinews1 the health and life of
 men8 ,no means have been discovered by 
which the most necessary processes of   
the arts can be made otherwise than     
dangerous to health4 ,only when         
thousands of miserable workmen had      
perished was ,sir ,humphrey ,davy's     
safety-lamp invented2 and now the       
danger1 to say nothing of the hard toil1
 of the collier's life is only lessened1
 but not removed4 ,still1 our furnaces  
roar and the whole tide of civilization 
goes on by the health-destroying        
servitude of men1 buried alive as it    
were in the dark bosom of the earth4    
,would that seem to be a fitting        
employment for the sinless children of  
the all-loving ,father8 ,employes in    
many kinds of manufacture slowly sink   
under the accumulated evils of daily    
toil1 and no means of making their      

employments healthful have been         
discovered4 ,the friction-match1 which  
has become so nearly a necessity1 is    
made by a process so destructive to     
health that only a certain class of     
laborers can be prevailed upon to do the
 work4 ,i might go on to speak of other 
painful circumstances in which men find 
themselves by the almost antagonistic   
attitude of ,nature4 ,but if we reject  
these dangerous processes of manufacture
 and art1 we go back at once to the     
wooden plough1 the distaff and          
tinder-box of primitive times1 and also 
to primitive poverty and primitive toil1
 and1 ,i may also add1 to primitive     
exposure to the hostile and pitiless    
forces and inclemencies of ,nature4     
,purge the earth of sin1 and wearisome  
toil would still remain4 ,nature must be
 nursed and cultivated or she yields no 
bread4 ,her hostile attitude must be    
overcome2 the thorns and thistles must  
be rooted out2 and every step of        
progress1 won by suffering1 must be held

 by painful work and watchfulness2      
otherwise ,nature returns to the wild   
and savage state4 ,relax the culture of 
the choicest fruit1 and it begins to    
deteriorate2 leave the best-blooded     
breed of cattle to itself1 and it       
returns again to the level of native1   
uncultured stock4  ,the inhabitants of  
this world are also liable at all times 
to diseases and destructive accidents4  
,this condition of things could not be  
changed without changing the entire     
structure and plan of the world4 ,is    
that a fit dwelling-place for a sinless 
being where chilling winds one day      
shrivel his skin and fill his bones with
 rheumatic pains1 and the next1         
sweltering heats pervade all his system 
with languid lassitude--where miasma    
lies in wait unseen to poison his blood1
 kindle the malignant fever1 and bring  
him to the shades of death1 and every   
form of accident crouches in ambush1    
ready to spring upon his victim unawares
 and tear him limb from limb8 ,we cannot

 see that the absence of sin would      
dissipate this liability to disease and 
the danger of accidents4 ,nay1 this     
liability and danger are written upon   
the very constitution of the human body4
 ,the finger of ,god has engraved it    
upon every muscle and bone and          
life-cell4 ,the ,creator gave the body  
that wonderful power called the vis     
medicatrix--the power of recovering from
 injuries and repairing damage done to  
itself4 ,pull a leg from a grasshopper  
and another grows in its place4 ,by this
 we know that the ,creator understood   
the liability of this little insect to  
lose a limb1 and prepared him for it4   
,in like manner the power in man's body 
to heal a wound or join a broken bone   
gives us to understand that the ,creator
 expected man to live in the midst of   
danger4 ,the precaution proves the risk4
  ,these accidents are such as no       
possible carefulness could guard        
against4 ,to say nothing of the fact    
that all our knowledge of these perils  

comes from a painful experience of      
danger and death1 what care1 even after 
ages of sad experience1 could ward off  
the thunderbolt8 ,what carefulness could
 guard against the tornado on the land1 
or the hurricane and the cyclone upon   
the sea8 ,who should stand sentinel     
against the unseen poison borne upon the
 wings of the wind8 ,what power should  
save him from the bursting of the       
volcano and the jaws of the earthquake8 
,what care could give him knowledge of  
the qualities of all natural substances1
 that he might avoid their dangerous    
properties8 ,we can suppose a divine    
care over man that should do all this   
and save men from harm1 but it would be 
a providence superseding all human      
knowledge and exertion--it must be a    
providence to which the human race is   
now a stranger2 miracles would then be  
the rule1 and the undisturbed course of 
,nature the exception4  ,if1 however1 we
 suppose that ,god designed the world as
 a training-school1 so to speak1 of     

fallen beings1 such as the word of ,god 
declares the human race to be1 all is   
plain1 everything is suitable and       
harmonious4 ,we can see the fitness of  
at least the chief outlines of man's    
earthly condition1 and can perceive     
,god's wisdom and goodness in the       
constitution of the world4  ,the pain   
and woe-producing agencies of ,nature   
are seen to be not at all contradictory 
to goodness1 but on the other hand      
eminently wise and righteous4 ,the whole
 sum of human misery expresses ,god's   
displeasure at sin4 ,by their sufferings
 men learn how abhorrent is sin in      
,god's sight4 ,by the consequences of   
evil-doing they learn not to transgress4
 ,as none are free from the taint of    
depravity1 none are free from pains4    
,the necessity of labor--one of the     
elements of the primal curse--is a check
 to sin on the part of the vicious1 and 
a discipline and trial to virtue on the 
part of the penitent4 ,the multiform    
trials of life--which can indeed be     

borne well only by the grace of         
,god--while they teach the evil of sin  
and keep the heart chastened and        
subdued1 nourish heroic and dauntless   
virtue in the faithful4 ',daily cares'  
become 'a heavenly discipline4' ,dangers
 and calamities startle the stupid      
conscience1 and keep alive the sense of 
responsibility to ,god on the part of   
the wicked2 they quicken the sense of   
weakness and dependence in the believing
 and educate their faith in ,god4 ,the  
more sudden and overwhelming these      
evils1 and the more these dangers are   
placed beyond the possibility of being  
warded off by human care1 the more do   
they awaken in men a sense of the divine
 presence and of responsibility to ,god4
  ,but would not all these natural      
agencies subserve essentially the same  
ends in the discipline of unfallen and  
sinless beings8 ,by no means4 ,if       
sufferings came upon a sinless being1 he
 could not feel that they came as       
chastisements2 he could not feel them to

 be deserved4 ,they would be to him a   
'curse causeless1' and hence would bring
 no advantage4 ,he could only cry out in
 astonishment1 ',father1 why am ,i1     
thine obedient son1 thus smitten8'      
,calamity falling upon the innocent     
would be an anomaly in the universe4    
,but now the sufferer1 pierced through  
and through with a sense of ill desert1 
meekly bows his head1 murmuring1        
',father1 all thy judgments are just and
 right4'  ,one very important feature of
 the world we live in is its moral      
symbolism4 ,the world is full of most   
suggestive symbols and emblems of moral 
good and evil4 ,there are all beautiful 
and glorious things1 to stand as types  
of goodness1 truth1 and righteousness2  
there are all loathsome1 malignant1 and 
hideous things1 to serve as the types of
 folly and wickedness4 ,was it merely an
 accident that the dove was fitted to   
become the emblem of purity and of the  
,holy ,spirit8 the lamb1 to be the      
emblem of gentleness1 of ,christ the    

gentle ,sufferer1 and of his suffering  
people8 the ant1 to be the type of      
prudent industry8 the horse1 of spirit  
and daring8 and the lion1 of strength   
and regal state8 ,was it only an        
accident that prepared cruel beasts and 
disgusting1 poisonous reptiles as the   
types of evil passions and sins--that   
made the venom of the viper1 the cunning
 of the fox1 the blood-thirstiness of   
the wolf1 the folly of the ape1 and the 
filth of the swine1 symbols of foul1    
subtle1 malignant sin and folly8 ,nature
 is full of these emblems4 ,the palm    
tree with its crown of glory1 the cedar 
of ,lebanon1 the fading flower and      
withering grass1 the early dew and the  
morning mist1 the thorn hidden among the
 leaves of the fragrant rose1 poisons   
sweet to the taste1 and medicines bitter
 as gall1--how all these natural things 
preach to men sermons concerning        
spiritual verities6 ,there is no virtue 
or grace which is not commended to man  
by its image of beauty in the animal    

tribes2 there is no vice against which  
men are not warned by its loathsome1    
disgusting form shadowed out in the     
instinctive baseness of irresponsible   
brutes4  ,thus we find earth1 air1 and  
sky to be full of silent voices         
proclaiming in the ears of man that     
which he most of all needs to remember4 
,these types and symbols of virtue and  
vice are specially needed by fallen     
beings4 ,they seem fitted for beings    
whose spiritual eyes are blinded and all
 their spiritual senses blunted--beings 
with whom there is no longer 'open      
vision' of spiritual realities4 ,these  
pictures of evil are most impressive to 
men who see in them the reflection of   
their own base passions4 ,how the fetid 
goat and the swine wallowing in the mire
 speak to the lecherous man and the     
drunkard6 ,in a world of sinless beings 
these mimic vices would seem rather to  
mar ,god's handiwork4  ,set the human   
race1 fallen as it is1 in a world where 
the patience of daily industrious toil  

would not be needed1 and the race would 
rot with putrid1 festering vice4 ,remove
 all danger1 and men would forget and   
deny that the ,creator holds them       
responsible4 ,let no evil consequences  
follow evil-doing1 and men would cease  
to make a distinction between right and 
wrong4 ,take away death1 and they would 
deny the existence of a spiritual world4
 ,but in this world ,god has hedged men 
around with checks and penalties and    
painful discipline1 such as are of use  
only in dealing with sinners4  ,i       
conclude1 therefore1 that ,god prepared 
this world as it now is as a place of   
discipline for a fallen race4 ,this is  
the use to which he has devoted it in   
the past2 and when there is no longer   
need of such a world for the discipline 
of men1 we learn from the word of ,god  
that a 'new heaven and a new earth'     
shall be provided4 ,this world is thus  
declared to be an unfit abode for the   
glorified saints4 ,to judge1 then1 of   
the wisdom and goodness of ,god in the  

works of nature1 we must keep in mind   
the object for which the ,creator       
prepared the world4 ,ansel1 tell us how 
this strikes you4  ,i never thought of  
it in this way before1 he answered2     
indeed ,i have thought very little of   
this subject1 but-- ,tinkle1 tinkle went
 the bell upon the superintendent's     
desk4 ,this was the second time the     
superintendent had struck his bell1 but 
,mr4 ,wilton had been so intent upon his
 subject that he did not hear the first 
ringing4  ,the school was dismissed1 but
 ,mr4 ,wilton remained with his class to
 fix upon the particular department of  
nature which they would study4 ,he found
 that all were studying natural         
philosophy1 and had recently gone over  
the subject of heat4 ,at his            
recommendation1 therefore1 they agreed  
to examine1 as a specimen of ,god's     
works1 his management of heat in the    
world4 ,mr4 ,wilton requested them to   
review the subject during the week1 and 
be prepared to state and apply the      

general principles touching the nature1 
phenomena1 and laws of heat which they  
had already learned4 ,this work they    
will enter upon next ,lord's ,day4      
,,chapter ,,iii4  ,a ,,difficult        
,,question4   ,during the week1 ,ansel1 
,peter1 and ,samuel were busy reviewing 
and fixing in memory what they had      
already learned of the nature and laws  
of heat4 ,they were not only interested 
in the new line of study1 and desirous  
of pleasing ,mr4 ,wilton1 but they also 
felt that their scholarship was to be   
tested1 and each one was ambitious of   
standing equal to the best4  ,ansel1 of 
course1 was busy and ambitious4 ,the    
lesson was coming somewhat upon his own 
ground1 and he felt in no wise unwilling
 to show how well he had mastered the   
subject4 ,he entered upon it with       
feelings a little different1 however1   
from his anticipations4 ,the explanation
 which ,mr4 ,wilton had given of the    
purpose of the ,creator in making such a
 world seemed to him very reasonable4   

,he could make no objection to it4 ,but 
that explanation had taken away at one  
sweep a whole store of objections to    
,god's goodness which he was waiting to 
bring out as soon as a good opportunity 
was presented4 ,a world designed for the
 dwelling-place of sinners--sinners not 
already given over and doomed to final  
wrath1 but to be recovered from sin and 
trained in virtue and holiness1 or1 if  
incorrigible1 to be held in check and   
used as helps in the discipline of the  
righteous--he plainly saw must be as    
unlike a world fitted up for holy beings
 as a reform school is different from a 
home for kind and obedient children4    
,those arrangements which he had thought
 the most painful and objectionable     
might1 after all1 be the wisest and     
best4 ,he did not see where to put in a 
reasonable objection to ,mr4 ,wilton's  
unexpected argument1 yet he did not feel
 quite satisfied to confess to himself  
that he was so soon and so easily       
defeated4  ,in this state of mind1 on   

,saturday morning he met ,mr4 ,hume upon
 the street4  ,good-morning1 ,ansel1    
said ,mr4 ,hume4  ,good-morning1        
returned ,ansel4  ,i hear1 said ,mr4    
,hume1 that you have given up studying  
the ,bible in your ,bible class1 and    
have begun the study of natural         
philosophy4 ,is that so8  ,not quite    
true1 ,mr4 ,hume4 ,we are to examine    
some department of the works of ,nature1
 and see what indications appear of the 
,creator's wisdom and goodness4  ,that  
is a little different from the report   
which came to me4 ,but what did you     
learn last ,sunday8  ,mr4 ,wilton told  
us that in order to judge of the wisdom 
and goodness of ,god in any of the      
affairs of this world we must consider  
the object for which that arrangement   
was designed4 ,he said that if a man    
examine a cotton-gin1 supposing it to be
 a threshing-machine1 he would be likely
 to pronounce it a foolish and worthless
 contrivance2 and that the fine edge of 
a razor would be worse than useless upon

 the cutter of a breaking-up plough4 ,he
 told us that the earth was not prepared
 as the dwelling-place of sinless       
beings1 but as a place of discipline for
 the fallen human race1 and that we     
ought not to look upon it as the        
choicest specimen of workmanship which  
the ,creator could construct4  ,i have  
heard that ,mr4 ,wilton believes        
something of that kind4 ,ansel1 have you
 studied geology8  ,i have read a little
 upon that subject and have heard some  
lectures4  ,can you tell me1 then1      
whether or not the natural laws which   
prevailed on the earth ages and ages    
ago1 before the earth was fit for men to
 live upon it1 are the same as those    
which have been in operation in these   
later ages1 since men have inhabited it8
  ,i suppose that the same laws have    
prevailed from the beginning of the     
geologic periods4 ,i think that geology 
makes that very evident4  ,if that were 
not so1 said ,mr4 ,hume1 the past       
history of the globe would be a riddle  

to us2 it would be confusion worse      
confounded4 ,in regard to those early   
ages we could not reason from cause to  
effect1 for we should know nothing of   
the forces and principles then in       
existence4 ,in geologic studies we judge
 the past from the present1 and if that 
be not a trustworthy method of          
reasoning1 all the conclusions of       
geologists are as worthless as dreams4  
,have you any reason to suppose1 from   
what you have read on this subject1 that
 a curse changed the character of the   
earth as a dwelling-place for man some  
six thousand years ago8 ,is it true1 as 
,milton says1 that then                 
',the sun     ,had first his precept so 
to move1 so shine1     ,as might affect 
the earth with cold and heat     ,scarce
 tolerable1 and from the north call     
,decrepit winter--from the south to     
bring     ,solstitial summer's heat'8   
,did the ,creator then                  
',bid his angels turn askance     ,the  
poles of earth twice ten degrees and    

more     ,from the sun's axle'8  ,or was
 death then first introduced among the  
brute creation1 as ,milton fancies8--   
',but ,discord first1     ,daughter of  
sin1 among the irrational     ,death    
introduced through fierce antipathy2    
,beast now with beast 'gan war1 and fowl
 with fowl1     ,and fish with fish2 to 
graze the herb all leaving1             
,devoured each other4'  ,animals must   
have died1 said ,ansel1 for their       
remains lie imbedded in rock which      
certainly existed before man lived on   
the earth4  ,i wish you would ask ,mr4  
,wilton one question for me4  ,i am     
willing to ask him any proper question1 
and ,i suppose you would not wish me to 
ask any other4  ,i certainly would not4 
,will you ask him how it was possible   
for man not to sin and fall if ,god     
created the world for a sinful race     
myriads of ages before man was brought  
into existence8 ,it would seem that if  
man had remained obedient he could not  
have lived pleasantly in a world        

prepared for sinners1 and at the same   
time1 by man's obedience1 all the       
,creator's plans touching this world    
would have been dislocated and          
disappointed4  ,i will ask him1 sir1    
said ,ansel1 at the first good          
opportunity4  ,this good opportunity    
occurred sooner than ,ansel expected1   
for1 before entering upon the proposed  
lesson the next ,lord's ,day1 ,mr4      
,wilton said to the class3  ,i wish in  
these lessons to advance carefully and  
safely1 and1 as far as possible1 have   
everything well understood4 ,for that   
reason ,i invite you to speak freely of 
any difficulties or objections which may
 suggest themselves to your own minds or
 which you may hear presented by others4
 ,at the close of the last lesson the   
views which ,i had presented to you     
seemed very reasonable1 but it is       
possible that1 as you have thought upon 
the subject during the week1 objections 
may have arisen in your minds4 ,if so1  
,i should be glad to hear them now4     

,there are many things1 said ,peter1 of 
which ,i cannot see the use1 even if we 
suppose that the earth was designed as  
the dwelling-place of sinners4  ,it     
would be very surprising indeed if you  
could unravel all the mysteries of      
creation in a week's time4 ,wiser men   
than any of us have spent a lifetime in 
searching out the meaning of ,god's     
works1 and died still in the dark upon  
many points4 ,we need not expect to     
unravel and understand all the deep1    
complex1 and delicately-interwoven      
contrivances in a world so vast and     
curious as this4 ,the world is a great  
mystery--mysterious as a whole1 and     
mysterious in all its parts--upon any   
supposition4 ,but the explanation which 
,i gave of its design furnishes a       
sufficient reason for the great outline 
of creation4 ,this gives a reason for   
the pains and miseries which dog man at 
every step4 ,this gives a reason for the
 earth's being left rugged and sluggish1
 bringing forth thorns and thistles1 and

 requiring to be subdued by patient     
industry4 ,it shows a ground for the    
necessity of exhausting toil under a    
frowning sky and mid miasmatic airs--for
 the liability to diseases and          
accidents1 and the hard necessity of    
death4 ,these great elements of divine  
providence are not stripped of their    
halo of mystery1 but with this          
explanation they are seen to form a     
harmonious whole for the accomplishment 
of a great and glorious purpose4  ,mr4  
,wilton paused4 ,then ,ansel said1 ,mr4 
,hume wished me to ask you a question4  
,very well1 ,i should be glad to hear   
it4 ,i hope1 indeed1 that he sends his  
question from interest in the subject1  
and not with the design of perplexing   
us4 ,i wish also that he were here to   
ask the question and hear the answer for
 himself4 ,but what is the question8    
,he wished me to ask how it was possible
 for man not to sin and fall if ,god    
placed him in a world prepared for a    
race of sinners and unfitted for a      

sinless race4 ,he said that in such a   
case1 if man had remained obedient1 the 
plans of ,god would have been           
disarranged4  ,what answer did you try  
to give him1 ,ansel8  ,i did not try to 
make any explanation4 ,it seemed to me a
 very great objection4 ,i did not see   
how such a course was consistent with   
,god's righteousness4  ,and you are not 
the first person who has objected to    
this as a great inconsistency4 ,i am    
afraid the discussion will take more    
time than we ought to spare1 but now    
that the question has been asked and the
 objection presented1 ,i must take time 
to answer it1 even if it consume the    
whole half hour4  ,in considering this  
subject1 as well as many others1 we need
 to remember that the existence of      
difficulties is no objection to a       
principle or a fact4 ,difficulties      
wholly inexplicable by man attend facts 
and principles which must be true4 ,a   
fact may be incomprehensible1 though    
undeniable4 ,the great ,doctor ,johnson 

said1 ',there are insuperable objections
 against a plenum1 and insuperable      
objections against a vacuum1 yet one of 
these must be true4' ,what did he mean  
by that1 ,samuel8  ,he meant1 ,i        
suppose1 that we could not explain the  
possibility that any space should be    
wholly empty of matter1 and could no    
more explain the possibility that any   
space should be filled with matter1 but 
that all space must be filled1 or else  
there must be empty space4 ,whether we  
can explain the possibility or not1 one 
of them must be true4  ,that is right4  
,the same is true of many other facts   
besides a plenum and a vacuum4 ,we      
cannot conceive of infinite space2 we   
cannot conceive that space should not be
 infinite1 but bounded4 ,we cannot      
conceive of the creation of the world   
from nothing1 and no more can we        
conceive of its eternal existence4 ,the 
truth is that the mind of man cannot    
grasp such subjects so as to reason upon
 them correctly4 ,no sooner do we       

attempt to reason about the infinite    
things of ,god than we run into         
absurdities and reach the most          
contradictory conclusions4 ,and in this 
respect it makes no difference with what
 principle or proposition we start if it
 only contain some infinite element4    
,let me give you a simple illustration  
from geometry--an illustration which1   
very likely1 is familiar to you3 the    
larger a circle1 the less is the        
curvature of the line which bounds it2  
that is1 the more nearly does that line 
approach a straight line4 ,an infinite  
circle must be bounded by a straight    
line1 because with any degree of        
curvature the circle would be less than 
infinite4 ,but a straight line cannot   
bound a circle4 ,the attempt to reason  
about an infinite circle brings us at   
once to the most palpable absurdities   
and contradictions4 ,or take this       
illustration3 the whole of a thing is   
greater than any of its parts4 ,but     
divide a line of infinite length in the 

middle1 and each part is infinite4 ,we  
reach the conclusion either that the    
half is equal to the whole or that other
 wholly incomprehensible proposition1   
that one infinity is twice as great as  
another infinity4 ,i have made these    
statements to show you that the         
existence of difficulties does not      
indicate1 much less prove1 that a fact  
is not real and true4  ,mr4 ,hume thinks
 the fact that the earth existed in its 
present condition before men sinned an  
insuperable objection to the view that  
this world was prepared as a place for  
the discipline of a fallen race4 ,but   
let us look at the other side1 and see  
if equal objections do not exist4 ,the  
,creator foresaw the fall of man2 is    
there no objection to the supposition   
that1 knowing that man would sin1 ,god  
made no provision for it8 ,on the one   
supposition he foresees the evil and    
makes no provision2 on the other1 he    
foresees it and provides for the        
catastrophe4 ,the former supposition    

certainly involves the greater          
difficulties4  ,the objector may reply  
that the plan of ,god1 by embracing the 
fall of man and including it as one of  
its essential elements1 made that fall  
necessary4 ,but why should not ,god     
embrace in his plan that great event1   
the fall of man1 which he foresaw in the
 future8 ,would it have been wiser and  
better to leave out of account that most
 stupendous fact in the history of the  
human race8 ,this same objection1 which 
,mr4 ,hume and many others have brought 
forward1 lies with equal force against  
the great central fact of the gospel1   
the death of ,christ4 ,god's plan       
touching this world included the        
incarnation and death of his ,son4      
,jesus1 the ',lamb of ,god1' is spoken  
of as 'slain from the foundation of the 
world4' ,rev4 xiii4 #h4 ,but the        
incarnation and death of ,christ        
presuppose the apostasy of the human    
race4 ,did this plan touching ,christ   
make the apostasy of man a necessity8   

,if preparing a world--fallen1 so to    
speak1 beforehand--for a race which ,god
 foresaw would fall1 be inconsistent    
with his righteousness1 it must be      
equally inconsistent to prepare a       
,saviour beforehand for that same race4 
,again1 the divine plan touching the    
death of his ,son included his betrayal 
by ,judas and his crucifixion by the    
,jews4 ,if ,judas had known that ,god   
had poised the salvation of man upon the
 pivot of his treachery1 he would       
doubtless have argued as ,mr4 ,hume and 
others are accustomed to do4 ,but did   
,god's plan excuse his treason against  
his ,lord8 ,his own conscience1 piercing
 and rending his soul with remorse1     
drove him to self-destruction1 and      
,christ confirmed the sentence of his   
conscience and called him the 'son of   
perdition4' ,the fact that ,god weaves  
the foreseen crimes of men into his     
plans is no palliation of their guilt4  
,would it be wise and well to take no   
account of foreseen events8 ,jesus has  

gone to prepare mansions for those who  
will1 as he foresees1 believe in him3   
why not make provision for foreseen     
evils also8 ,our civil government1      
knowing the liability to crime among    
men--a liability which the experience of
 man has shown to be a practical        
certainty--makes provision for those    
crimes by maintaining a police1 reform  
schools1 prisons1 and armies4 ,the      
,governor of the universe1 knowing the  
liability of man to sin and fall--a     
liability which by his foreknowledge was
 to him a certainty--made provision for 
that foreseen apostasy4 ,he made        
provision1 both by the creation of a    
world suited to a sinful race kept under
 a probation of mercy1 and by appointing
 a ,redeemer1 the ',lamb of ,god1'      
slain1 in the eternal purpose1 before   
the foundation of the world4 ,if ,mr4   
,hume's objection has force at all1 it  
has force against every wise provision  
of ,god to meet the consequences of     
man's foreseen wickedness4 ,it is wise1 

forsooth1 on man's part1 to foresee     
coming evil and prepare for it2 but if  
,god do this1 men count it worse than   
folly3 they declare it to be an         
endorsement of the evil6 ,so foolishly  
do men reason about the high things of  
,god6 ,my answer to ,mr4 ,hume1 then1   
has four parts3  #a4 ,the existence of  
unexplainable difficulties does not     
disprove the truth and reality of any   
fact or principle4  #b4 ,the supposition
 that ,god made provision for the       
present apostasy of the human race is   
burdened with fewer and smaller         
difficulties than its denial4  #c4 ,the 
word of ,god declares that he did make  
provision for the fall of man by the    
pre-appointment of a ,redeemer4  #d4    
,that style of reasoning which seeks to 
justify or palliate man's first sin     
because ,god prepared this world for a  
fallen race would palliate and justify  
all wickedness1 because the sins of men 
are woven into every figure of the web  
of divine providence4 ,not the treason  

of ,judas alone1 but the whole sum of   
man's evil-doing1 is embraced in the    
far-reaching plan of ,god4 ,how this    
magnifies the wisdom of ,god6 ,he binds 
together in one bundle his own          
righteousness and the sins of men1 in a 
most intricate interlacing1 yet without 
blending the two and without staining   
the glory of his holiness4  ,i hope ,i  
have made this plain4 ,do you think1    
,ansel1 that you can repeat the         
substance of this answer to ,mr4 ,hume8 
,i will try1 sir1 if he asks4  ,you will
 all notice1 added ,mr4 ,wilton1 that ,i
 have not denied that there is a deep   
mystery in this preparation for the sins
 of men not yet created1 and that ,i    
have not attempted to explain this      
mystery4 ,i have only tried to show that
 the admission of the view ,i have given
 you is more satisfactory to reason than
 its denial1 and that the mysteries of  
this view are not unreasonable and      
self-contradictory1 for the greatest    
mysteries are often the most reasonable 

things in the world4  ,my introduction  
has become much longer than ,i designed1
 but now let us turn our attention to   
the subject of the lesson4  ,to aid us  
in understanding ,god's wise            
arrangements in the management of heat1 
we need1 first1 to consider what heat is
 and to review the laws of its action4  
,without this1 we could look on and     
wonder at ,god's working in nature1 but 
could not explain that which we saw4    
,ansel1 will you state the theories     
which have been held touching the nature
 of heat8  ,i will do it as well as ,i  
can4 ,the ancient philosophers supposed 
fire to be one of the four elements of  
which all bodies were composed4 ,the    
three other elements were earth1 air1   
and water4 ,these four elements were    
mingled in various proportions4 ,of     
these1 fire was esteemed the purest and 
most ethereal2 this constantly tended   
upward to the empyrean1 the highest     
heaven1 where the element of fire and   
light was supposed to exist unmingled   

and pure4 ,in the seventeenth century1  
,beccher and ,stahl1 two ,german        
chemists1 brought forward what is known 
as the phlogistic hypothesis4 ,they     
supposed that every combustible body    
held in composition a pure1 ethereal    
substance which they called phlogiston1 
a ,greek word which signifies burned1   
and that in combustion this phlogiston  
escaped4 ,flame was supposed to be this 
escaping phlogiston4 ,these were the    
notions held about fire and combustion1 
but they are hardly worthy to be called 
theories of heat4 ,the discovery of     
oxygen by ,dr4 ,priestley of ,england1  
in #aggd1 and the introduction of the   
balance by ,lavoisier of ,france1 joined
 with the ever-enlarging circle of facts
 to be explained1 rendered the          
phlogistic hypothesis untenable1 and it 
was thrown aside4  ,until a few years   
since the caloric theory was generally  
received4 ,according to this theory1    
heat is a substance1 a subtle ether1    
diffused through all bodies and         

surrounding their atoms4 ,this ether has
 been supposed to have a strong         
attraction for the atoms of every other 
substance1 while between its own atoms a
 strong repulsion exists4 ,in solid     
bodies each atom of matter1 or in       
compound bodies each cluster of atoms1  
has been supposed to be surrounded by a 
little atmosphere1 so to speak1 of      
caloric1 which prevented the atoms from 
coming into absolute contact4 ,according
 to this theory1 heat expands bodies by 
increasing and deepening these minute   
atmospheres1 thus pressing the atoms    
farther from each other4  ,you need not 
explain this theory farther1 said ,mr4  
,wilton2 we have hardly time to go into 
the history of theories4 ,tell us the   
latest received theory4  ,the theory now
 commonly believed is called the        
mechanical or dynamic theory4 ,according
 to this theory1 the essence of heat is 
motion4 ,a hot body is one whose atoms  
are in a state of rapid and intense     
motion or vibration2 and the sensation  

of heat on touching a hot body arises   
from the impact1 or rapid blows1 of the 
agitated atoms1 communicating the same  
atomic vibration to the flesh and nerves
 of the hand4  ,very well stated1       
,ansel4 ,this is the theory now more    
commonly received4 ,the caloric theory1 
like the crude notions of the old ,greek
 philosophers about fire1 and like the  
phlogistic hypothesis1 has been rejected
 because it failed to explain the       
phenomena of heat4 ,whether the dynamic 
theory is destined to share the same    
fate remains to be seen4 ,it seems1     
however1 to have a better foundation    
than its predecessors4 ,the dynamic     
theory1 though recently made popular1 is
 by no means a recent conception4 ,it   
was advocated by such men as ,bacon1    
,newton1 ,rumford1 ,davy1 ,locke1 and   
others4 ,locke1 the distinguished       
intellectual philosopher who lived in   
the latter half of the seventeenth      
century 7born #afcb1 died #agjd71 said1 
',heat is a very brisk agitation of the 

insensible parts of an object1 which    
produces in us that sensation from which
 we denominate the object hot1 so that  
what in our sensations is heat in the   
object is nothing but motion4' ,benjamin
 ,thompson1 an ,american gentleman who  
went to ,europe in the time of our      
revolution1 and for his scientific fame 
was made ,count ,rumford1 and became the
 founder of the ,royal ,institution of  
,england1 declared that he could form no
 conception of the nature of heat       
generated by friction unless it were    
motion4  ,a beautiful generalization has
 been made to show how well this idea of
 heat harmonizes with the entire plan of
 the universe4 ,in the whole boundless  
universe each system of worlds1 like our
 solar system1 may be regarded as a     
molecule1 or complex atom4 ,these       
cosmical molecules1 or complex atoms of 
the universe1 are in motion through     
unmeasured space4 ,in these systems of  
worlds the planets1 with their          
satellites1 are the molecules1 and they 

are in motion--indeed1 they commonly    
have several motions4 ,our earth1 for   
example1 rotates upon its axis once each
 day2 it revolves in its orbit around   
the sun once each year1 and the axis of 
the earth has a slow wabbling motion    
which produces the precession of the    
equinoxes1 requiring #be1hfh years for a
 complete revolution4 ,the earth also is
 made up of parts1 and all these are in 
ceaseless motion4 ,as said the old      
,greek philosopher1 ',all things        
flow'--that is1 everything is in a state
 of change4 ,solomon has well described 
this perpetual movement and change3     
',one generation passeth away1 and      
another generation cometh4 ,the sun also
 ariseth1 and the sun goeth down1 and   
hasteth to his place whence he arose4   
,the wind goeth toward the south1 and   
turneth about unto the north4 ,it       
whirleth about continually1 and the wind
 returneth according to his circuits4   
,all the rivers run into the sea2 yet   
the sea is not full2 unto the place from

 whence the rivers come1 thither do they
 return again4 ,all things are full of  
labor2 man cannot utter it4 ,the eye is 
not satisfied with seeing1 nor the ear  
filled with hearing4 ,the thing that    
hath been1 it is that which shall be2   
and that which is done is that which    
shall be done1 and there is no new thing
 under the sun4' ,eccles4 i4 #d-i4 ,it  
is certainly in harmony with this       
universal movement that the atoms of    
matter1 though they seem so closely     
packed1 should in their inconceivable   
smallness through inconceivably minute  
spaces vibrate1 or rotate1 or revolve   
through an orbit1 never at rest4        
,intensity of heat we may think of as   
intensity of this atomic motion--a wider
 swing1 so to speak1 in their vibration 
or revolution4 ,this1 of course1        
requires a wider separation of the atoms
 and a consequent expansion of bodies4  
,a feebler atomic motion permits the    
atoms to approach each other4 ,in this  
manner we explain the enlargement of    

bodies by heat and their contraction by 
decrease of temperature4 ',the ideas of 
the best-informed philosophers are as   
yet uncertain regarding the exact nature
 of the motion of heat1 but the great   
point at present is to regard it as a   
motion of some kind1 leaving its more   
precise character to be dealt with in   
future investigation4' ,this is the most
 we can do at present4  ,what is the    
evidence1 asked ,samuel1 that the       
dynamic theory of heat is true8  ,the   
evidence that any theory is true is its 
ability to explain the facts or         
phenomena with which it has to do4 ,if  
it explains all the facts and           
contradicts no known principles1 it is  
regarded as true1 or at least no        
objection can be made to it4 ,let me    
illustrate4 ,astronomers had long       
inquired what force or law controlled   
the movements of the heavenly bodies4   
,at length ,newton answered1 ,a force of
 attraction between bodies which        
decreases in proportion as the square of

 the distance between them increases4   
,this explanation has been found        
sufficient to explain all the known     
facts in the working of the heavenly    
bodies4 ,upon the basis of this theory  
astronomers calculate the positions of  
planets and comets for years and        
centuries to come4  ,this theory led to 
the discovery of the planet ,neptune1   
the last discovered of the primary      
planets4 ,for thirty years              
irregularities in the motion of ,uranus 
had been noticed4 ,these variations were
 so slight that if another planet had   
revolved in the proper orbit of ,uranus 
they would have seemed to the naked eye1
 throughout their course1 one and the   
same star4 ,this slight irregularity of 
motion was so nicely measured that the  
place of the unseen planet which caused 
it was almost exactly calculated from   
the estimated force and direction of its
 attraction4 ,this theory of a universal
 attraction of gravitation so well      
explains all the facts in the case1 and 

has become so universally received1 that
 we are liable to forget that1 after    
all1 it is nothing but a theory4  ,our  
idea of the structure of the solar      
system was at first only a theory4 ,the 
astronomer does not see the planets     
revolving in regular circles through the
 heavens and moving around the sun4 ,he 
only sees the shining points moving back
 and forth upon the concave vault1      
doubling and crossing their tracks      
apparently in the greatest disorder4    
,how shall their motions be explained8  
,astronomers have found that the motions
 of planets revolving around a central  
sun1 when seen from one of the planets1 
must present just these apparent        
irregularities4 ,this explanation is so 
full and complete that it is now counted
 not a theory1 but an established fact4 
,the same may be said of the shape of   
the earth4  ,the dynamic theory of heat 
explains the phenomena of heat better   
than any other explanation that has been
 proposed4 ,it explains the radiation of

 heat from the sun or from any other hot
 body3 vibrations or impulses are       
propagated through that ether which is  
supposed to fill all space4 ,it explains
 the conduction of heat through solid   
bodies in the same manner4 ,it explains 
the expansion of bodies3 the atomic     
motion forces the atoms of bodies       
farther apart4 ,it explains the         
production of heat by friction or       
collision1 which no other theory is able
 to do3 the shock of the collision      
generates this atomic vibration4 ,it    
explains the production of heat by      
combustion3 the atoms of oxygen and     
carbon or hydrogen dash against each    
other and generate heat by the          
collision4 ,this theory explains the    
transmutation of motion1 or living      
force1 and electricity1 into heat1 and  
the transmutation of heat into electric 
or mechanical force4 ,these points will 
come up again1 and ,i now only refer to 
them in answering ,samuel's question4   
,the dynamic theory explains the        

phenomena of heat and its relations to  
force1 light1 and electricity           
exceedingly well1 and for this reason   
men look upon it with favor and count it
 as probably true4 ,if in the progress  
of scientific investigation it shall be 
found to explain all the new facts      
discovered and meet well all the demands
 made upon it1 it will at length be     
received as an admitted principle in    
physical science4 ,the wave theory of   
light and the vibratory theory of sound 
may be looked upon as thus established4 
,at our next lesson we shall take a     
rapid review of the effects and laws of 
heat4     ,,chapter ,,iv4  ,,heat ,a    
,,gift ,,of ,,god4   ,the class is again
 promptly in place and ready for work4  
,as ,i announced a week ago1 said ,mr4  
,wilton1 we will to-day take a rapid    
review of the effects and laws of heat4 
,will you tell us1 ,peter1 the first and
 chief of these effects8  ,yes1 sir3    
combustion4  ,what is combustion8       
,commonly the rapid union of oxygen with

 some combustible substance1 attended   
with the evolution of heat4  ,was your  
answer correct1 then8  ,no1 sir1 said   
,peter1 blushing2 ,i spoke before ,i    
thought4  ,will you correct your answer8
  ,the first and chief effect of heat is
 expansion4  ,that is right4 ,our       
sensation of heat is of course only a   
sensation--merely the feeling which     
results from the effects of heat upon   
our nerves--but the chief physical      
effect of heat is the expansion of      
bodies4 ,the chemical qualities of      
bodies are not changed3 they are not    
made either heavier or lighter4 ,a      
sufficiently high temperature renders   
bodies luminous1 and then we call them  
red hot or white hot4 ,solid bodies     
begin to be luminous at a temperature of
 about one thousand degrees4 ,but the   
one invariable effect of heat1 with two 
or three apparent exceptions1 is        
expansion4 ,you may mention1 ,samuel1   
some familiar illustrations of the      
effect of heat in expanding bodies4     

,the blacksmith heats the wagon-tire in 
order that it may easily slip over the  
wheel4 ,if a kettle be filled with cold 
water1 by heating it the water is       
expanded and runs over4 ,i have noticed 
that the spaces between the ends of the 
successive iron rails upon the railroad 
are larger in winter than in summer1    
showing that the rails are shorter in   
winter than in summer4 ,while skating   
during the cold winter evenings upon the
 mill-pond1 ,i have seen cracks in the  
thick ice start and run across the      
mill-pond with a roar almost like       
thunder4 ,the ice was contracted by the 
cold till it could no longer fill the   
whole space between the banks1 and being
 frozen fast to the banks1 it was torn  
asunder4 ,the mercury in the tube of a  
thermometer is constantly expanding or  
contracting by every change of          
temperature4  ,yes1 those are all good  
illustrations1 and we might go on to    
mention others equally good by the      
score4 ,in cold countries1 during the   

intense cold of winter1 the surface of  
the earth cracks by shrinkage1 just as  
you have seen the ice upon the mill-pond
 torn in two4 ,the ,britannia iron      
tubular bridge over the ,st4 ,lawrence  
at ,montreal rises and falls two and    
one-half inches on account of greater   
expansion of the upper surface when     
exposed to the heat of the sun1 while a 
loaded freight train causes a depression
 of but one-fourth of an inch4 ,a few   
years since1 in order to make some      
philosophical experiments connected with
 the rotation of the earth upon its     
axis1 a ball was suspended by a wire in 
the interior of ,bunker ,hill monument4 
,by this means it was accidentally      
discovered that the heat of the sun1    
expanding the sides of the monument     
exposed to its rays1 caused the whole   
monument to sway back and forth daily4  
,here ,ansel raised his hand4  ,what is 
it1 ,ansel8  ,i was going to mention the
 belief of geologists that the mountain 
ranges were thrown up by the contracting

 of the earth's crust on account of     
cooling4  ,that is an illustration of   
contraction by loss of heat on an       
enormous scale4 ,the materials which    
form our globe may have existed in the  
beginning in a nebulous or gaseous      
state4 ,there is certainly very good    
reason for believing that the earth was 
once in a fluid state1 the whole of its 
substance molten by intense heat4 ,it is
 certain that the interior is now hot1  
and portions of it molten4 ,it is by    
very many believed that the whole       
interior is molten4 ,the crust of the   
earth may have been formed by cooling4  
,if after an outer crust had been       
formed1 and its temperature had fallen  
so low as to become nearly stationary1  
the interior mass continued to cool1 the
 molten mass would tend to sink away    
from the crust and the crust would sink 
in upon it by wrinkling4 ,thus mountains
 may have been formed4 ,along the line  
of fracture the easiest vents would be  
formed for volcanoes4 ,but this carries 

us somewhat aside from our subject1 and 
as the expansion of bodies by heat has  
been sufficiently illustrated1 we will  
leave it4 ,will some one now state the  
manner in which the dynamic theory of   
heat explains this expansion8  ,samuel  
answered3 ,i think you have already     
given us the explanation4  ,i have      
briefly referred to it1 but you may give
 it again4  ,the atomic motion which is 
supposed to constitute what we call     
heat1 whatever that motion be1 whether a
 vibration or rotation or revolution1   
requires that the atoms of bodies shall 
not be packed in absolute contact1 and  
the more intense the agitation or the   
wider the swing of the vibration or     
revolution1 the greater must be their   
separation4 ,hence heat expands bodies  
by thrusting their atoms farther apart4 
,that will do1 said ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,let  
us look now at some of the secondary    
effects of heat4 ,you may mention some  
of them1 ,ansel4  ,heat relaxes or      
overpowers the cohesive attraction of   

bodies4  ,what is cohesive attraction8  
,it is that force which binds together  
the atoms of matter in simple           
substances1 that is1 bodies like iron or
 copper or silver1 composed of but one  
kind of substance1 or in compound bodies
 it is the force which unites the       
compound molecules of matter4  ,give us 
now some illustrations of the effect of 
heat in overcoming cohesive attraction4 
,the blacksmith heats his iron in order 
to overcome its cohesive attraction and 
render it soft1 that he may easily      
hammer it4 ,the founder heats his metal 
till its cohesion is so far destroyed   
that it becomes fluid and can be poured 
into the mould4 ,heat relaxes the       
cohesive force of ice and changes it to 
water1 and by farther heating its       
cohesion is entirely overcome and the   
water is changed to a gas4  ,we use heat
 also in cooking our food1 spoke up     
,peter3 is it not because heat destroys 
the cohesive attraction1 and thus       
softens it8  ,if that were the only     

effect of heat upon food1 said ,mr4     
,wilton1 we should be obliged to eat our
 food hot1 for as soon as it cooled the 
cohesion would return and the food would
 be raw again4 ,the operation of heat in
 cooking is various1 and part of the    
effect is commonly to be ascribed to the
 water in which the food is cooked or to
 that which is contained in it4 ,by the 
combined agency of heat and water starch
 swells to twenty or thirty times its   
original bulk and the minute starch     
grains burst open4 ,in cooking potatoes 
the starch of the potato absorbs a      
portion of the water that is in it1 and 
thus renders it dry and mealy4 ,the     
action of heat and water upon rice1     
wheat1 and other grains is similar to   
their operation upon starch4 ,in the    
baking of bread the starch is converted 
into gum4 ,in boiling flesh the effect  
is partly due to the solvent powers of  
water3 the juices of the flesh are      
extracted1 the gelatin is dissolved1 the
 fat is liquefied1 and the cells in     

which the fatty matter is held more or  
less burst1 the albumen is solidified1  
and by long boiling the texture and     
fibre of the flesh are destroyed4 ,the  
albumen of an egg1 that is1 the white1  
coagulates by heat4 ,but in most of     
these processes the action of heat      
cannot be separated from that of water4 
,but there is another effect of heat    
very important both in nature and in the
 arts4 ,what is that8  ,the quickening  
of chemical affinity1 answered ,samuel4 
,that is right3 heat is necessary for   
the operation of chemical affinity4     
,perhaps this is only a weakening of the
 cohesive force1 thus allowing the      
chemical attractions to assert their    
strength4 ,but the fact is that1 while  
in many cases the chemical affinities   
act with great energy at ordinary       
temperatures1 in other cases they       
slumber1 however closely the substances 
are brought into contact1 till their    
temperature is raised4 ,samuel1 you may 
mention some illustrations of this      

principle4  ,a few months ago ,i visited
 ,hazard's powder mills1 in ,enfield1   
,connecticut1 and there learned how     
gunpowder is made4 ,the charcoal1 the   
sulphur1 and the nitre are first finely 
pulverized1 then ground together for    
hours till thoroughly mixed1 and        
afterward pressed together4 ,this mass  
is then broken into grains and the      
grains polished4 ,but though these      
elements are brought into so close      
contact1 yet they do not combine and    
explode till heat is applied4 ,the same 
is true of the combustion of wood and   
coal4 ,the carbon and the hydrogen of   
the fuel are constantly surrounded with 
the oxygen of the air1 but they do not  
take fire and burn1 that is1 they do not
 combine with the oxygen1 till they are 
raised to a red heat1 or perhaps even to
 a higher temperature4 ,if a stove      
filled with burning coal be cooled down 
to a low temperature by applying ice1   
the combustion will cease1 the fire will
 go out4 ,our teacher at the academy on 

one occasion heated a steel watch-spring
 red hot and plunged it into a jar of   
oxygen1 and the steel spring began      
quickly to burn with great fury4  ,you  
have given us good illustrations1       
,samuel1 and that which is true of      
carbon and hydrogen and oxygen is true  
of substances in general4 ,the effect of
 heat in producing chemical changes is  
very important everywhere4 ,it is seen  
not only in the chemist's laboratory and
 in the artisan's shop1 but also in the 
laboratory of ,nature4 ,plant a grain of
 corn in midwinter3 why does it not     
germinate and grow8 ,nothing is needed  
but the requisite heat to quicken the   
chemical affinities into action4 ,earth 
and air furnish the needed material for 
the growth of forest trees in winter as 
well as in summer1 but the cold holds in
 check the chemical forces and prevents 
the requisite chemical combinations4 ,no
 sooner does the sun quicken that atomic
 vibration or revolution which we call  
heat than vegetable growth begins4 ,heat

 is necessary for those chemical changes
 by which food is digested in the       
stomach and the processes of nutrition  
carried on in every part of the body4   
,if a man finish his dinner with ice    
cream or ice water1 the process of      
digestion is delayed till the contents  
of the stomach recover their proper     
temperature4 ,this is one chief reason  
why warm1 comfortable clothing is so    
very important1 especially for children4
 ,all the vital processes are chemical  
processes3 they are carried on through  
chemical affinities4 ,unless the body be
 kept at a suitable temperature1 these  
processes are feeble and imperfect1     
nutrition and vital combustion are      
hindered1 and diseases are engendered4  
,these1 then1 are the chief effects of  
heat4 ,it expands bodies1 weakens       
cohesive attraction1 and quickens the   
chemical affinities into activity4      
,ansel again raised his hand4  ,what do 
you wish8  ,will you please tell us1    
,mr4 ,wilton1 how this weakening of     

cohesive attraction is explained upon   
the dynamic theory of heat8  ,i will do 
so with pleasure4 ,the increased atomic 
motion in the heated body throws the    
atoms farther apart1 as we have already 
learned1 and by this increase of        
distance their attraction is diminished4
 ,if the earth were twice its present   
distance from the sun1 their attraction 
for each other would be four times less 
than it now is2 if its distance were    
three times as great1 their attraction  
for each other would be nine times less4
 ,the attraction of gravitation         
diminishes in proportion as the square  
of the distance through which it must   
act increases4 ,perhaps cohesive        
attraction diminishes according to the  
same law1 though the spaces are so small
 that this cannot be demonstrated1 but  
it is certainly weakened by the         
expansion of bodies through the agency  
of heat4  ,here ,peter raised his hand4 
,what will you say1 ,peter8  ,do not men
 heat and burn bricks1 not to soften    

them1 but to harden them8  ,that is     
true1 said ,mr4 ,wilton2 but in this    
there is a process of drying as well as 
of heating1 and the hardening is due    
chiefly to the complete drying by the   
intense heat4 ,too great heat will melt 
bricks while in the process of burning4 
,i once heard a brick-burner say that he
 could melt the brick around the arches 
in his kiln in half an hour1 if he      
pleased to put in fuel and let the fire 
burn4 ,indeed1 almost every known solid 
substance has been fused by heat4       
,whether carbon has ever been melted is 
an unsettled question4  ,i would like to
 inquire1 said ,samuel1 why water will  
not burn4 ,is it because it evaporates  
before it reaches a sufficiently high   
temperature8  ,this is a little aside   
from our subject1 but the               
incombustibility of water is a provision
 of the ,creator so very important that 
we will stop to notice it4 ,i think1    
however1 that by a little thought you   
yourself can answer the question4 ,tell 

me again what combustion is4            
,combustion is commonly the combining of
 oxygen with some other substance called
 a combustible4 ,the rusting of iron and
 the decay of organic bodies are forms  
of slow combustion4  ,now tell us the   
composition of water4  ,water is        
composed of oxygen and hydrogen--eight  
parts of oxygen to one of hydrogen1 by  
weight1 or two parts of hydrogen to one 
of oxygen1 by measure4  ,how is water   
formed from these two gases8 ,are they  
mixed together as oxygen and nitrogen   
are mingled in the air1 or are they     
chemically united8  ,they are chemically
 united3 they are burned together4 ,when
 hydrogen burns1 the product is water4  
,water is then a product of combustion4 
,can you not now tell why water is      
incombustible8  ,i think ,i now see the 
reason4 ,the oxygen1 being itself the   
supporter of combustion1 will not burn1 
and the hydrogen has been already once  
burned in the formation of water4  ,and 
that which is true of water is true1 in 

a greater or less degree1 of other      
products of combustion4 ,the burning of 
charcoal produces carbonic acid1 and    
carbonic acid will not burn because it  
is the production of combustion4 ,a     
candle is extinguished by it as quickly 
as by water4 ,by a recent invention     
carbonic acid is used to extinguish     
conflagrations4 ,the carbon has once    
united with oxygen1 and a second        
combination with an additional amount1  
or1 as a chemist would say1 with another
 equivalent1 of oxygen is much more     
difficult4  ,i think1 said ,samuel1 ,i  
now understand why water will not burn1 
but will you please also to tell us why 
water puts out fire better than almost  
anything else8  ,in order to extinguish 
fire one of two things must be done3    
either the supply of oxygen must be cut 
off or the combustible must be cooled   
down to a temperature below the burning 
point1 when the combustion will cease of
 itself4 ,when we shut the draught of an
 air-tight stove1 we check the          

combustion by shutting off the full     
supply of oxygen4 ,if we could wholly   
prevent the access of oxygen to the     
fuel1 the fire would at once be         
extinguished4 ,if oxygen should then be 
admitted again before the fuel had      
cooled down below the burning point1    
combustion would at once begin again4 ,a
 blazing brand is extinguished by being 
thrust into ashes1 because it is shut   
away from oxygen4 ,in the same way we   
extinguish the flame of a candle with a 
tin extinguisher4 ,on the other hand1   
fires often go out because the necessary
 temperature is not maintained4 ,water  
puts out fire in both these ways1 but   
especially by the second4 ,water poured 
in torrents from a fire engine upon a   
fire forms a film of water1 and the     
burning material shuts out the oxygen4  
,but the water acts chiefly by lowering 
the temperature4 ,no other known        
substance except hydrogen gas requires  
so much heat to raise it through a given
 number of degrees of temperature as    

water4 ,as much heat is required to heat
 one pound of water as thirty pounds of 
mercury4 ,hence1 water poured upon      
burning timber cools it to so low a     
temperature that it ceases to burn4  ,in
 addition to this1 we may notice that   
wood saturated with water cannot be     
heated above the boiling point of water 
till the water is evaporated4 ,as fast  
as the wood and the water rise or tend  
to rise above two hundred and twelve    
degrees1 the water changes into steam   
and carries away the additional heat4   
,the consumption of heat in the         
formation of vapor we must look at more 
carefully in a future lesson4 ,we will  
suppose that a house is in flames4 ,a   
fire engine throws a stream of cold     
water into the midst of the             
conflagration4 ,the cold water1 dashing 
against the burning wood1 cools the     
heated surface2 it is absorbed into the 
pores of the wood and hinders its rapid 
heating2 a portion of the water1 being  
changed into steam1 carries off the     

heat2 the steam1 mingling with the      
flame1 lowers the temperature of the    
burning gas1 and in proportion as steam 
fills the surrounding space oxygen is   
driven away4 ,a burning coal mine in    
,england was once extinguished by       
forcing steam into it1 thus driving out 
the air which supported the combustion  
and cooling down the burning coal4  ,the
 advantages which men receive from these
 agencies of heat are so manifest that  
we cannot help noticing them4 ,i do not 
refer to the comfort of a pleasant      
temperature1 nor the impossibility of   
living in a temperature extremely low1  
but to all those processes by which man 
subdues nature1 provides for himself    
food1 clothing1 and dwelling-places1 and
 builds up civilization4 ,heat is that  
force which enables man to accomplish   
his ends4 ,heat brings the iron from the
 native ore1 and heat renders it        
malleable and plastic to be shaped for  
man's uses4 ,heat quickens the chemical 
affinities and renders the arts of      

civilized life a possibility4 ,heat     
brings together oxygen and carbon in ten
 thousand furnaces1 and the heat        
engendered by the combustion1 changed to
 force1 drives the ponderous or nimble  
machinery which carries on the work of  
the world4 ,heat quickens the chemical  
affinities and causes the wheat to grow2
 heat prepares the wheat for man's food2
 and by the aid of heat that food is    
changed in man's body1 nutrition goes   
on1 the body is built up1 waste matter  
is removed1 and all the vital processes 
are supported4 ,without these agencies  
of heat--softening and subduing stubborn
 matter on the one side1 and quickening 
its forces on the other--man could not  
exist4  ,let me remind you that these   
agencies of heat are of ,god's devising4
 ,if the operations of heat are         
beneficent to man1 it is because ,god   
wished to bless his creatures4 ,i am not
 much given to moralizing1 but when ,i  
see how completely these simple effects 
of heat meet man's wants1 ,i cannot help

 remembering and admiring the wisdom of 
the great ,designer4 ,it is ,god and not
 blind1 unconscious ,nature that is     
working4  ,this reminds me1 said        
,samuel1 of the tradition in ,greek     
mythology that ,prometheus stole fire   
from ,jupiter and brought it down to man
 in a reed as a precious treasure4 ,it  
seems to me like a gift from heaven4    
,this mythological tradition has1       
however1 one falsehood3 there was no    
need that men should steal fire from the
 gods2 ,god freely gave it4 ,heat is    
indeed a gift from heaven4     ,,chapter
 ,v4  ,,conveyance ,,and ,,varieties    
,,of ,,heat4   ,to-day we review the    
modes in which heat passes or is        
conveyed from place to place4 ,it is    
evident that if heat were confined to   
the very place or point where it is     
generated1 it could subserve none of    
those uses to which it is now applied in
 the economy of ,nature or in the works 
and arts of man4 ,but heat passes from  
place to place with great facility1 and 

by one method1 with the speed of light1 
it tends to diffuse itself evenly       
through all2 it seeks an equilibrium4   
,the modes of its diffusion1 or         
conveyance1 are three in number4 ,ansel 
may name them4  ,heat passes from place 
to place and from body to body by       
'conduction1' by 'radiation1' and by    
'convection4'  ,what is meant1 ,ansel1  
by the 'conduction' of heat8  ,the      
passing of heat from atom to atom and   
from particle to particle through a body
 is called conduction4  ,that is right4 
,i will call upon ,peter to give some   
illustrations of the conduction of heat4
  ,the examples are so many1 ,peter     
answered1 that ,i hardly know what to   
mention first4 ,if ,i hold a pin in the 
flame of a lamp1 the part of the pin    
that touches the flame is first heated1 
but soon the heat runs along the whole  
length of the pin and burns my fingers4 
,the parts of a stove which touch the   
fire are first heated1 and from them the
 heat spreads through the whole stove4  

,a pine-wood shaving1 kindled at one    
end1 is heated by conduction1 but the   
heat passes through it very little      
faster than the flame follows4 ,heat    
escapes from our bodies by being slowly 
conducted through our clothing4 ,there  
is no end to the examples of conduction 
which one might give4  ,we must not     
think of the conduction of heat1 said   
,mr4 ,wilton1 as if it were a fluid     
slowly absorbed by a porous body1 as    
water poured upon the ground soaks into 
it1 or as water percolates through a    
lump of sugar and moistens the whole of 
it4 ,we must remember that the transfer 
of heat is not a transfer of any        
substance1 but a transfer of motion4    
,one atom is set in motion1 and strikes 
against another atom and sets that in   
motion1 and thus motion is communicated 
from atom to atom and from molecule to  
molecule through the whole mass of      
matter till every atom is agitated with 
the heat vibrations4 ,do all bodies     
conduct heat with equal rapidity8  ,no1 

sir1 replied ,ansel2 there is the       
greatest possible difference4 ,some     
substances are called good conductors1  
because heat permeates them so readily  
and rapidly2 others conduct heat very   
slowly1 and are called poor conductors  
or bad conductors4  ,that is right4     
,every child soon learns by experience  
to make a practical distinction of this 
kind4 ,he very soon understands that he 
can hold a stick of wood without burning
 his hand1 even though it be blazing at 
the other end1 but that when a piece of 
iron is red hot at one end he must not  
take hold of it at the other4 ,the child
 very soon learns to know the different 
feeling of a cotton night-gown from one 
of flannel1 and the difference in       
apparent warmth between a linen         
pillow-case and a woolen blanket4 ,after
 a room has been heated for a           
considerable time the various objects in
 it all become of the same temperature1 
and the same is true in a cold room2 but
 how great the difference in the        

sensations produced by touching the     
oil-cloth and a woolen carpet in a cold 
room6 ,good conductors of heat1 if hot1 
feel very hot2 or if cold1 feel very    
cold2 while poor conductors make a much 
less decided impression4 ,why is this1  
,samuel8  ,the good conductors receive  
heat or part with it very readily4 ,if  
the good conductor be hotter than our   
bodies1 it imparts its heat rapidly to  
our hand1 and because we receive heat   
rapidly from it1 it feels to us very    
hot4 ,or if it be colder than our       
bodies1 it takes heat from our hands    
very rapidly1 and gives the impression  
of being very cold4 ,poor conductors    
impart heat to the skin or take it away 
more slowly1 and hence feel as if their 
temperature were more nearly like that  
of the body4  ,the conducting qualities 
of bodies1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 seem to   
depend chiefly upon their structure or  
the arrangement of their atoms4 ,bodies 
which are compact and solid in their    
structure convey heat more rapidly than 

those which are loose and porous4 ,hence
 solids are better conductors than      
fluids1 and fluids are better conductors
 than gases1 and among solids the metals
 are better conductors than organized   
bodies1 like wood or flesh1 and better  
than the loose and porous minerals4 ,in 
bodies of loose1 porous1 or fibrous     
texture1 the continuity of the          
conductory substance is constantly      
broken4 ,the particles in a mass of     
sawdust touch only at a few points1     
leaving frequent spaces4 ,in woolen and 
cotton fabrics the points of junction of
 the fibres are very few1 comparatively4
 ,for this reason the motion is not     
readily communicated from atom to atom4 
,the crystalline arrangement of atoms   
has an influence upon conduction of     
heat4 ,heat is conducted more rapidly in
 a direction parallel with the axis of  
crystallization than across that axis4  
,wood conducts heat more rapidly in the 
direction of the grain4 ,this           
arrangement seems to be well adapted for

 keeping trees warm in winter4 ,their   
roots reach down into the earth1 which  
remains warm in the coldest weather4    
,this heat of the earth travels along   
the fibres up through the tree1 while   
the heat conducted across the fibres    
escapes much more slowly into the open  
air4 ,the bark also1 being a very bad   
conductor1 hinders the escape of heat4  
,of metals1 silver is the best          
conductor4 ,i will give you a brief     
table which will show the great         
difference in the conducting qualities  
of some of the metals4 ,counting the    
conducting qualities of silver as #ajj1 
the table is3 ',silver1 #ajj2 ,gold1    
#ec2 ,copper1 #gd2 ,iron1 #ab2          
,platinum1 #h2 ,german ,silver1 #f2     
,bismuth1 #b4'--,youmans4  ,what is the 
second method by which heat passes from 
place to place8  ,it is radiated1       
replied ,ansel4  ,and what is radiation8
  ,it is motion in straight lines or    
rays diverging from a centre4 ,from a   
hot body heat is passing off in straight

 lines in every direction4 ,as a lamp   
radiates light1 so does a hot body      
radiate heat4  ,radiant heat1 said ,mr4 
,wilton1 moves with the same velocity as
 light1 that is1 one hundred and        
ninety-two thousand miles per second4   
,it also follows the same general       
principles as light in all its motions4 
,it is absorbed1 reflected1 or          
transmitted in the same manner as light4
 ,and this is true of either luminous   
heat--that is1 heat radiated from a body
 which is red hot--or obscure1 or dark  
heat4  ,as there are good and poor      
conductors1 so there are good and bad   
radiators of heat4 ,the radiation of    
heat depends upon three conditions3  #a4
 ,upon the temperature of the body4 ,the
 higher the temperature1 the more rapid 
and energetic is its radiation4  #b4    
,upon the surface of the radiating body4
 ,a dull1 rough surface radiates heat   
more rapidly than a surface bright and  
polished4  #c4 ,upon the substance of   
the radiating surface4 ,with surfaces   

equally smooth and bright1 some         
substances radiate heat much better than
 others4 ,a surface of varnish radiates 
heat much more powerfully than a surface
 of gold or silver4  ,ansel1 you may1 if
 you can1 explain the radiation of heat4
  ,i can give no other explanation than 
that radiation is conduction through    
that subtle ether which is supposed to  
pervade all space4  ,very well2 perhaps 
that is as good an explanation as can be
 given4 ,but it seems rather like the   
propagation of an impulse than the      
spreading of atomic vibrations in every 
direction4 ,the motion is propagated in 
straight lines4 ,if it be conduction1 it
 must be carried on by different        
vibrations from those of ponderable     
substances4 ,heat1 light1 and           
electricity are supposed to be all      
propagated through the same theoretical 
ether4 ,sir ,isaac ,newton estimated the
 density of the ether as seventy        
thousand times less than the density of 
our atmosphere1 and its elasticity in   

proportion to its density as four       
hundred and ninety millions times       
greater4 ,but the very existence of this
 universally-diffused ether is a        
supposition made to account for the     
phenomena of light1 heat1 and           
electricity2 and1 of course1 all its    
qualities must be theoretical also4     
,radiation is believed to be the        
propagation of a motion or impulse      
through an inconceivably rare and       
elastic ether4  ,peter1 what is the     
third method by which heat passes from  
place to place8  ,convection1 was his   
reply4  ,what is meant by convection of 
heat8  ,the conveyance of heat by       
carrying a heated body4 ,if ,i remove a 
hot iron or a kettle of hot water1 ,i   
must of course carry the heat which it  
contains4  ,a very good illustration of 
the convection of heat1 said ,mr4       
,wilton1 is seen in the common method of
 heating water4 ,the heat is applied at 
the bottom of the vessel containing the 
water2 as fast as the water at the      

bottom next the fire is heated1 it rises
 and carries the heat to the top2 cold  
water comes to take its place1 and this 
in turn is heated and rises and carries 
heat to the top4 ,this process is       
carried on till all the water comes to  
the same temperature4 ,thus water is    
heated by convection of heat4  ,a       
grander illustration is seen in winds   
and ocean currents4 ,warm winds carry   
heat enough to warm a continent1 and the
 mighty ocean currents are still more   
efficient in transferring heat from one 
part of the earth to another4  ,another 
point we need to understand4 ,when      
radiant heat falls upon a body1 what    
becomes of it8  ,it is disposed of1     
answered ,samuel1 in one of three ways3 
it may be reflected according to the    
same principles by which light is       
reflected2 or it may be transmitted1    
that is1 pass through the body2 or it   
may be absorbed1 that is1 stop in it4   
,very well stated1 ,samuel4 ,in regard  
to reflection ,i need to say very       

little4 ,you know how light is reflected
 from a polished surface1 such as a lamp
 reflector3 heat is reflected in the    
same manner4 ,one fact you must bear in 
mind touching reflected heat3 it does   
not heat the reflecting body4  ,there is
 no need of telling you that light      
passes through certain substances4 ,it  
passes through gases and through some   
liquids and some solids4 ,the best of   
glass1 though it is so solid1 interposes
 very little hindrance to the passage of
 light4 ,heat in like manner radiates   
through certain solids4 ,luminous heat  
is radiated through glass4 ,rock-salt   
transmits dark heat also4 ,a plate of   
alum permits light to pass1 but stops   
both luminous heat and dark heat4       
,remember that transmitted heat1 as was 
said of reflected heat1 does not heat   
the body through which it passes4 ,i    
have seen boys make burning-glasses of  
ice4 ,the heat passes through them and  
burns that upon which it is             
concentrated1 while the ice itself      

through which the heat passes is not    
melted4  ,if a body have a good         
radiating surface1 that is1 if its      
surface be dull and rough1 the heat     
which falls upon it will be mostly      
absorbed4 ,the reflecting and absorbing 
qualities hold an inverse ratio to each 
other2 the better the reflecting        
qualities1 the worse the absorbing1 and 
the worse the reflecting1 the better the
 absorbing4 ,heat which is absorbed by a
 body commonly raises its temperature1  
and remains in the body till it is      
slowly radiated or is conducted away by 
the air or other bodies which come in   
contact with it4  ,what is that heat    
called1 ,ansel1 which is absorbed by a  
body with no rise of temperature8  ,it  
is called latent heat4  ,that is the old
 and common expression1 but what is     
meant by latent heat8  ,the word latent 
signifies lying hidden or concealed4    
,latent heat1 as you suggested in your  
first question1 is that heat which a    
body receives without showing it by a   

change of temperature4  ,that name      
'latent heat1' said ,mr4 ,wilton1       
expresses the opinion of those who      
invented it2 they supposed that heat was
 in some manner hidden in certain       
bodies4 ,we must not suppose1 however1  
that this latent heat continues to exist
 in bodies as heat2 latent heat is that 
heat which is converted into force or   
some other motion than the atomic heat  
vibrations1 and is employed otherwise   
than in raising the temperature4 ,you   
will understand this best by an         
illustration4  ,take one hundred pounds 
of ice at the temperature of thirty-two 
degrees1 that is1 as warm as is possible
 without melting4 ,that one hundred     
pounds of ice will absorb heat which    
would raise one hundred pounds of ice   
water through one hundred and forty     
degrees1 and by receiving that heat it  
is melted1 but the water produced has   
the temperature of thirty-two degrees4  
,it has received one hundred and forty  
degrees of heat1 but its temperature is 

not raised a single degree4 ,this one   
hundred and forty degrees of heat has   
been transmuted into force and employed 
in overcoming the crystalline attraction
 of the atoms of water4  ,let that ice  
water at thirty-two degrees of          
temperature receive one hundred and     
eighty degrees of heat1 and the water   
rises to two hundred and twelve degrees1
 the temperature of boiling4 ,but       
whatever additional heat is absorbed    
brings no increase of temperature1 but  
transforms the water into steam4 ,it is 
employed in overcoming the cohesive     
attraction of the molecules of water and
 changing the liquid to a gas4 ,about   
one thousand degrees of heat is thus    
expended1 but the steam which is        
produced has only the temperature of two
 hundred and twelve degrees4 ,if the    
process be reversed1 the steam gives up1
 as it is said1 the one thousand degrees
 of heat in returning to the condition  
of water and the one hundred and forty  
degrees in resuming the crystalline     

structure of ice4 ,the heat which was   
employed as force in overcoming the     
atomic and molecular attractions is     
transmuted again to heat1 and shows     
itself in raising the temperature4 ,and 
that which is true of water is true of  
any other substance in changing its form
 from a solid to a liquid or from a     
liquid to a gas1 or the opposite4 ,in an
 amount different for each kind of      
matter1 in all these changes of         
condition1 heat is transmuted to force  
or force to heat4  ,these transmutations
 are going on ceaselessly in the        
operations of ,nature1 and without      
understanding them we cannot appreciate 
the wonderful operations of heat in the 
world4 ,the heat of the sun beams upon  
the ocean2 the greater part of that heat
 is expended as force in overcoming the 
molecular attraction of water1 thus     
converting it to vapor1 and in raising  
that vapor to the higher regions of the 
atmosphere4 ,this heat-force1 or1 as we 
might call it1 'sunpower1' expended upon

 the earth1 amounts to thousands of     
millions of horse-power daily4          
,illustration3 ,,transmutation of       
,,heat4  ,page #aac4   ,examples of the 
transmutation of force into heat abound 
everywhere4 ,a boy strikes his heel upon
 the stone pavement2 from the point of  
contact between the stone and the steel 
points in his boot heel sparks of fire  
fly out4 ,force is changed to heat so   
intense that particles of steel are set 
on fire4 ,savages who have no better    
methods of kindling fire rub dry wood   
together till the sticks ignite4 ,the   
force expended in overcoming the        
friction is changed to heat4 ,in the    
combustion of coal beneath the steam    
boiler we see both processes going on4  
,the atoms of carbon dash against the   
atoms of oxygen1 and the force of the   
collision generates the heat of the     
combustion4 ,this heat1 born thus of    
force1 is again transmuted to force1 and
 drives the engine and the machinery    
attached4 ,in our study of ,god's       

management of heat we shall constantly  
meet with these changes4 ,you will need1
 therefore1 to study carefully this     
subject of latent heat4  ,dr4 ,joule1 of
 ,manchester1 ,england1 has discovered  
the ratio between heat and force1 that  
is1 the amount of force which by        
transmutation produces any given amount 
of heat4 ,the force of a one-pound      
weight which has fallen one foot is     
taken as the unit of force1 and the     
amount of heat which is required to     
raise one pound of water one degree is  
taken as the unit of heat4 ,by many and 
various careful experiments1 ,dr4 ,joule
 demonstrated that #ggb units of force  
are the equivalent of one unit of heat4 
,a pound weight falling #ggb feet1 or   
#ggb pounds falling one foot1 and then  
arrested1 produces heat sufficient to   
raise one pound of water one degree4    
,the result is the same whatever the    
method by which the force is expended4  
,if water be agitated or shaken1 if     
sticks of wood or iron plates be rubbed 

together1 if an anvil be struck with a  
hammer1 or if a bar of iron or copper be
 moved back and forth between the poles 
of an electromagnet1 the force expended 
is changed to heat4 ,you must remember1 
however1 that force becomes heat only so
 far as the force is actually expended1 
or used up so that it no longer exists  
as force4  ,these conclusions are       
supported by other beautiful            
experiments4 ',an electric current      
which1 by resistance in passing through 
an imperfect conductor1 produces heat   
sufficient to raise one pound of water  
one degree1 sets free an amount of      
hydrogen which1 when burned1 raises     
exactly one pound of water one degree4  
,again1 the same amount of electricity  
will produce an attractive magnetic     
force by which a weight of #ggb pounds  
may be raised one foot high4'--,youmans4
 ,we conclude from experiments like     
these that heat1 mechanical force1 and  
electricity are interchangeable forces2 
they may be transmuted the one into     

another4  ,by this principle of the     
transmutation of heat and mechanical    
force we explain the production of heat 
by compression and the loss of heat by  
expansion4 ,samuel1 you may state the   
fact upon this point4  ,if any substance
 be suddenly compressed1 answered       
,samuel1 heat appears2 if it be         
expanded1 cold is produced4 ,since gases
 expand or yield to pressure so readily1
 they furnish the best illustration of  
this principle4  ,the suddenness of the 
compression or expansion1 said ,mr4     
,wilton1 is a matter of no consequence4 
,the effect is the same whether the     
operation be sudden or slow1 but if the 
compression or expansion be slow1 the   
heat or cold generated is less apparent2
 the heat is dissipated as fast as      
produced and the colder gas is warmed by
 the vessel which contains it4 ,ansel1  
how shall we explain this8  ,i cannot   
explain it1 sir4  ,the explanation is   
very simple1 said ,mr4 ,wilton4         
,mechanical force is employed in the    

compression of the gas2 the force is    
expended and used up upon the gas1 and  
appears again in the form of atomic heat
 motion4 ,in the expansion of gases the 
operation is just the reverse2 the      
atomic heat motion is expended in       
producing expansion1 and hence          
disappears as heat4 ,the general        
principle is that no force can be       
expended in two ways at the same time4  
,one other point we must notice to-day1 
that is1 specific heat4 ,what is        
understood1 ,ansel1 by this term1       
specific heat8  ,the relative amount of 
heat which different substances require 
to raise their temperature through any  
given number of degrees4  ,that is      
right4 ,i think that you all must have  
noticed that it requires much more heat 
to raise the temperature of some bodies 
than others4 ,what an amount of heat is 
required to raise the temperature of    
water6 ,that heat which will raise one  
pound of water one degree will cause an 
equal increase of temperature in five   

pounds of sulphur1 or four pounds of    
air1 or nine pounds of iron1 or eleven  
pounds of copper1 or thirty pounds of   
mercury1 lead1 or gold4 ,this is what is
 meant by saying that one substance has 
a greater capacity for heat than        
another4 ,the specific heat of water is 
greater than that of any other known    
substance except hydrogen gas4 ,this    
fact1 taken in connection with its great
 specific latent heat and its poor      
conducting qualities1 renders it        
exceedingly important in regulating     
climate and moderating extremes of      
temperature2 of this you will be        
reminded very often as our lessons go   
on4  ,no law or principle determining   
the specific heat of the various        
elements and explaining the different   
capacities for heat has as yet been     
discovered4 ,it has been suggested that 
specific heat depends upon the number of
 atoms1 that it holds an inverse ratio  
to their combining numbers1 or1 what is 
the same thing1 a direct ratio to the   

number of atoms4 ,this would harmonize  
well with the dynamic theory of heat1   
but the harmony between the specific    
heat of substances and the number of    
atoms is not sufficiently uniform to    
establish this supposition4  ,this      
completes our review of first           
principles4 ,i hope that this not very  
entertaining review of your academic    
studies has not wearied you of the very 
word heat and worn out your interest in 
examining ,god's management of heat     
before making a beginning4  ,i think1   
said ,samuel1 that we are not in the    
habit of becoming disgusted with our    
studies4  ,you may expect1 continued    
,mr4 ,wilton1 if the past has been      
interesting to you1 that the lessons to 
come will prove more interesting still4 
,next week we shall consider the        
abundant provision which the ,creator   
has made for warming the earth4  ,and   
let me say to you1 patient reader1 that 
if ,i had known that you were as        
familiar with the laws and principles of

 heat as ,ansel1 ,peter1 and ,samuel    
seem to have been1 this and the         
preceeding chapter would not have been  
written4 ,however dull this review may  
have seemed to you1 it was needful1     
perhaps1 for others1 that they might    
understand the wonderful works of ,god  
which we shall now proceed to examine4  
,and1 reader1 do not forget that heat   
itself1 that subtle motion and mighty   
force1 with all its laws and principles1
 is one of ,god's works4 ,already have  
we been looking at the ,creator's       
handiwork4 ,already have we been trying 
to trace out the thoughts of ,god as    
they are written in the ,bible of       
,nature4 ,the thoughts of ,god are great
 and wonderful4 ,it has been useful and 
interesting to read thus far in this    
book written with the finger of the     
,creator of worlds and of man1 even if  
we turn not another page4     ,,chapter 
,,vi4  ,,management ,,and ,,sources ,,of
 ,,heat4   ,while the lessons which have
 been reported were going on1 the       

religious interest in the church was    
deepening4 ,mr4 ,wilton did not cease to
 make his sermons instructive1 but1 in  
addition to the instruction1 he made    
them more and more pungent and          
persuasive4 ,he aimed to gather up the  
impressions and convictions already     
wrought in the minds of his hearers and 
combine them for united and immediate   
effect4 ,he believed that this was to be
 a reaping-time4  ,mr4 ,hume was        
becoming interested1 not because he had 
been at church1 for he had not been     
there1 but the ,holy ,spirit of ,god was
 working upon his heart4 ,he was        
becoming uneasy in his unbelief4 ,for   
some reason1 he knew not why1 his       
opinions were becoming more and more    
unsettled4 ,he did not like to go to the
 house of ,god2 his self-will and pride 
of consistency rebelled against the     
thought of hearing and believing the    
gospel2 but he was restless and         
discontented away from the place of     
worship4 ,his associations with his     

infidel comrades grew distasteful4 ,his 
,sundays were days of distress3 with his
 attention relieved from business cares1
 thoughts of ,god and eternity pressed  
upon him1 and he could not escape them4 
,at length he determined to go and hear 
,mr4 ,wilton again3 perhaps he should   
hear something which he could so        
positively reject as to set his mind at 
rest4 ,he went1 accordingly1 the next   
,lord's ,day1 and heard a very          
impressive sermon4  ,the text for the   
forenoon was ,ps4 lxvi4 #e3 ,come and   
see the works of ,god3 he is terrible in
 his doing toward the children of men4  
,the sermon gave first a brief and rapid
 review of some striking displays of    
,god's displeasure at the sins of men3  
that ancient world of men whose thoughts
 were only evil continually he          
overwhelmed with the flood2 he burned   
with fire from heaven ,sodom and        
,gomorrah1 ,zeboim and ,admah1 those    
lascivious and festering cities of the  
plain2 he sent his torturing and        

consuming plagues upon the ,egyptians1  
and sunk the army of ,pharoah like a    
stone in the deep waters of the ,red    
,sea3 they sank as lead in the mighty   
waters2 he caused the earth to open and 
receive ,korah and his adherents1 and   
bade his angel in one night to touch    
with death the thousands of             
,sennacherib's army4 ,this record of    
divine wrath against evil-doers has     
startled the consciences of wicked men1 
and will continue to startle them so    
long as the ungodly live upon the earth4
 ,it is easy for unbelievers to call the
 word of ,god a record of fabulous      
wonders1 but that record lives and will 
live1 and its words assert their        
divinity by touching and burning the    
consciences of men as if they were      
tongues of fire4  ,but to the thoughtful
 man1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 there is a     
manifestation of ,god's displeasure at  
sin even more impressive than these     
miraculous judgments4 ,the ,creator has 
built his wrath against sin into the    

very fabric of the universe2 he has     
written it upon the very atoms and      
elements of matter and of mind1 and     
graved it upon the 'nature of things4'  
,the forces of ,nature are all instinct 
with holy wrath against ungodliness4    
,evil doing works out evil consequences 
by the regular course of nature4        
,babylon1 ,nineveh1 and ,tyre were great
 and prosperous1 and as mighty in       
wickedness as in commerce and war4 ,in  
the height of their prosperity ,god     
denounced upon them disaster and        
desolation1 and by the natural processes
 of evil their decay and destruction    
came upon them4 ,no miracle broke the   
harmony of their mighty march to decay  
and the silence of death4 ,great nations
 have perished1 but not till they became
 corrupt4 ,rome fell1 but luxury first  
gendered luxuriant vices1 and vices     
enervated her hardihood and undermined  
the defences of her courage4 ,no        
righteous nation ever perished4 ,no     
nation ever fell into decay till ripe in

 sin and ready for moral putrefaction4  
,but against wicked and corrupt nations 
wars and desolations are determined1 and
 the end thereof is with a flood4 ,the  
very forces of ,nature seem allied in   
firm compact with the laws of ,god1     
ready with resistless hand to avenge    
their transgression and to visit evil   
upon evil-doers4 ,this steady march of  
all the forces of the world in bringing 
decay and wretchedness upon sinners is  
more impressive than any single         
desultory example of avenging wrath4    
,but perhaps an unbeliever replies1     
',not so2 there is a natural law of     
development1 decay1 and death1 apart    
from sin4 ,trees grow up1 become old1   
and die4 ,men pass from childhood up to 
manhood1 and from manhood down to second
 childhood1 and return to the dust      
whence they came4 ,by a like principle1 
nations pass through similar changes of 
development1 decay1 and desolation4 ,but
 in all this there is no manifestation  
of divine favor or disfavor4'  ,this is 

narrow and false reasoning4 ,if a single
 great city had become corrupt while all
 the world beside remained righteous1   
and ,god had denounced his displeasure  
upon it and had executed his wrath by   
sudden and tremendous judgment1 that one
 city standing out in single and        
solitary ungodliness and desolation1 who
 would deny1 who could deny1 that the   
fate of that unhappy city was a         
manifestation of divine displeasure8 ,if
 a second example were made of a second 
ungodly city1 would the expression of   
divine wrath be weakened8 ,nay2 every   
man would say that it is made stronger4 
,what if a third example be made of a   
third city8 ,what if every wicked city  
is made an example8 ,what if ,god embody
 his displeasure at evil-doing in the   
structure of the world1 and give to the 
very atoms of matter and the elements of
 mind such natures that by the working  
of their own proper forces1 without a   
miracle1 they shall bring pain and evil1
 decay and death1 upon the ungodly8     

,what is this but writing his wrath     
against sin upon the earth and sky1 upon
 matter and the consciences of men1     
declaring by this that till the heavens 
and the earth and the spirits of men be 
no more he will never withdraw his      
indignation8 ,this is what ,god has     
done4 ,the wicked man sets in motion the
 machinery which works out his own      
everlasting undoing4 ,his own hand sows 
the seeds of death1 and as those seeds  
germinate they strike their roots into  
his corruptions and draw their          
nourishment from his evil life4 ,thus do
 sinners go on 'treasuring up wrath     
against the day of wrath and revelation 
of the righteous judgments of ,god4'    
,but remember that ,god has not left the
 world in these later ages without the  
testimony of wrathful judgments which   
ought to startle and alarm the          
consciences of the wicked like the fires
 of ,sodom4 ,let me give you what ,i    
suppose to be a true record of the fate 
which befell a band of bold blasphemers4

 ,in that uprising of infidelity which  
took place near the close of the last   
century there was formed at ,newburg1   
,n4 ,y41 through the influence of a man 
known as ',blind ,palmer1' an           
association of infidels under the name  
of the ,druidical ,society4 ,the object 
of the society was to uproot and destroy
 revealed religion4 ,in pursuit of this 
object they descended to the most       
blasphemous mockery4 ,at one of their   
meetings they burned the ,bible1        
baptized a cat1 partook of the bread and
 wine as appointed for the ordinance of 
the ,lord's ,supper1 and gave the       
elements to a dog4 ,then the wrath of   
,god broke out upon them4 ',on the      
evening of that very day he who had     
administered the mock sacrament was     
attacked with a violent inflammatory    
disease2 his inflamed eyeballs were     
protruded from their sockets2 his tongue
 was swollen1 and he died before morning
 in great bodily and mental agony4 ,dr4 
,h----1 another of the same party1 was  

found dead in his bed the next morning4 
,d---- ,d----1 a printer who was        
present1 three days after fell in a fit1
 and died immediately4 ,in a few days   
three others were drowned4 ,within five 
years from the time the ,druidical      
,society was organized all the          
thirty-six original members--actors in  
the blasphemous ceremonies spoken       
of--died in some strange or unnatural   
manner4 ,two were starved to death1     
seven were drowned1 eight were shot1    
five committed suicide1 seven died on   
the gallows1 one was frozen to death1   
and three died1 the record says1        
accidentally4' ,be sure of this3 ,god   
has not left the world nor forgotten his
 judgments against his enemies1 neither 
is he tied up and hampered by the laws  
of ,nature4 ',god is angry with the     
wicked every day4 ,if he turn not1 he   
will whet his sword3 he hath bent his   
bow and made it ready4 ,he hath also    
prepared for him the instruments of     
death4'  ,but remember1 also1 that ,god 

does not limit his expression of wrath  
to these natural agencies4 ,the smile of
 ,god beams direct upon the soul as the 
warm rays of the sun fall upon the cold 
earth1 and the frown of ,god throws a   
shadow which darkens the soul with the  
gloom of eternal death4  ,this discourse
 stirred the mind of ,mr4 ,hume in a    
wonderful manner4 ,the story of ,god's  
judgments upon wicked men and dissolute 
cities he had read many a time in his   
boyhood1 but the rapid review of them by
 ,mr4 ,wilton seemed to bring them up   
with a lifelike vividness4 ,and that    
view of the forces of ,nature1 as allied
 with the moral laws of ,god to work out
 wrath upon evil-doers1 was new to him1 
but his own mind quick as thought       
suggested many more illustrations than  
,mr4 ,wilton had time to give4 ,he      
remembered that all manner of           
vices--drunkenness1 lust1 devotion to   
gay1 sensual pleasures--bring ruin to   
men4 ,he had noticed that the saddest   
faces are those of worn-out lovers of   

pleasure1 and he knew that lovers of    
pleasure are very quickly worn out--that
 five years of sensuality will waste the
 powers of life more than fifty years of
 good work4 ,he knew also that infidels 
and blasphemers1 whatever else they     
might be1 were unhappy men1 and died    
joyless1 foreboding deaths4 ,he was not 
exactly angry1 but his heart rebelled   
against thus being held by the mighty   
power of ,god1 willing or unwilling1 and
 against the thought that even ,nature  
herself had conspired against him4 ,it  
seemed to him hard that he was born into
 such a world1 and that there was no    
escape from it4 ,he did not consider at 
the moment that ,god and his works were 
against him only because he was against 
,god1 and that by submitting to ,god in 
loving obedience all the forces of      
,god's world and ,god's providential    
government would turn in his favor--that
 all things work together for good to   
them that love ,god4  ,at length better 
thoughts came to him4 ,i must know1 he  

said to himself1 whether these things   
are so4 ,i have never examined the      
subject to discover the truth1 but have 
tried to find reasons for disbelieving  
the ,bible and denying the gospel4 ,i   
ought to look at the other side4 ,if    
,nature and ,nature's ,god have         
blessings in store for the willing and  
the obedient1 why should not ,i know    
this and receive my share8  ,under the  
impulse of thoughts like these he formed
 the sudden resolution to join ,mr4     
,wilton's ,bible class--that is1 if he  
would receive him willingly1 of which he
 had no small doubt4 ,coming directly   
forward at the proper time1 he said to  
,mr4 ,wilton3  ,i have learned what your
 class is studying1 and should like1 ,i 
hardly know why1 to join your class for 
a few ,sundays1 if you are entirely     
willing4  ,mr4 ,wilton1 of course1 did  
not know the exact state of ,mr4 ,hume's
 mind2 he did not know but that he came 
with a contentious spirit to bring up   
objections and propose hard questions2  

but he felt certain that1 whatever his  
state of mind1 the ,spirit of ,god was  
bringing him to take this step4 ,he had 
prayed for him2 in prayer his soul had  
travailed in pain for him2 and he felt  
that by way of the throne of grace he   
had obtained a hold upon ,mr4           
,hume--that the ,holy ,spirit had bound 
a cord between them which could not be  
broken4 ,he believed1 therefore1 that1  
whether he came penitent or angry1 good 
would result from his coming4 ,he gave  
him1 therefore1 a hearty welcome4  ,i am
 not only willing1 he said1 but very    
glad1 to have you come2 and as ,i know  
that you have kept yourself informed of 
the latest phases of modern science1 ,i 
hope we shall have your help in         
unfolding the subject which we are      
engaged in studying4 ,i think you will  
be able to do us good4  ,your kind      
welcome ought certainly to incline me to
 do anything which ,i can to help the   
interest of your study1 but ,i only ask 
the privilege of sitting with your class

 as a silent listener4  ,the            
,sunday-school opened as usual1 and the 
classes entered upon their work4  ,you  
have come in1 ,mr4 ,hume1 at just the   
proper point in the progress of our     
lessons1 said ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,we have    
been preparing the way by a brief review
 of the laws of heat4 ,we have gone over
 the effects of heat2 the conduction1   
radiation1 and convection of heat2      
thermal reflection1 absorption1 and     
transmission2 specific and latent heat4 
,we have tried to form a conception of  
the existence and operations of heat    
according to the dynamic theory that    
heat is a mode of atomic motion4 ,this  
review would have had little interest to
 you4 ,we are now prepared to look at   
the goodness and wisdom of ,god in the  
management of heat4 ,we are not trying  
to prove the existence of a ,creator and
 ,governor--we are only looking at the  
mighty and wise works of that ,god in   
whom we already believe4 ,we shall find 
the works of ,god planned and wrought   

out with wondrous skill1 and that       
wonderful skill is employed in the      
interest of goodness4 ,god has planned  
and wrought for the benefit of his      
creatures4 ,his wisdom and goodness are 
exhibited on the grandest scale and in  
gigantic proportions4 ,this is all that 
is needed practically to demonstrate the
 existence of ,god4 ,a good conscience  
does the rest4 ,being once assured that 
there is a ,creator1 a good conscience  
leaps to the conclusion that we ought to
 obey and serve him4 ,nay1 the very work
 and existence of a conscience implies a
 divine ,lawgiver and ,ruler4 ,to a good
 conscience a ,god is a necessity4 ,but 
as we are not now attempting to show    
that there is a ,god1 but to study his  
works1 we will pass this point4  ,with  
respect to the subject before us1 let us
 first notice that heat is a necessity  
to the world and to man1 and that ,god  
has made ample provision for that need4 
,what the condition of the world would  
be without heat we can only conjecture4 

,in the polar regions a natural         
temperature of seventy degrees below    
zero has been observed4 ,at this        
temperature all the water upon the globe
 would turn to ice hard as adamant2 all 
vegetation would cease1 and with the    
disappearance of vegetable life all     
animal life must perish4 ,the whole     
earth would be a frozen1 lifeless1      
silent waste in the midst of silent     
space4 ,some lines in ,byron's picture  
of universal darkness would fitly       
describe the state of the world3        
',the waves are dead1 the tides are in  
their grave1     ,the winds are withered
 in the stagnant air1     ,and the      
clouds are perished4'  ,this description
 would be no figure1 for motion as well 
as life depends upon heat4 ,yet seventy 
degrees below zero is but the beginning 
of cold4 ',by mixing liquid protoxide of
 nitrogen with bisulphate of carbon in a
 vacuum1 ,m4 ,natterer produced a       
temperature of two hundred and twenty   
degrees below zero4' ,at this           

temperature some of the so-called       
permanent gases--as carbonic acid1      
chlorine1 and ammonia--can be compressed
 into liquids1 and it is believed that  
in the complete absence of all heat all 
the gases would become solids4 ,but by  
the agency of heat the world teems with 
active life4 ,vegetation clothes the    
earth with a garment of beauty2 and     
earth1 air1 and sea swarm with living   
creatures full of enjoyment4 ,this great
 need of the world is bountifully       
supplied4 ,the power and wisdom of ,god 
are employed in producing happiness4    
,this1 however1 is but a part of the    
benefit which heat confers upon the     
world4 ,the chief inhabitant of the     
earth is man1 and man was created for   
something higher than bare existence4   
,he was created for civilization and    
culture4 ,the savage state is not1 as   
some self-styled philosophers dream1 the
 natural state of man4 ,nothing is so   
much against ,nature4 ,the natural state
 is that condition in which he attains  

the fullest development4 ,let a brute be
 placed in so unfavorable conditions    
that his growth is dwarfed and his      
natural instincts are not called into   
exercise1 and no one would look upon    
that as a natural state4 ,but man1 wild1
 uncultured1 undeveloped1 is spoken of  
as being in his natural state4 ,there   
could be no greater mistake4 ,culture   
and civilization are according to       
,nature1 but culture and civilization   
require that man should get the mastery 
of ,nature and subdue her forces4 ,till 
man gets the victory over the forces of 
this rough world1 he spends a precarious
 existence in a hard struggle to gain a 
meagre support for his animal life4 ,but
 when once science brings art1 and the  
mastery of ,nature is gained1 man can   
rise into culture and beauty4           
,opportunity is given for development4  
,he blossoms into greatness and         
strength4 ,ideal and spiritual ends take
 the place of mere subsistence4  ,but by
 what agency does man achieve the       

mastery of ,nature8 ,by the agency of   
heat4 ,by the aid of heat man subdues   
the world4 ,heat brings the lustrous    
metal from its native ore2 heat fashions
 the metal into a thousand shapes for   
the use of men2 heat reigns as king in  
the curious processes of the chemist's  
laboratory1 and the laboratory is the   
mother of all those modern arts which   
bless and beautify human life4 ,by heat 
man prepares his food2 by heat he drives
 his machinery2 by heat he outstrips the
 flight of the winds2 by heat he turns  
winter into summer and in his own       
dwelling makes for himself a perpetual  
springtime4 ,for these purposes of human
 comfort and culture1 ,god has provided 
generous stores of heat and placed them 
under man's control4 ,he has placed in  
man's hands the means by which he can   
generate a heat which devours the       
hardest metals like stubble and a cold  
greater by far than ,nature ever        
produces4 ,we see that the ,creator has 
provided for man as a being susceptible 

of culture and development1 as a being  
of soul and sentiment1 of spirit and    
aspiration4 ,god has fitted the world to
 be the dwelling-place of spiritual     
beings like man4  ,i beg your pardon1   
said ,mr4 ,hume at this point1 that the 
first word ,i speak in your class should
 be a question which amounts to an      
objection4  ,i shall be glad1 said ,mr4 
,wilton1 to hear your question1 even    
though it be an objection4 ,i will also 
answer it if ,i can4  ,i wished to ask  
why it is1 if ,god designed to provide  
for man's wants1 that man can supply his
 wants1 especially his higher wants--the
 wants of his intellectual and spiritual
 nature--only with the greatest         
difficulty and toil8 ,the brutes supply 
their need with comparative ease1 but   
man with boundless thought and labor4   
,your question is an important one1 and 
deserves an answer4 ,for myself1 ,i look
 upon the fact to which you refer as one
 of the many points in which this world 
is adapted to human needs4 ,man is put  

in a condition which requires boundless 
thought and toil for the supply of his  
higher wants just because he possesses a
 nobler nature and such thought and     
exertion are needed for its development4
 ,which is the more desirable condition 
for a young man to be placed in--one in 
which his every wish is anticipated and 
his every aspiration is gratified       
without exertion on his own part1 or one
 in which opportunity and means are     
furnished for self-help1 one in which he
 can supply his wants and satisfy his   
aspirations only by the exercise of his 
best abilities8 ,which will encourage   
the larger manliness and nurture the    
higher culture and strength8 ,he who has
 no need for exertion rises at best only
 to a soft and feeble luxury1 without   
mental vigor or moral force4 ,what does 
man need besides scope and reward for   
exertion8 ,effort and struggle are      
necessities of our nature4 ,this is     
especially true of man's higher         
faculties4 ,human greatness and goodness

 are not created by a word3 they must be
 developed by exertion4 ,for this reason
 ,god has made exertion necessary1 and  
as much more necessary with man than    
with the brutes as his culture is more  
the result of voluntary1 intelligent    
exertion4 ,does this explanation seem to
 you satisfactory1 ,mr4 ,hume8  ,i have 
no fault to find with it2 ,i must think 
of it4  ,very well1 then2 if no other   
one has a question to ask1 we will look 
at another subject4 ,we will survey the 
storehouses of heat which ,god has      
prepared for warming the earth4 ,samuel1
 you may name the first great source of 
heat4  ,i think1 sir1 that the sun is   
the chief source of heat4  ,we certainly
 receive the larger part of our heat    
from the sun4 ,no one can doubt this4   
,so much of our heat comes from the sun 
that the temperature of the earth varies
 according to the sun's heat1 as if that
 were the only supply4 ,if but a fleecy 
cloud pass between the sun and the      
earth1 we feel a decided change of      

temperature4 ,a few hours less of       
sunshine each day1 and a few degrees    
more of inclination to the sun's rays1  
change summer to winter and make the    
difference between the torrid and the   
frigid zones4 ,withdraw the heat of the 
sun altogether1 and the whole world     
would become a desert of frozen death4  
,what is the cause of the sun's heat8   
asked ,peter4  ,you have asked a        
question which ,i cannot answer1 and    
which no man can answer4 ,the most      
careful and patient observations have   
been made to discover if possible the   
constitution of the sun2 learned and    
curious conjectures have been brought   
forward to explain the source of its    
heat2 but the positive results have not 
been very large4 ,it is certain that the
 sun is a globe revolving upon its axis 
in a period of twenty-five days1 nine   
hours1 and thirty-six minutes4 ,this is 
known by the motion of dark spots upon  
its surface4 ,the appearance of the sun 
as seen through a telescope is that of a

 globe of fire1 its surface often in a  
state of violent agitation and flecked  
here and there with dark1 irregular1    
changeable spots4 ,these spots are      
sometimes of enormous dimensions--thirty
 thousand or fifty thousand miles in    
diameter4 ,they present a dark centre   
with a narrow border or penumbra of     
lighter shade4 ,to account for these    
spots1 it has been conjectured that the 
body of the sun is dark1 but surrounded 
by a double envelope of clouds1 the     
outer layer of which is intensely       
luminous4 ,openings in such enveloping  
clouds would present an appearance like 
the spots upon the sun4 ,according to   
this supposition1 the heat and light of 
the sun proceed1 not from the body of   
the sun1 but from this luminous         
enveloping cloud4 ,but granting that    
this supposition is true1 it gives no   
explanation of the origin of the sun's  
heat4 ,laplace conjectured that the sun 
is a globe of fire in a state of        
violent1 explosive conflagration1 and   

that the spots are enormous crater-like 
caverns in its surface4 ,newton         
conjectured that comets falling into the
 sun and being consumed feed the solar  
fires and maintain its temperature4 ,the
 reception of the dynamic theory of heat
 has led to the revival1 in a modified  
form1 of this conjecture of ,newton4 ,it
 is suggested that meteors or meteoric  
matter falling into the sun generates   
its heat by the force of concussion4 ,to
 show that the intense heat of the sun  
might be thus generated1 elaborate      
calculations have been made4 ,it has    
been demonstrated that if the sun were a
 solid mass of anthracite coal1 its     
combustion would maintain its heat at   
its present rate of emission only five  
thousand years1 while the falling of the
 planet ,jupiter into the sun would     
generate an equal amount of heat for    
thirty-five thousand years4 ,a lump of  
coal falling from the earth to the sun  
would produce three thousand times more 
heat by the concussion than by its      

combustion4  ,the nearest approach that 
has been made1 of an exact and          
scientific kind1 toward determining the 
constitution of the sun's surface has   
resulted from an examination of the     
solar spectrum4 ,a ray of light1 by     
passing through a triangular prism of   
glass1 is1 as you know1 divided into its
 elements1 or constituent colors4 ,the  
ray of light is spread out like a       
half-open fan4 ,this divided and        
expanded ray1 thrown upon a screen1 is  
called the spectrum4 ,an examination of 
the solar spectrum by a microscope shows
 certain fine dark lines across it4 ,the
 lines are invariably the same in their 
position and grouping4 ,the spectrum of 
the stellar light is found to differ    
from that of the solar light1 and the   
light of one star differs from that of  
another star4 ,light from incandescent  
metallic vapors gives bright lines      
across the spectrum4 ,each metal has its
 own number1 position1 grouping1 and    
color of these spectral lines4 ,by      

comparing the solar spectrum with the   
spectra of the various metals--the      
processes are curious and the           
explanation difficult to be             
understood--corresponding lines are     
discovered1 and the conclusion is       
reached that the sun's atmosphere       
contains the vapors of several of our   
well-known metals1 as iron1 nickel1     
sodium1 potassium1 and others4 ,this is 
a most curious and marvelous scientific 
feat1 to make an approximate chemical   
analysis of the sun and stars by means  
of their light4 ,the conclusions1       
however1 seem trustworthy4  ,can you    
tell us1 ,ansel1 whether the earth      
receives heat from the moon and stars8  
,i cannot1 sir4  ,i should be glad1 ,mr4
 ,hume1 to have you instruct us upon    
this point4  ,in regard to the fixed    
stars1 answered ,mr4 ,hume1 counting    
them as the remote suns of other        
planetary systems1 we must believe that 
they radiate more or less heat upon the 
earth2 some indeed have extravagantly   

maintained that we receive from them    
nearly as much heat as from the sun4    
,the heat received from them is so small
 that we perceive no difference whether 
they be hidden1 or shine with their     
utmost brilliancy4 ,i do not know that  
investigations have been made to        
determine scientifically their exact    
thermal influence upon the earth4 ,but  
little more can be said about the heat  
of the moon4 ,the light of the full     
moon1 concentrated by a two-foot        
burning-glass and thrown upon the bulb  
of the most delicate thermometer1       
produces no perceptible effect4 ,by     
means of the electroscope or            
galvanometer1 it is said1 however1 that 
the moon's heat has been detected4 ,at a
 late scientific convention held in     
,chicago1 ,prof4 ,elias ,loomis read a  
paper1 in which he stated that ,mr4     
,harrison of ,england1 by a comparison  
of observations made for sixteen years  
at ,greenwich1 nine years at ,oxford1   
and sixteen years at ,berlin1 has       

discovered that the moon exerts a       
sensible influence upon the temperature 
of the earth1 the highest temperature   
occurring from six to nine days after   
the new moon and the lowest about four  
days after the full moon4 ,the          
conclusion1 the opposite of what we     
should naturally expect--the higher     
temperature occurring when the          
enlightened face of the moon is turned  
from the earth--was explained by        
supposing the moon's heat to be dark    
heat which would be absorbed by the     
vapors and the clouds1 and thus tend to 
warm and dissipate them4 ,by the        
dispersion of the clouds1 the radiation 
of heat from the earth's surface would  
go on more rapidly and the temperature  
would fall4 ,according to this          
explanation1 the lunar heat reduces     
instead of raising the temperature of   
the earth4 ,the difference of           
temperature due to the moon's influence 
,mr4 ,harrison believed to be two and a 
half degrees4 ,upon extending his       

calculations through forty-three years  
of observations made at ,greenwich1 he  
found the difference reduced to about   
one degree4 ,as for myself1 ,i confess  
myself still a skeptic touching the     
supposed influence of the moon upon     
temperature4  ,upon that subject1 ,i    
think1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 that we must  
wait patiently for more light4 ,the     
popular superstitions which refer       
sickness and health1 and every kind of  
good or evil fortune1 to the benign or  
malignant influence of the moon1 we1 of 
course1 must reject4 ,samuel1 will you  
name the second chief source of heat8   
,i am obliged to answer as ,ansel       
answered just now--,i cannot tell4 ,the 
enormous amount of wood and coal burned 
amounts to something1 but this can have 
very little effect upon the temperature 
of the earth4  ,the second great store  
of heat is the internal heat of the     
earth1 said ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,the          
importance of this store of heat we can 
easily understand by considering that   

the earth is a mass of molten mineral   
matter cooled and hardened upon the     
surface4 ,the crust upon which we live  
is warmed from beneath by an ocean1 or  
rather a globe1 a world1 of glowing     
molten rock4 ,deep excavations have been
 made in mining operations1 and artesian
 wells have been bored to still greater 
depths--as deep as two thousand1 three  
thousand1 or thirty-five hundred feet4  
,the heat of the sun penetrates not more
 than seventy-five or a hundred feet2   
below that depth the temperature of the 
earth remains the same throughout the   
year4 ,below the point of constant      
temperature the heat of the earth is    
found to increase regularly and         
constantly4 ,the rate of increase varies
 in different regions1 but the average  
rate is about one degree of temperature 
for each fifty or sixty feet of descent4
 ,from this rate of increase it is easy 
to calculate the temperature at any     
given depth4 ,at a depth of less than   
two miles water would boil4 ,at twelve  

miles in depth the rock becomes         
incandescent4 ,at twenty-two miles      
silver melts1 at twenty-four miles gold 
melts1 and at thirty-five miles cast    
iron becomes liquid4 ,volcanic eruptions
 also demonstrate the existence of      
immense masses of molten rock in the    
interior of the earth2 and we can       
account for the existence of volcanoes  
only by supposing that they now         
communicate or once communicated with   
the deep interior heat of the earth4    
,the thickness of the earth's crust is1 
however1 a matter of conjecture4 ,the   
melting point of different substances   
rises as the pressure upon them         
increases1 and as the density of the    
rock increases its conducting power     
becomes greater4 ,the crust of the      
earth1 therefore1 may be fifty miles in 
thickness1 or it may be one hundred     
miles or two hundred or three hundred   
miles4 ,the effect of this internal heat
 in maintaining the temperature of the  
earth must be very great4  ,i want to   

ask1 said ,peter1 how this internal heat
 came to exist1 and how it is           
maintained8  ,this1 like your former    
question1 is altogether beyond our      
knowledge4 ,all that we certainly know  
is that ,god made it thus4 ,the process 
of creation1 if indeed ,god did not     
create the earth by a word1 without a   
process1 is a matter of sublimest and   
most venturesome conjecture4 ,according 
to the opinion of some1 the elements of 
which the earth is composed were created
 separate and uncombined1 and were      
suffered afterward to unite by their    
chemical affinities4 ,this chemical     
combination would be nothing else than a
 tremendous conflagration1 and the      
result would be the most intense heat of
 which we can form a conception4 ,others
 have dreamed of a 'fire-mist' created  
of ,god and by some means condensed into
 worlds4 ,the temperature of the earth  
is maintained1 so far as we know1 only  
by the poor conducting quality of the   
enveloping crust preventing its cooling4

 ,at the present rate of radiation1     
millions of years would be required to  
render the change of temperature        
perceptible4  ,what is the third great  
natural source of heat8 ,i will ask ,mr4
 ,hume4  ,mechanical action1 or force   
transmuted to heat4  ,will you please   
explain this8  ,strictly speaking1 said 
,mr4 ,hume1 this is not to be counted an
 original source of heat4 ,but heat is  
used in the production of winds and     
waves1 the flow of rivers1 and all the  
ceaseless activities of the world1 and  
this force reappears from time to time  
transmuted again to heat4 ,whenever in  
the friction of air and of water1 in the
 dashing of matter against matter and   
force against force1 motion and force   
seem to be lost1 heat is produced4 ,the 
water of the sea after long storms is   
said to be sensibly warmed4 ,we can     
appreciate the amount of heat generated 
in this manner only by considering in   
how many thousand ways force is meeting 
force and motion is destroyed4 ,all this

 lost motion--lost as sensible          
motion--reappears as atomic motion1 that
 is1 as heat4 ,such heat has been       
applied to artificial uses4 ,heat       
generated by the friction of iron plates
 ground together has been used for      
heating buildings4  ,and this           
transmutation of living force and heat1 
added ,mr4 ,wilton1 is but one of many  
illustrations of ,god's economy in the  
management of heat4 ,nothing is wasted4 
,the voices of ,nature all echo the     
words of ,jesus3 ',gather up the        
fragments1 that nothing be lost4'  ,the 
fourth source of heat is chemical       
action4 ,what is the chief form of this 
which is used for the production of     
heat8 ,samuel may tell us4  ,combustion1
 ,i think1 sir4  ,that is right2 and the
 most common form of combustion is the  
combination of carbon with oxygen4 ,this
 is commonly employed1 not because it   
generates the most intense heat1 but    
because carbon exists so abundantly1 and
 is the most available and the cheapest4

 ,the most common form of carbon is wood
 and coal4 ,this is that storehouse of  
heat which ,god has placed in man's     
keeping4 ,without this the larger part  
of the earth's surface would be         
uninhabitable4 ,this renders culture and
 civilization possible4 ,without it the 
arts could have no existence4 ,the key  
of this storehouse of heat ,god has     
given to man1 so that he may enter in   
and use its treasures at his pleasure4  
,in the finer arts where very great heat
 is required1 hydrogen is used in place 
of carbon4 ,jets of oxygen and hydrogen 
gas thrown together constitute what is  
called the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe1 and   
generate the intensest heat which can be
 produced by man4  ,another source of   
heat not often mentioned is electrical  
force4 ,this1 like mechanical force1 may
 be transmuted into heat4 ,an electric  
current sent through an insufficient or 
poor conductor heats it1 and1 if the    
current be sufficiently strong1 consumes
 it4 ,thus lightning-rods are sometimes 

melted and buildings set on fire4       
,these1 then1 are the natural reservoirs
 of heat3 #a1 the sun and other heavenly
 bodies2 #b1 the internal heat of the   
earth2 #c1 living force1 or motion2 #d1 
chemical action2 #e1 electric force4    
,we can hardly over-estimate the        
abundance of these natural supplies of  
heat4 ,the world is warmed on the most  
munificent scale4 ,the earth receives   
from the sun heat sufficient to boil    
three hundred cubic miles of ice water  
per hour1 and the whole sum of the sun's
 heat would boil #gjj1jjj1jjj1jjj cubic 
miles of ice water in the same time1    
that is1 the heat radiated by the sun   
would boil a mass of ice water of the   
size of our globe in twenty-five        
minutes4  ,the amount of carbon provided
 by the ,creator is enormous beyond     
conception4 ,vast regions of country are
 covered with dense forests1 but the    
fuel from the forests is but a handful  
in comparison with the fuel stored up in
 coal-beds below the surface of the     

earth4 ,mr4 ,mitchel estimated the      
extent of the coal-beds of a portion of 
,europe as follows3 ,great ,britain1    
#ab1jjj square miles2 ,spain1 #cejj2    
,france1 #agjj2 ,belgium1 #eahj4 ,mr4   
,r4 ,c4 ,taylor has made a like estimate
 for ,north ,america1 giving to ,british
 ,america #ah1jjj and to the ,united    
,states #acd1jjj square miles4  ,these  
estimates1 you will notice1 say nothing 
of ,asia1 ,africa1 ,south ,america1 or  
the islands of the sea1 and include only
 the smaller part of ,europe4 ,in the   
,united ,states1 also1 new coal-fields  
are constantly discovered4 ,the supply  
of carbon for fuel seems exhaustless4   
,in the ,british islands about          
#ajj1jjj1jjj tons of coal are mined     
annually4 ,at this rate the known supply
 would last for a thousand years4 ,in   
the ,united ,states the supply has no   
known limit4  ,you will keep in mind    
that this supply of heat is also a      
supply of mechanical force4 ,the        
coal-fields are an exhaustless          

storehouse of heat and power4 ,they warm
 the dwellings of man and drive millions
 of engines working with the strength of
 ,titans for human welfare4  ,in this   
bountiful supply of heat to warm the    
earth and serve human needs must we not 
see a kind design on the part of the    
,creator8 ,god has provided that which  
the world needs4 ,he has provided       
without stint or limit4 ,the general    
heating of the globe he accomplishes by 
his own power4 ,he has provided for     
human culture1 development1 and         
happiness by placing stores of heat     
under man's control4 ,he has furnished  
scope and means and encouragement for   
achieving greatness and goodness4 ,he   
has put man in the condition which a    
wise father would desire for his son4   
,in our next lesson we will look at the 
preservation and distribution of heat1  
some of the primary elements and        
arrangements upon which the temperature 
of the earth depends4     ,,chapter     
,,vii4  ,,preservation ,,and            

,,distribution ,,of ,,heat4   ,another  
,lord's ,day comes1 and the members of  
the class are1 as usual1 all in their   
places4 ,they find the subject          
increasing in interest after leaving the
 review of the laws and principles of   
heat4  ,a week ago1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1  
we looked at the chief sources of heat4 
,these are the sun1 the internal heat of
 the earth1 chemical action1 in which   
combustion is most important1 electrical
 action1 and mechanical action1 or      
'living force4' ,the amount of heat     
furnished from these sources is above   
all comprehension4 ,the ,creator seems  
bountiful even to prodigality in        
supplying heat for the needs of the     
world and the uses of man4 ,but with all
 this largeness of supply the provision 
would prove wholly inadequate if it were
 not prudently husbanded and all the    
avenues of waste carefully closed4 ,men 
of ample incomes sometimes come to want 
from too free expenditure4 ,their       
incomes are large1 but their expenses   

are larger4 ,so it would prove in       
respect to heat if ,nature were not as  
prudent in saving as she is bountiful in
 providing4 ,will some one mention some 
of the general methods by which the     
waste of heat is prevented8  ,no one    
answered4 ,mr4 ,hume did not think it   
best to put himself forward in answering
 questions1 and therefore answered only 
when personally addressed4 ,the others  
were silent because they had nothing to 
say4  ,i see that ,i shall have to      
suggest the answer4 ,ansel1 what part of
 the atmosphere is warmest8  ,the       
bottom1 ,i suppose1 for the higher a man
 goes up upon the lofty mountains or in 
a balloon1 the colder he finds the air4 
,that is right2 and we need to ascend   
only about three miles1 even in the     
tropics1 to reach the region of         
perpetual snow1 while in the polar      
regions the line of perpetual freezing  
comes down to the sea level4 ,what would
 be the effect1 ,ansel1 if the          
atmosphere were as warm1 or warmer1 at  

the top than at the surface of the      
earth8 ,how would that affect the rate  
of radiation from the earth8  ,it must1 
of course1 increase the radiation very  
much4 ,with the temperature twenty or   
fifty or seventy degrees below zero1 the
 radiation must be very little4  ,by    
some means1 then1 the atmosphere is kept
 warm at the surface of the earth and   
cold in the higher regions1 and in this 
manner the radiation of heat into open  
space is prevented4 ,this is            
accomplished notwithstanding that the   
top of the atmosphere is nearer the     
chief source of heat1 the sun4 ,this    
would be no very easy problem if its    
solution were left to human ingenuity4  
,the explanation is very simple1        
however1 when once suggested4 ,the      
atmosphere is diathermic1 that is1 it   
permits the luminous heat from the sun  
to pass directly through it without     
heating the air1 but the solid earth    
stops the heat by absorption1 and is    
warmed by it4 ,the warm surface of the  

earth imparts1 in turn1 its heat to the 
atmosphere resting upon it4 ,this warm  
air1 being expanded by the heat         
received1 becomes lighter than the cold 
air around1 and rises1 or rather is     
forced1 upward by the greater weight of 
the colder air4 ,but as it rises and the
 pressure of the air is diminished it   
expands still further4 ,by this         
expansion its sensible heat becomes     
latent1 that is1 the heat is transmuted 
into force1 and1 as force1 is incapable 
of being radiated4 ,in this manner      
radiation from the upper surface of the 
atmosphere is greatly hindered and waste
 of heat is in a good degree prevented4 
,in respect to this heating of the      
atmosphere from the surface of the      
earth1 a layer of clouds sometimes forms
 a kind of second surface which receives
 the sun's rays and warms the air above4
 ,a few years ago ,i saw a balloon      
ascension in ,providence1 ,r4 ,i4 ,the  
day was bleak and chilly1 and the sky   
entirely covered with clouds4 ,the      

aeronauts were expecting a chilly       
voyage4 ,the balloon shot like an arrow 
toward the zenith1 and in five minutes  
was completely hidden by the clouds4    
,but to the surprise of the voyagers of 
the sky1 on passing through the clouds  
their thermometer rose ten degrees4     
,this1 doubtless1 must very often be the
 case4 ,the air above the clouds must   
often be warmer than that below4  ,i    
think you all must have noticed         
illustrations of this principle on a    
small scale4 ,have you not seen that    
snow and ice often melt around straws   
and sticks1 the snow or ice remaining   
still frozen at a little distance1 as if
 the sticks and straws were warm and had
 melted them8 ,have you not seen a      
dark-colored board covered with ice1 and
 the ice remain firm till the sun shone 
upon it1 and then the ice melt upon the 
under surface1 leaving the upper surface
 unaffected8  ,i have seen such things a
 great many times1 said ,peter1 and     
wondered what the reason was4  ,the     

reason is that ice is diathermic4 ,heat 
passes through the ice without warming2 
but when the rays of heat fall upon the 
stick or stone or board1 the heat is    
absorbed1 the dark body is heated and in
 turn warms and melts the ice4 ,in the  
same manner the atmosphere is warmed4   
,the heat-rays of the sun pass through  
the atmosphere and fall upon the surface
 of the earth2 the earth is warmed1 and 
in turn warms the air resting upon it4  
,the gases and watery vapor contained in
 the air also hinder the radiation of   
heat from the earth4 ,pure atmospheric  
air is perfectly diathermic to both     
luminous and dark heat1 and vapors and  
gases are also diathermic to luminous   
heat4 ,but to dark heat some of the     
gases are almost impenetrable4 ,ammonia 
stops dark heat almost completely4 ,in a
 smaller degree watery vapor does the   
same4 ,gases and vapors thus serve as   
blankets to keep the earth warm4 ,the   
heat of the sun1 being luminous heat1   
penetrates the atmosphere with its      

vapors and foreign gases1 and falls upon
 the earth almost without loss1 but1    
being absorbed by the earth1 it becomes 
dark heat1 and cannot be radiated back  
through the same gases and vapors4      
,vapor serves thus as a valve3 it admits
 the heat of the sun to the surface of  
the earth1 but prevents its escape4     
,prof4 ,youmans calls watery vapor the  
barb of heat2 it catches the heat of the
 sun and holds it fast4  ,who can       
sufficiently admire the simplicity of   
these arrangements for preventing the   
radiation of heat into the stellar      
regions8--and their efficiency is no    
less admirable than their simplicity4   
,arrangements like these show that the  
,creator had a definite object in view1 
and that object is benevolent4 ,for the 
advantage and enjoyment of the          
inhabitants of this world these         
arrangements were made4  ,we ought at   
this point to look at those adjustments 
by which the earth receives just the    
amount of heat needed to maintain the   

requisite temperature4 ,the importance  
of maintaining some certain average     
temperature cannot be over-estimated4   
,every animal and plant has its own     
habitat--that is1 its natural           
dwelling-place or location--outside of  
which it perishes or maintains a stunted
 and precarious life4 ,the habitat of   
animals and plants depends in a very    
great degree upon temperature4 ,what a  
panorama would be seen if we could fly  
like a bird from the equator to the     
poles1 and look down upon the           
ever-changing animal and vegetable life 
as we pass6 ,how the luxuriant          
vegetation and flaunting colors of the  
tropics would shade off into the        
scantier vegetable life and more sober  
hues of the temperate zones1 and these  
in turn die out and disappear in polar  
barrenness6 ,we should see the lion and 
tiger give place to the bear and the    
wolf1 the elephant and camel to the ox  
and horse1 and these to the white bear  
and reindeer4 ,this sublime panorama we 

see1 in miniature1 in ascending lofty   
mountains in the tropics4 ,around the   
base of the mountain flourish the rich  
and various productions of the torrid   
zone2 a few thousand feet of elevation  
bring us among the productions of the   
temperate zones4 ,the most valuable     
fruits and grains thrive4 ,then         
vegetation becomes scanty and stunted1  
and at last disappears4 ,the top of ,mt4
 ,washington1 #fbcd feet high1 in       
latitude forty-four degrees1 is as bare 
of trees and plants and every form of   
vegetation as the north pole4  ,the     
fitting temperature is almost as        
necessary to the animal tribes as to    
vegetable life4 ,animals which are      
native to the tropics do not thrive in  
colder countries1 or if the difference  
of temperature be very great1 they      
perish4 ,a change from a cold to a warm 
region is equally disastrous4 ,man      
indeed transfers animals from their     
natural habitat by protecting them from 
the extremes of temperature1 but this   

is1 of course1 no exception to the      
general principle of which ,i am        
speaking4 ,a change of only a few       
degrees in the mean annual temperature  
would render this earth a hard place for
 even the human race to subsist4 ,but   
the temperature of the earth depends    
upon many a wise adjustment--how many1  
we cannot tell4 ,will you tell us1      
,samuel1 the first adjustment or        
arrangement upon which the temperature  
of the earth depends8  ,it must depend  
chiefly ,i think upon the intensity of  
the sun's heat4  ,whether or not that be
 the chief adjustment by which the right
 temperature is secured1 it is at least 
a very important item4 ,the intensity of
 the sun's heat must1 of course1 be     
considered in connection with its       
distance from the earth4 ,the distance  
of the sun is no less important than the
 power of his rays2 indeed1 in one      
sense1 it is more important1 for if the 
intensity of the sun's heat were        
doubled1 the temperature of the earth   

would be increased only twofold2        
whereas1 if the earth were brought to   
one-half its present distance from the  
sun1 the heat would be increased four   
times4 ,heat being one of the radiant   
forces1 its intensity diminishes in     
proportion to the square of the distance
 through which it acts4 ,if the earth   
were #aij1jjj1jjj of miles from the sun 
instead of #ie1jjj1jjj1 as it now is1   
the force of the sun's rays would be    
diminished fourfold4 ,the ,creator has  
so fixed the distance of the earth and  
sun1 and the power of the sun's heat1 as
 to give to this world a temperature    
suited to its various inhabitants4  ,the
 temperature of the earth has also some 
dependence upon our atmosphere4 ,can you
 tell us1 ,ansel1 how the temperature of
 the earth is affected by the           
atmosphere8  ,you have already told us  
that the atmosphere is diathermic1      
allowing the heat of the sun to fall    
upon the earth almost undiminished in   
force4 ,if the air were so constituted  

as to intercept the sun's rays1 it is   
plain that the earth would receive less 
heat4  ,this adaptation of our          
atmosphere to transmit the sun's rays1  
said ,mr4 ,wilton1 is more subtle than  
it appears at first sight4 ,it is not   
merely a matter of depth and density1   
though those are important              
considerations1 nor is it merely a      
question of the elements of which the   
atmosphere is composed4 ,simple gases   
are diathermic4 ,the atmosphere is      
therefore made up of two simple gases1  
oxygen and nitrogen1 not chemically     
combined1 but mixed together4 ,compound 
gases intercept the passage of heat4    
,ammonia1 composed of hydrogen and      
nitrogen chemically united1 almost      
wholly stops it4 ,even ozone1 which is  
nothing but oxygen in a changed or      
allotropic state1 is not diathermic4    
,the diathermic quality of the air      
depends1 then1 not only upon the fact   
that it is composed of simple elements  
mingled1 but not chemically joined1 but 

also upon the state1 or condition1 of   
those simple elements4  ,another point  
deserves attention4 ,oxygen is an       
element having a wide range of very     
strong and active affinities4 ,it is    
ready to unite with every known         
substance1 fluorine excepted4 ,what if  
some other equally active element were  
mingled with oxygen to form the         
atmosphere8 ,what if1 in place of       
nitrogen1 vapor of sulphur were         
substituted8 ,what if hydrogen were put 
in the place of nitrogen8 ,the two      
elements would combine in sudden        
combustion or explosion1 and the        
atmosphere itself would perish4 ,but    
nitrogen is a substance so sluggish and 
inert that it can be brought into union 
with oxygen only by indirect processes4 
,because the air is composed of one so  
inert element as nitrogen1 the          
atmosphere is preserved1 and1 what is   
almost as important1 it is kept1 as it  
now is1 composed of simple elements1 and
 hence diathermic4 ,if our atmosphere   

were a compound gas1 the world would    
perish with cold4  ,the temperature of  
the earth depends also upon certain     
qualities of the earth's surface4 ,i    
should be glad to have ,mr4 ,hume       
explain this4  ,i suppose1 answered ,mr4
 ,hume1 that you refer to the qualities 
of the earth as an absorbent and        
conductor of heat4 ,the earth must needs
 have the capacity of receiving and     
retaining the heat which falls upon it  
from the sun4 ,if the earth's surface   
were polished and brilliant1 the heat of
 the sun would be reflected into space  
as from the surface of a mirror1 and    
very small advantage would the earth    
receive from the solar heat4 ,a dark    
soil absorbs heat more readily than a   
soil of lighter color1 and a wet soil1  
on account of the high specific heat of 
water1 requires more heat to raise its  
temperature than a dry soil4 ,the       
mineral elements of the soil and its    
compactness or porosity also help to    
make up its capacity for receiving and  

retaining heat4 ,the color and          
constitution of the soil sometimes go   
far toward making the climate of a      
region4 ,the conducting qualities of the
 earth's crust in its profoundest depths
 also must be taken into account4 ,if   
the crust of the earth were composed of 
silver1 or any other substance of like  
conducting quality1 and the interior of 
the earth were molten rock1 as it now   
is1 the interior heat would be so       
rapidly conducted to the surface that   
everything upon the earth would be      
consumed4  ,upon so many circumstances  
wisely adjusted and nicely blended1 said
 ,mr4 ,wilton1 does the temperature of  
the earth depend4 ,the intensity of the 
sun's heat1 the dimensions of the       
earth's orbit1 the constitution of our  
atmosphere in the subtlest qualities and
 relations of its elements1 and the     
material1 structure1 and color of the   
earth's crust1--on all these and many   
other things which ,i cannot stop to    
mention depends the temperature needful 

for the well-being of the inhabitants of
 this globe4 ,i beg your pardon1 ,mr4   
,hume1 but allow me to ask whether such 
a combination of agencies and           
conditions1 uniting to work out good for
 man1 does not seem to you quite        
superhuman and worthy of a wise and good
 ,creator8  ,i cannot deny it1 sir1 he  
replied2 ,i am not prepared to make any 
objections4 ,there are many things      
painful to man in the vicissitudes of   
heat and cold1 and if ,i were to make a 
world1 ,i suppose ,i should leave them  
out1 or perhaps make the world upon a   
very different plan4 ,but ,i am not     
prepared to affirm that any changes     
which ,i could make would be            
improvements1 though ,i have thought    
until recently that more of knowledge   
and power1 and perhaps more of chance1  
too1 than of wisdom and goodness1 were  
displayed in the works of ,nature4 ,but 
,i must confess my opinion has been much
 modified4  ,i think your change of mind
 is in the right direction1 and ,i am   

glad that it is so4 ,we learn the       
secrets of ,nature and appreciate her   
spirit much better when we come as      
reverent questioners than when we come  
with preconceived notions and a         
patronizing air4 ,i can well understand 
your feelings and state1 for ,i myself  
have traveled over the same ground4 ,my 
eyes were once dazzled with the glories 
of science2 ,i worshiped at the shrine  
of natural laws4 ,but ,i have learned   
that ,god is greater than ,nature1 the  
,creator is mightier than the creation4 
,nature has no mind or purpose apart    
from the plan and will of the supreme   
,architect and ,ruler1 and this inner   
plan and purpose of ,nature is seen only
 in the government and discipline of our
 sinful race4 ,i shall greatly rejoice  
for you and with you if you shall go on 
to the same end which ,i have reached4  
,i shall much rejoice if ,i reach some  
satisfactory and peaceful conclusion4   
,to understand the management of heat1  
said ,mr4 ,wilton1 we must take note of 

the differences and fluctuations of     
terrestrial temperature4 ,the sources of
 heat are constant4 ,the sun sends out  
its flood of heat uninterrupted and     
changeless for ever4 ,the internal fires
 of the earth give an even inward heat4 
,mechanical and chemical agencies are   
active everywhere4 ,these sources of    
heat do not fluctuate1 flaming up and   
dying away1 yet temperature is the most 
variable of all inconstant things4 ,in  
passing from equator to pole we go from 
torrid to frigid1 from everlasting      
summer to everlasting winter4 ,and not  
only this1 but in the same region the   
temperature never remains the same for  
even twenty-four hours4 ,the thermometer
 may pass from forty degrees above to   
thirty below zero in a very few hours4  
,we must first consider the agencies by 
which these inequalities are produced4  
,ansel may mention the first of these4  
,the shape of the earth1 said ,ansel4   
,how does the form of the earth operate 
to produce inequality of temperature8   

,the earth is a sphere1 and the rays of 
the sun fall upon it in nearly parallel 
lines4 ,upon the centre of the          
hemisphere which is turned toward the   
sun the rays fall perpendicularly1 the  
sun is directly over head1 while toward 
the edges of the hemisphere1 on account 
of the curvature of the earth's surface1
 the rays fall more and more slanting1  
as if the sun were sinking toward the   
horizon4  ,what is that inequality of   
temperature which is produced by the    
shape of the earth8  ,the five zones1   
answered ,peter4  ,this subject is so   
well understood1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 that
 ,i need not spend time in explaining   
it4 ,every boy knows the difference     
between setting his wet slate before the
 fire to dry so that the heat will fall 
squarely and perpendicularly upon it and
 placing it edgewise to the fire4 ,upon 
the torrid zone the sun shines          
perpendicularly1 upon the temperate     
zones obliquely1 and upon the frigid    
zones still more obliquely1 and during a

 part of the year the sun is entirely   
hidden4 ,in proportion as the rays of   
heat fall obliquely1 any given amount of
 heat is spread1 so to speak1 over a    
larger surface1 and the larger the space
 over which it is spread1 the feebler it
 becomes4 ,what is another cause of     
inequality of temperature8 ,no one      
answered4 ,samuel1 what is the cause of 
day and night8  ,the turning of the     
earth upon its axis4  ,and the rotation 
of the earth upon its axis1 continued   
,mr4 ,wilton1 brings not only an        
alternation of light and darkness1 but  
also of heat and cold4 ,the heat of the 
sun is withdrawn along with the light4  
,the heat of the sun is not withdrawn   
from the earth1 but one-half of the     
earth's surface is constantly turned    
away from its influence4 ,this must     
produce a daily change of temperature4  
,this diurnal fluctuation of temperature
 may be very small or it may amount to  
seventy or eighty degrees4 ,samuel1 what
 is a third cause of unequal            

temperature8  ,the inclined position of 
the earth's axis and the revolution of  
the earth around the sun cause the      
change of seasons4  ,if it were not for 
this1 the earth would still have her    
zones of seasons2 a part of the earth   
would have endless summer1 a part       
endless spring1 and the rest unbroken   
winter1 but the alternation of seasons  
at the same place would be unknown4 ,the
 axis of the earth is now inclined about
 twenty-three degrees1 twenty-seven     
minutes1 twenty-three seconds to the    
plane of the earth's orbit1 and as this 
axis maintains constantly the same      
position1 being parallel in one part of 
the earth's orbit to its position in any
 other part of its orbit1 during one    
part of the year the north pole is      
turned twenty-three and a half degrees  
toward the sun1 while in the opposite   
part of the year the south pole is in   
like manner brought into the light and  
heat4 ,this causes the sun to appear to 
move to and fro1 north and south1       

twenty-three degrees1 twenty-seven      
minutes1 and twenty-three seconds from  
the equator in either direction4 ,the   
tropics1 or turning-places1 mark the    
limits of the sun's northern and        
southern journey4 ,everywhere between   
the tropics the sun1 at some period of  
the year1 passes through the zenith1    
that is1 exactly overhead at noon4      
,north and south of the tropics the sun 
seems to rise higher in summer and to   
sink lower in winter4 ,in summer the sun
 at midday is about forty-seven degrees 
nearer the zenith than in winter4       
,within the polar circles1 which are the
 same distance from the poles as the    
tropics from the equator1 the heat of   
the sun is entirely withdrawn during a  
portion of the year1 and during another 
portion of about equal length the sun   
does not set4 ,the extremes of          
temperature1 caused by the inclination  
of the earth's axis and its revolution  
around the sun1 are very great4 ,in the 
northern part of ,minnesota1 the        

temperature rises in summer to one      
hundred degrees1 and in winter sinks to 
fifty degrees below zero1 giving thus an
 alternation of one hundred and fifty   
degrees4  ,in this connection you may   
also remember that the sun is nearer the
 earth in one part of its orbit than in 
another part4 ,this difference amounts  
to about #c1jjj1jjj miles4 ,the sun also
 remains eight days longer north of the 
equator than south of it4 ,our summer1  
therefore1 is eight days longer than the
 summer of the southern hemispheres1 and
 our winters are correspondingly        
shorter4 ,these differences tend1       
however1 to balance each other1 for     
while the southern summer is shorter1   
the sun at that time is nearer1 and     
while our summer is longer1 the sun is  
more distant4 ,peter1 you may explain to
 us the effect upon temperature caused  
by the division of the earth's surface  
into land and water4  ,i learned while  
studying physical geography that the    
temperature is more even upon the sea   

than upon the land4 ,but why1 ,i do not 
know4  ,the smooth surface of the sea   
reflects heat better than the rough     
land3 for this reason1 a larger         
proportion of the heat which falls upon 
the sea is not absorbed1 but reflected  
and lost1 so far as the temperature of  
this world is concerned4 ,water is also 
a very poor conductor of heat1 and has  
withal a very high specific heat4 ,for  
these reasons the sea receives and parts
 with heat more slowly than the land1   
and its absorption or radiation causes a
 smaller variation of temperature4 ,the 
result is1 therefore1 that the sea is   
cooler in summer and warmer in winter   
than the land1 and the average ocean    
temperature is lower than the mean      
continental temperature4 ,the land      
receives heat more readily and parts    
with it more rapidly2 the fluctuations  
of temperature must therefore be        
greater4 ,hence1 the interiors of the   
continents have much greater extremes of
 temperature than the sea-board4 ,but of

 the influence of water in equalizing   
temperature ,i shall have occasion to   
speak again more at length1 and will    
pass it by for the present4 ,what       
effect1 ,peter1 has the unevenness of   
the earth's surface upon temperature8   
,the higher we ascend upon mountains1   
the colder we find it4  ,that is1       
,peter1 the greater the elevation of any
 place or country above the sea level1  
the lower the temperature4 ,almost the  
whole surface of the earth is an        
alternation of mountain and hill1 valley
 and plain4 ,one continent has a very   
much greater mean elevation than        
another4 ,one region or tract of country
 lies sloping toward the sun1 another is
 inclined from it4 ,the effect in the   
one case is the same as if the sun were 
brought more nearly overhead2 in the    
other case1 the sun is depressed toward 
the horizon4 ,it is all the same as if  
the region of country were brought      
nearer the equator or removed farther   
from it4 ,the effects of the curvature  

of the earth are obviated or            
exaggerated4 ,do clouds tend to produce 
inequalities of temperature8  ,i think  
they must do this1 answered ,samuel4    
,clouds cover one portion of the earth's
 surface and shut out the heat of the   
sun1 while other portions are well      
exposed to the sun's rays4  ,that is    
right1 ,samuel4 ,does any one think of  
another cause of inequality of          
temperature8  ,there was a pause4 ,then 
,mr4 ,hume answered3 ,considering the   
unmeasured cycles of the past1 the      
gradual cooling of the earth has brought
 a great change of temperature4  ,and   
this change1 continued ,mr4 ,wilton1 has
 been very important for the welfare of 
the human race4 ,at the present         
temperature of the earth1 the coal-beds1
 so necessary for the culture and       
progress of the race1 could hardly have 
been formed1 and at the temperature of  
the carboniferous periods1 when the     
coal-beds were deposited1 the human race
 could with difficulty have survived4   

,the high temperature required to       
prepare the earth for man is now no     
longer needed1 but would prove          
destructive4 ,and this great change of  
temperature was doubtless caused by the 
cooling of the earth4  ,the result of   
all these agencies--the shape of the    
earth1 its daily and yearly motions1 the
 inclination of its axis1 the           
eccentricity of its orbit1 the division 
of its surface into land and water1 the 
varying elevation of its surface1 and   
the clouds and storms that hide the     
sun--is that we have great extremes and 
rapid transitions of heat and cold1 and 
every variety of climate4 ,these changes
 of temperature are often painful and1  
unless guarded against1 dangerous4 ,yet1
 taken as a whole1 can one doubt that   
variety of climate and change of        
temperature are of advantage to man8    
,what weariness and lassitude a         
changeless temperature would bring6 ,how
 the cooler air of the night comes as a 
tonic after the relaxation of the heated

 noonday6 ,who can estimate the value of
 our northern winters1 not alone in     
building up a vigorous and nervous      
physical frame1 but in helping the      
culture of men and nurturing the        
domestic virtues8 ,we might almost say  
that her winter evenings have been the  
making of ,new ,england4 ,but periods of
 heat are needed for bringing fruit and 
grain to ripeness4 ,what variety and    
richness of productions for the use of  
man the different zones furnish6 ,the   
supply of man's wants would be          
comparatively meagre if we had but one  
zone1 even though we had our choice of  
the zones4 ,but every zone is necessary 
for the perfection of the temperate     
zones4 ,that we may have the warmth of  
summer in the temperate zones we must   
have the torrid zone4 ,that we may have 
the tonic cold of the temperate zones we
 must needs have the severity of polar  
winters4 ,i do not mean that the        
,creator could not devise a world that  
should not have these painful extremes1 

yet enjoy the advantages of the         
temperate regions4 ,but that would      
plainly require a world constituted upon
 principles very unlike those which now 
prevail4 ,with ,god this is doubtless   
possible1 but the mode is to us         
inconceivable4 ,but we can easily see   
that by the present arrangement of      
things ,god has secured many great      
advantages for man--how many and how    
great1 we can hardly understand--and the
 apparent disadvantages we cannot       
positively affirm to be real evils4 ,we 
can safely declare that this world is   
well adapted to man's necessities4 ,but 
these inequalities of temperature are   
modified and softened by a most         
comprehensive and beneficent system of  
agencies by which the extremes are      
prevented from becoming destructive4 ,in
 this system of compensating agencies   
two great divine ideas are clearly      
developed1 economy in the expenditure of
 heat and benevolence toward man4 ,upon 
this subject we are now prepared to     

enter4     ,,chapter ,,viii4            
,,modification ,,of ,,temperature4      
,resuming the subject where it was left 
the previous ,lord's ,day1 ,mr4 ,wilton 
said3  ,we saw at our last session that 
the most prominent and permanent        
features of the earth tend to produce   
differences and great extremes of       
temperature4 ,these variations of       
temperature within due limits must be   
regarded as beneficial1 if not          
absolutely essential1 to the well-being 
of the human race4 ,the different zones 
give the world a richer and more varied 
supply of food1 and finer and more      
varied plants and animals4 ,the change  
of seasons gives variety in the         
experience of life2 the warmth of summer
 ripens the fruit and grain1 and the    
cold of winter tones up the physical    
strength2 nay1 the winter's frost is a  
natural subsoiler1 loosening up the hard
 earth and promoting vegetable growth4  
,as for man's higher interests1 no one  
can tell how much the world is indebted 

to winter evenings1 to a period of      
darkness longer than is needed for      
sleep1 and a period of cold during which
 the work of husbandry may largely      
cease4 ,learning1 the domestic virtues1 
and religion are greatly indebted to our
 winters4 ,but were these agencies which
 tend to produce inequality of          
temperature suffered to operate without 
counteracting influences1 the extremes  
of heat and cold would cease to be      
genial and healthful1 and become        
destructive4 ,we are now to begin the   
consideration of those counteracting    
agencies by which the extremes of       
temperature are moderated4  ,let us look
 first at the daily fluctuation of      
temperature caused by the revolution of 
the earth upon its axis4 ,the rotation  
of the earth brings every place by turns
 under the influence of the sun's rays1 
and in turn withdraws it from the heat  
of the sun1 thus producing a daily      
change of temperature4 ,how is this     
diurnal change of temperature           

alleviated8  ,this was addressed to all1
 but no one answered4 ,mr4 ,hume1 ,i    
should be glad to have you suggest the  
answer4  ,there are two chief agencies1 
,mr4 ,hume replied--first1 the          
absorption of heat during the day and   
the radiation of that heat during the   
night2 and1 secondly1 the formation of  
watery vapor during the day and the     
deposition of dew by night4  ,the first 
of these agencies1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 is
 so plain that very little explanation  
need be made4 ,during the day1 while the
 sun is shining and the temperature is  
rising1 the surface of the earth1 the   
rocks1 the trees1 and all things are    
absorbing heat4 ,this heat is1 so to    
speak1 laid up in store1 ready for use  
in time of need4 ,in due time the sun   
sinks low and sets behind the horizon2  
the supply of heat is cut off and the   
temperature begins to fall4 ,then all   
those objects which during the day were 
laying up heat in store begin to radiate
 heat into the air1 and by their contact

 with it keep up its warmth4 ,commonly1 
the temperature falls so low that bodies
 radiate more heat than they absorb     
before the setting of the sun4 ,in this 
process water plays a very conspicuous  
part4 ,you will call to mind what was   
said before about the large specific    
heat of water4 ,by means of this1 water 
is able to store up heat in large       
amounts--larger in proportion to its    
weight than any other substance except  
hydrogen gas4 ,the heat that is stored  
up during the day is given off by       
contact with the air and by radiation   
during the night4  ,but water plays a   
still more important part in moderating 
the daily fluctuations of temperature by
 the process of evaporation and the     
formation of dew4 ,call to mind what was
 said of the formation of vapor when we 
were speaking of latent heat4 ,heat     
water to two hundred and twelve         
degrees--the boiling point3 it must     
still be heated a long time before it   
evaporates4 ,boiling water must receive 

five and a half times more heat to give 
it the form of vapor than to raise it   
from the freezing to the boiling point2 
that is1 about one thousand degrees of  
heat are required to turn boiling hot   
water to vapor4 ,the same amount of heat
 is required for the formation of vapor 
whatever the temperature of the water   
from which the vapor rises4 ,there is   
only this difference--vapor from cold   
water is cold1 while vapor from hot     
water is hot4 ,evaporation goes on more 
rapidly in proportion as the temperature
 rises1 but vapor is formed at all      
temperatures4 ,evaporation goes on from 
ice4 ,the ,alpine glaciers1 or rivers of
 ice1 sink away several feet by         
evaporation from their surface during   
their slow course of many years down the
 mountain ravines4 ,this process of     
evaporation goes on1 ,i say1 during the 
day1 and in the formation of vapor an   
amount of heat which would raise an     
equal weight of water through one       
thousand degrees of temperature is used 

up4  ,this vapor which is formed is not 
supported by the air1 as men commonly   
suppose4 ,it is true that clouds are    
held up by the atmosphere1 but clouds   
are condensed vapor--minute globules of 
water floating in the air4 ,vapor is    
invisible4 ,you must have noticed that  
steam is invisible till it is condensed 
by contact with the colder air4 ,vapor  
rests upon the earth and supports itself
 by its own elastic force1 just as the  
atmosphere supports itself4 ,the        
presence of air makes no difference with
 the formation of vapor1 except that in 
a vacuum vapor forms very much more     
rapidly1 because no air stands in its   
way4 ,but at any given temperature1 in  
the air or in a vacuum1 the same amount 
of vapor rises in due time1 and the same
 amount can support itself4 ,vapor seems
 to circulate between the atoms of air1 
as sand fills the spaces between        
marbles4 ,at the temperature of four    
degrees below zero vapor equal to       
two-thirds of an inch of water can be   

formed and support itself by its        
elasticity2 that is1 the elastic force  
of vapor at four degrees below zero is  
equal to two-fifths of an ounce per     
square inch2 at thirty-six degrees vapor
 equal to two and two-thirds inches of  
water can support itself2 at eighty     
degrees vapor equal to thirteen inches  
of water can exist2 at one hundred and  
seventy-nine degrees1 seventeen feet2   
and at two hundred and twelve degrees   
nearly thirty-four feet2 that is1 vapor 
at two hundred and twelve degrees has an
 elastic force of fifteen pounds to the 
square inch4 ,let us suppose that at    
sunrise the air has a temperature of    
thirty-six degrees1 and that as much    
vapor is already formed as can sustain  
itself at that temperature4 ,as the sun 
sheds down his rays the temperature     
rises and more vapor is formed4 ,we will
 suppose that half an inch of water is  
evaporated4 ,some of this vapor will be 
carried by ascending currents of air    
into the higher regions and condensed   

into clouds1 some will be carried by    
winds into drier and warmer regions1 yet
 the amount of vapor will increase      
during the day4 ,we will suppose that   
during the night the temperature falls  
again to thirty-six degrees2 all the    
excess of vapor above two inches and    
two-thirds of water will be condensed   
and become dew or fog1 and in this      
condensation the thousand degrees of    
heat absorbed in the formation of the   
vapor will be given out again4 ,if vapor
 equal to one inch of water be          
condensed1 heat is set free sufficient  
to boil a sheet of ice water1 five and a
 half inches in thickness1 extending    
over the whole region2 that is1 it would
 be all the same as if a fire were      
kindled on every square rod of land hot 
enough to boil during the night more    
than twenty barrels of ice water4 ,in   
this illustration ,i have supposed a    
larger condensation than commonly takes 
place1 but very much less than is       
conceivable4 ,suppose that the          

temperature is eighty degrees1 and that1
 as is possible1 more than one foot of  
water exists in the state of vapor4 ,let
 the temperature fall to thirty-six     
degrees1 and full ten inches of water   
must be condensed1 setting free heat    
which would boil four and a half feet of
 ice water4 ,so large a condensation as 
this never takes place in twelve hours1 
partly because the full amount of vapor 
which might be formed is never actually 
produced1 and partly because the        
condensation of but a small part of this
 vapor would check the fall of          
temperature and prevent farther         
condensation4 ,the supposition that ,i  
have made shows the possibilities of    
this method of moderating extremes of   
heat and cold4 ,were it not for these   
processes1 our days would be much warmer
 and our nights much cooler than they   
now are4 ,by the formation of vapor the 
excess of heat during the day is stored 
up in a latent form2 that is1 it is     
used1 not as heat1 but as force1 and is 

employed in bringing the atoms of water 
into new relationship2 during the night 
the vapor returns to its former state as
 water1 and the heat-force again becomes
 sensible heat4 ,thus the day is cooled 
and the night made warmer4  ,ansel1 have
 you ever heard the 'dew point' spoken  
of8  ,yes1 sir1 ,i have4  ,do you know  
what is meant by it8  ,that point or    
degree of temperature at which dew      
begins to be formed4  ,upon what does   
the dew point depend8  ,upon the amount 
of vapor in the air4  ,that is right1   
,ansel4 ,if at any time the full        
possible amount of vapor should exist1  
any diminution of the temperature must1 
of course1 cause dew to be deposited4   
,do you know1 ,ansel1 how to ascertain  
the dew point at any time8  ,no1 sir1 ,i
 do not4  ,there is a beautiful         
instrument known as ,daniell's          
,hygrometer which shows the dew point as
 a thermometer shows the temperature4   
,but any one can easily determine the   
dew point without a special instrument  

for that purpose4 ,pour warm water into 
a glass pitcher or goblet whose outer   
surface has been wiped perfectly dry1   
and polished4 ,into this set a common   
thermometer4 ,cool down this warm water 
by dropping into it small pieces of ice1
 and notice carefully when the polished 
glass begins to be dimmed as if it had  
been breathed upon4 ,when that begins to
 take place the thermometer will show   
the dew point4 ,in this manner we can   
determine the amount of vapor in the    
air1 and by estimating the probable     
temperature of the night judge of the   
probability that dew will fall4  ,i have
 noticed some things1 said ,peter1 about
 the formation of dew which ,i do not   
understand1 and ,i wish very much to ask
 about them4  ,i should be glad to hear 
your questions1 and will answer them if 
,i can4  ,i have noticed that dew falls 
on clear nights1 but not very often on  
cloudy nights4 ,i don't see why that is 
so4  ,have you ever noticed whether     
cloudy nights or clear nights are the   

warmer8  ,cloudy nights are commonly    
warmer1 ,i think1 but ,i never could see
 the reason for that1 either4  ,can you 
tell why a newspaper spread over a      
tomato vine keeps the frost from the    
vine8  ,because the frost comes upon the
 paper instead of the vine1 of course4  
,but why do you say1 of course8 ,why    
does not the dew--for frost is nothing  
but dew frozen as it forms--come upon   
the under side of the paper8  ,how could
 the dew fall upon the under side8      
,that is just the point which we need   
first of all to understand4 ,men        
commonly speak of dew as if it fell4 ,i 
don't know but ,i have spoken of the    
falling of dew in this lesson4 ,but dew 
does not fall at all4 ,the vapor simply 
touches some cold object1 and is        
condensed upon it4 ,the vapor by its    
elasticity presses against the cold     
body1 and the process of condensation   
continues until either the body is      
warmed by the heat set free so that its 
temperature rises above the dew point1  

or till the vapor is so far exhausted   
that the dew point falls below the      
existing temperature4 ,dew is formed    
upon the upper surface and not upon the 
under1 because the upper surface is cool
 and the under surface is warmer4       
,beneath the paper spread over the      
tomato vine1 the earth is radiating heat
 and the paper is radiating it back     
again4 ,if the paper were not there1 the
 heat would be radiated into space and  
not returned again4 ,the vine would soon
 radiate away its little store of heat1 
its temperature would sink1 below the   
dew point1 and dew or frost would be    
deposited upon it4 ,the under surfaces  
of objects are kept warm by the         
radiation from the earth4 ,in the same  
manner clouds are wrapped around the    
earth and keep it warm by radiating back
 its radiant heat4 ,dew is not formed on
 cloudy nights1 because they are warmer3
 the clouds throw back the heat which   
otherwise would be lost in open space4  
,i never knew before1 said ,peter1 that 

clouds were of any great use except to  
send down rain4  ,we shall see in the   
course of our lessons that clouds are of
 very great use in warming the earth in 
other ways1 as well as by serving as    
blankets and radiating back the heat    
which otherwise would escape4  ,i wanted
 also to ask why dew falls--,i mean1 is 
formed--on grass and leaves of plants   
while stones are dry4  ,i will answer   
your question by asking another4 ,did   
you ever see barefoot boys running in   
the cold dew stop and stand upon a stone
 or rock to get their feet warm8  ,oh   
yes1 sir2 ,i have done it myself4  ,why 
did you stand upon a rock8  ,because ,i 
had learned that the rocks would be     
warm4  ,i think that answers your       
question4 ,the rocks and stones are     
warmer than the grass and the leaves4   
,the blades of grass and the leaves are 
thin and pointed and rough1 and have a  
very large radiating surface4 ,they have
 but little heat1 and that little they  
part with rapidly4 ,the rocks and       

stones1 on the other hand1 are bulky1   
and contain a much larger store of heat1
 their radiating surface is             
comparatively small2 only one side is   
exposed1 the other being covered by the 
warm earth1 from which they are drinking
 in heat almost as rapidly as they lose 
it4 ,they therefore do not lose heat    
enough to sink their temperature to the 
dew point4  ,so much1 then1 for the     
means employed to moderate the changes  
of temperature from day to night and    
from night to day4 ,but upon the        
sea-coast and upon certain islands of   
the sea another agency is employed4     
,will some one suggest what this agency 
is8  ,no one else answered1 and finally 
,mr4 ,hume said3 ,i suppose1 of course1 
that you refer to the land and sea      
breezes8  ,this is what ,i had in mind4 
,during the day the land is warmer than 
the sea1 and the breeze from the sea    
blowing upon the land cools the air4    
,during the night the land radiates its 
heat more rapidly than the water1 and   

soon the sea becomes the warmer4 ,then a
 breeze springs up in the opposite      
direction2 the cooler air of the land   
flows out upon the sea4 ,by this means  
the air upon the land and the air upon  
the sea are daily commingled1 thus      
securing a more even temperature upon   
the land4 ,this softens the extremes of 
daily temperature4 ,i make only this    
brief reference to the land and sea     
breezes1 because in another connection  
we shall examine the general subject of 
winds and their influence in the        
equalization of temperature4  ,the      
result of all these influences is that  
the changes of temperature from day to  
night and from night to day1 while not  
inconsiderable1 are by no means         
destructive1 and in many cases are no   
greater than is refreshing and          
agreeable4 ,these agencies remind us    
every day of the wise provision of the  
,creator for the well-being of his      
creatures4 ',day unto day uttereth      
speech and night unto night showeth     

knowledge4 ,there is no speech nor      
language where their voice is not       
heard4' ,this care for the earthly      
well-being of men is but a type of his  
care for their spiritual happiness4 ,the
 plan of salvation1 and the ways of     
divine providence working in accordance 
therewith1 are more wonderful both in   
their means and their end than the      
greatest of the works of ,nature4 ,if   
while we study the natural we forget the
 supernatural1 we commit the greatest   
mistake3 we pass by the greater to      
examine the less4 ,the natural is       
valuable only as it leads to the        
spiritual4     ,,chapter ,,ix4  ,,the   
,,ministry ,,of ,,suffering4   ,you must
 know1 ,mr4 ,wilton1 said ,mr4 ,hume1   
that my mind is full of objections1     
whether ,i speak them out or keep       
silence4 ,i have looked so long upon one
 side only that ,i find it hard to look 
upon other sides also2 and if there be a
 ,satan1 as the ,bible teaches1 ,i think
 he must be marshaling all his legions  

to overwhelm me by the force of his     
impetuous assaults4 ,i cannot disguise  
the fact--,i do not attempt to disguise 
it--that my mind is not at ease4 ,it    
used to be at rest1 at least            
comparatively so--not happy1 yet not    
agitated and distressed4 ,my heart was  
not satisfied1 but ,i believed that my  
position of unbelief was logically      
impregnable4 ,but ,i confess it1 my     
unbelief has of late been shaken4 ,i am 
no longer contented4 ,how ,i came into  
this state1 ,i do not know4 ,i am       
certain that my present unrest was not  
produced by the force of arguments which
 ,i had heard4 ,it seems to me as if it 
sprang up uncaused4 ,the old arguments  
which ,i have thought impregnable do not
 now satisfy me4 ,why1 ,i cannot tell4  
,i think this statement is due to you to
 explain my position in your ,bible     
class1 and also to prepare the way for a
 question which ,i wish very much to    
propose4 ,i have no objections to make  
to the marks of wisdom and benevolent   

design seen in the works of creation    
which ,i cannot myself answer and       
remove4 ,good-will and goodness to the  
inhabitants of the earth lie on the very
 surface of things2 or1 if ,i go beneath
 the surface1 ,i find them no less      
manifest in the profoundest and subtlest
 arrangements of the universe4 ,if ,i   
say1 ',this is all the work of chance1' 
my very language is self-contradictory  
and looks me out of countenance1 for the
 very idea of chance is the opposite of 
wise and orderly arrangement4 ,the      
difference between design and chance is 
that the one works by orderly           
arrangements adapted to the             
accomplishment of a foreseen end1 while 
the other shows itself in chaotic       
disorder1 with no adaptation to the     
accomplishment of a purpose4 ,to say    
that a universe like this1 filled in    
every part with order and beauty1 with  
subtle and unseen elements and agencies 
working out into the boldest relief in  
the accomplishment of beneficent ends1  

all minute elements blending in the     
sublime sweep of the universal plan1--to
 say that such a universe is the work of
 chance is to use language without      
meaning4  ,if ,i deny a providential    
plan in the creation and government of  
the world1 and attribute to brute matter
 a nature that1 by its own inherent     
force1 spontaneously develops into all  
these contrivances of use and beauty1 ,i
 see that the wisdom of the whole       
universe is concentrated in the nature  
of matter1 and1 if it be possible1      
infinite subtlety of design is doubly   
manifest4 ,to create a machine which1   
upon its elements being thrown into an  
indiscriminate pile1 shall arrange      
itself1 adapt part to part1 and set     
itself in motion2 which shall repair all
 its breaks1 produce other machines as  
curious as itself1 and thus reproduce   
itself and perpetuate its existence for 
ever--that would certainly be the acme  
of intelligent design4  ,or if ,i go    
farther and deny a ,creator1 ascribing  

to the universe an eternal1 uncreated   
existence1 ,i see that ,i only entangle 
myself in a complication of             
difficulties4 ,i find myself standing   
face to face with the best-established  
facts of geology4 ,if the fact that the 
animal tribes which inhabit the earth1  
and especially the human race1 had a    
beginning be not well established1 then 
no fact in geological science can be    
reckoned as fixed4 ,geology has         
overturned the idea of an infinite      
series of generations of animals and    
men4 ,nor do ,i see that ,i gain any    
advantage or give any explanation of the
 universe by attributing to matter      
everything which others refer to an     
intelligent and almighty ,creator4 ,the 
distinction between mind and matter is  
that mind is endowed with intelligence  
and will1 while matter has neither      
intelligence nor will1 but only blind   
forces1 blind attractions and           
repulsions4 ,if ,i attribute the order1 
beauty1 design1 and benevolence of the  

universe to mere matter1 ,i clothe      
matter with the attributes of spirit4   
,in fact1 ,i only set up another ,god   
and ascribe to the universe a true      
divinity4 ,i make myself a kind of      
pantheist1 investing all matter with the
 attributes of mind and spirit4 ,all    
this ,i have pondered over for many a   
day1 and ,i cannot deny that a belief in
 an intelligent ,creator of the universe
 is logically more satisfactory4 ,but   
there is one question which confronts me
 at every turn4 ,i suppose that ,i might
 at length work out an answer for myself
 and that ,i should now see the         
explanation if all my thinking for so   
many years had not been upon the other  
side4  ,i am afraid that ,i shall not be
 able to give you satisfaction1 replied 
,mr4 ,wilton1 but ,i shall be glad to   
hear your question4 ,i can at least     
appreciate your state1 and sympathize   
with you in your groping and struggling4
 ,i am glad that you are walking the    
road you have just described4 ,you say  

that you do not know what has brought   
you to your present state4 ,i can easily
 tell you3 your experience at this point
 is not singular2 ,i think the ,holy    
,spirit of ,god has been leading you and
 has brought you to your present        
position4 ,i trust in ,god that he will 
lead you still farther4 ,you have great 
cause for thankfulness and great cause  
for trembling4 ,let me caution you3 be  
careful how you treat the divine        
,spirit2 walk softly2 be honest1        
sincere1 and simple-hearted as a little 
child4 ',except a man become as a little
 child1 he cannot see the kingdom of    
,god4' ,above all things1 be sincere and
 straightforward4 ,deal truly and       
frankly with the ,spirit4 ,if you will  
only be honest and frank1--honest and   
frank to yourself1 honest and frank to  
all men1 honest and frank with          
,god1--,god will soon give you cause to 
praise him and love him for ever and    
ever4 ,but what is the question which   
you wished to propose8  ,my difficulty  

is this3 ,along with the many           
arrangements for conferring enjoyment   
and promoting the well-being of man are 
other arrangements for suffering4 ,man  
is made as capable of suffering as of   
enjoyment1 and there are appliances     
provided which are certain to inflict   
that pain of which man is capable4 ,how 
is this provision for suffering in man  
and in all sentient creatures consistent
 with the benevolence elsewhere shown8  
,how are we to combine these two sets of
 arrangements in our thinking8  ,a full 
unfolding of the ministry of pain in the
 good providence of ,god would lead us  
entirely aside from our course of study4
  ,but for me1 said ,mr4 ,hume1         
earnestly1 it would be not at all aside2
 for if ,i can once see that the        
provision for suffering made in the     
constitution of man and of ,nature is   
not repugnant to the idea of a wise and 
good ,creator and ,disposer of human    
affairs1 ,i will admit whatever you     
shall have to say afterward1 and ,i     

shall feel that the gospel of ,christ   
comes to man and comes to me with a     
moral force which ought not to be       
resisted4 ,i know that ,i have no right 
to come into your class and ask you to  
turn aside from your course of study1   
and the gospel certainly owes nothing to
 me1 yet ,i do hope you will give the   
opinions which you hold upon this       
subject1 if you have formed any positive
 opinions4  ,i am sure1 exclaimed       
,peter1 that we shall all be very glad  
to have you spend the time of this      
lesson in speaking of this subject4     
,but how would it please you if my talk 
upon the ministry of pain should prove  
to be very much like a sermon8  ,i think
 we like your sermons4 ,i know that we  
were never so much interested in them as
 now4  ,very well1 then2 ,i will give   
you1 as ,mr4 ,hume says1 some of my     
conclusions touching this matter of pain
 and suffering2 and if my opinions are  
not satisfactory or do not cover the    
facts in the case1 it will not be       

because ,i have given the subject little
 thought or have had little experience  
of suffering4 ,the ,lord has led me by a
 rugged road2 he has given me tears to  
drink and mingled my cup with weeping4  
,but for this ,i thank him1 and ,i      
expect1 when ,i shall look back from the
 life to come upon my earthly course1 to
 see my days of pain and grief shining  
more brightly than the hours of radiant 
sunshine4  ,first of all1 then1 ,i      
believe that with the clear exhibition  
of benevolent design which we see in    
this world we ought not to doubt the    
goodness of the ,creator1 even if we can
 give no rational explanation of the    
suffering which abounds4 ,we ought not  
to believe1 we cannot believe1 that the 
,creator's own attributes are           
self-contradictory and antagonistic1    
that the same infinite ,being is both   
good and evil1 partly benevolent and    
partly malignant4 ,if ,god is good at   
all1 he is wholly good4 ,nor can we     
believe that a good being and an evil   

being--,god and ,satan--hold joint sway 
over the universe and co-operated in the
 work of creation1 and that the good is 
to be ascribed to the one1 and the pain 
and suffering to the other4 ,whether we 
can explain it or not1 we must believe  
that there is a good reason for the     
existence of suffering2 unless1 indeed1 
we count the infliction of pain the     
chief end of the creation1 and refer the
 happiness which men enjoy to some      
incidental arrangements not contemplated
 as important in the work of creation4  
,but no sane man can think that this    
world is the work of a demon seeking to 
fill the earth with groans and          
wretchedness4 ,our consciences and our  
reason alike require us to believe in   
the supremacy of goodness4  ,in         
presenting my views1 ,i of course cannot
 attempt to prove everything from the   
beginning3 ,i must take some things for 
granted between us4 ,we must start with 
the admission that there is a ,god1 and 
that he is a righteous1 moral governor4 

,we must at least believe what ,paul    
declares to be needful3 ',he that cometh
 to ,god must believe that he is1 and   
that he is a rewarder of them that      
diligently seek him4' ,we must also     
believe our own consciences when they   
testify that men are responsible1 free  
moral actors1 and that sin and guilt are
 not false notions arising from diseased
 and morbid mental conditions1 but      
realities1 true ideas which arise in the
 mind when it works as ,god designed4   
,do you freely admit these points of    
belief1 ,mr4 ,hume8  ,yes1 sir2 ,i could
 not ask you to prove every point       
touched upon in the argument1 for that  
would require half a score of volumes1  
nor will ,i deny the testimony of my own
 conscience that there is a ,god1 and   
that men are rightly responsible to him4
  ,starting1 then1 with these           
fundamental principles1 we will look    
first at the provision made for physical
 pain4 ,men and1 ,i suppose1 all living 
creatures are created with the capacity 

of suffering4 ,the same nerves of       
sensation which if excited naturally    
give rise to pleasure may be excited    
unnaturally and inflict pain4 ,but why  
not endow living creatures with nerves  
of sensation which could experience     
pleasure1 but could not feel pain8 ,is  
this possible8 ,perhaps so1 but no man  
can affirm it with certainty4 ,i do not 
think that any man can clearly conceive 
such a thing4 ,to us the capacity of    
enjoying and that of suffering seem     
inseparable4 ,but there is no need of   
insisting upon this point1 for the      
capacity of feeling pain is a most      
benevolent provision of the ,creator for
 the benefit of living creatures4 ,it is
 designed to save life and limb4 ,pain  
is the sentinel set to guard the        
outposts of the citadel of life4 ,if    
there were no pain1 men would thrust    
their hands into flames without knowing 
it4 ,they would indulge in all manner of
 destructive excesses1 and no sufferings
 would warn them of danger4 ,they would 

drink poison1 and no pain would bid them
 make haste to take the antidote4 ,tear 
men limb from limb1 hew them in pieces  
with the sword1 and no painful          
sensations would rouse them to          
self-defence4 ,without this benevolent  
provision of pain the race of man could 
hardly be saved from extinction4 ,how   
much more would this be true of the     
animal tribes1 which are wholly         
dependent on instinct for guidance and  
impulse to action6 ,we accordingly find 
pain possible in those parts of the body
 where pain can subserve the purpose of 
protection2 elsewhere no provision is   
made for pain4 ,nerves of sensation     
abound in those parts which require     
especial care or are especially exposed4
 ,the skin is exposed1 therefore the    
skin is well supplied with nerves4 ,the 
parts beneath the skin are less exposed1
 and are injured only by first wounding 
the skin2 they are therefore less       
sensitive4 ,the heart1 though so very   
important1 is almost insensible to pain1

 because the capacity of suffering at   
that point would confer no protection4  
,the eye is delicate and requires the   
greatest care1 and to secure that needed
 care the ,creator has made it          
delicately susceptible of pain4 ,the    
sole of the foot1 as its work demanded1 
was made capable of bearing the roughest
 usage1 and hence the sole of the foot  
is but little supplied with nerves of   
sensation4 ,still farther1 when on      
account of injury any part of the body  
requires unwonted care1 provision is    
made that the injured part shall become 
especially sensitive4 ,a bone when well 
and sound may be cut or sawed almost    
without pain1 but when the bone is      
injured it becomes inflamed and feels   
pain most keenly4 ,when a limb for the  
sake of its own safety ought to be kept 
quiet1 ,nature makes it painful to move 
it4 ,for the benevolent object of       
preserving life and guarding the        
well-being of living creatures pain is  
given4 ,the provision for pain shows the

 presence of danger1 the liability of   
receiving injury1 and the kind design of
 putting men on their guard4 ,it is the 
automatic guardian of our happiness4    
,this is all that ,i have to say about  
bodily pain4  ,mental suffering and pain
 of conscience are designed1 first of   
all1 to subserve the same purpose4 ,the 
sense of guilt when a man commits a     
wicked act is designed1 first1 to lead  
him to repentance4 ,it is the divine    
alarum placed within the soul to remind 
men that they have done evil and        
received moral damage which must be     
repaired4 ,it is the moral goad which   
pricks men to warn them to turn from    
wickedness4 ,if evil-doing were as      
pleasant as well-doing1 men would see no
 difference between right and wrong2 all
 moral ideas would be subverted and the 
glory and beauty of man would be trailed
 in the dust4  ,but a guilty conscience 
continues to trouble wicked men after   
the day of repentance has passed2       
,remorse indeed seems to rise up with   

preternatural power when ,mercy has     
withdrawn for ever from the sight of    
,hope4 ,what is the meaning of this8 ,it
 means that which we admitted in the    
beginning1 that sinners are guilty in   
,god's sight1 that guilt is a real thing
 and deserves punishment1 and that ,god1
 the holy and righteous ,king of men1   
does actually punish the guilty4 ,god is
 holy and abhors sin4 ,remorse of       
conscience is the shadow of the         
,creator's frown1 the voice of his      
eternal indignation echoing and         
re-echoing in the soul of man4 ,it is   
the divine wrath penetrating the human  
spirit and making itself felt4 ,as the  
holy ,god abhors sin for ever1 the      
wicked must expect to feel that         
abhorrence for ever4 ,he who puts       
himself into a rebellious position      
toward his ,creator must stand in that  
unnatural attitude guilty and suffering4
 ,we can conceive that this should be   
otherwise only by subverting the        
foundations of the moral world4 ,beings 

created in the image of ,god1 created   
with a conscience and moral affections1 
created with moral freedom1 can attain  
blessedness only by aspiring to heavenly
 things and becoming ,god-like4 ,if they
 break away from the divine will and    
order1 they must suffer the divine      
frown1 they must feel that frown4 ,how  
can ,god make his frown felt except by  
looking pain1 so to speak1 into the     
sinner's conscience8  ,but this whole   
subject of pain and suffering derives a 
double significance from the fact that  
the human race is a fallen race1        
alienated from ,god by wicked works1 yet
 under a merciful dispensation in which 
they are called to return to obedience4 
,there is no moral quality good and     
beautiful to our eyes or pleasing to    
,god in which men are not altogether    
lacking1 and what is still worse1 men   
grow in evil2 their last state is worse 
than the first4 ,there is no healing    
power in the man which can renovate his 
heart and bring him back to holiness4   

,it would seem as if some satanic power 
were hurrying the human race along the  
road to ruin4 ,if men are to be saved1  
it must be by a force of renovation     
outside of themselves1 which shall      
reverse the evil bias of their nature4  
,you say that the world seems fitted to 
develop man's capacity for suffering1   
and that this appears to be as much a   
part of the divine plan as the          
impartation of happiness4 ,what1 think  
you1 would be the result if the human   
race were planted in a world where      
nothing could give pain1 where          
everything would afford gratification8  
,what1 ,mr4 ,hume1 do you think the     
effect would be upon creatures such as  
we all know men to be8  ,i hardly dare  
answer with the little thought ,i have  
given to the subject4 ,i would rather   
listen than speak4  ,i have noticed1    
exclaimed ,ansel1 that those boys who   
have everything done to suit them at    
home are the most unmanageable in school
 and the most disagreeable to play with4

  ,picture to yourselves1 continued ,mr4
 ,wilton1 a man who from childhood      
should have nothing to suffer1 no pain  
or weariness or hardness to bear4 ,from 
childhood he has no bodily pain1 and the
 comforts of life are so carefully and  
bountifully provided that he receives no
 unpleasant sensation4 ,winter never    
chills him1 summer never heats him4 ,his
 slightest wants are all anticipated4   
,all his sensations are pleasure4 ,let  
the same be true of his mind4 ,his will 
is never crossed2 whatever he wishes is 
given him2 there is no call for         
self-denial or self-control or          
abstinence or patience4 ,he feels no    
pressure of need spurring him to        
exertion4 ,his whole life is enjoyment4 
,his very body would grow up1 not       
strengthened and compacted for exertion1
 but fitted only for the softness of    
indolence and ease4 ,his will would be  
the selfishness of self-will rather than
 an intelligent1 reasonable             
self-control4 ,there would be no        

tenderness and power of love1 no        
endurance and patience in labor1 no     
strength of moral purpose under         
temptation1 no self-denial and          
self-sacrifice of love for the good of  
others or for the attainment of a higher
 blessedness1 no faith in ,god nurtured 
in darkness and trial4 ,we should have a
 mushroom growth of luxurious tastes and
 indolent ease1 impulsiveness and       
impatience1 strength only in selfish1   
passionate self-will and rampant1       
luxuriant vices4 ,no other result would 
be possible with creatures like us4     
,strength is developed only under       
circumstances which call for the        
exercise of strength4 ,a certain        
hardness and hardihood of living is     
needed to develop a manly body4         
,resolute intellectual exertion in the  
face of difficulties is demanded to     
educate the mental faculties4 ,an       
earthly life not wholly satisfactory is 
needed to awaken in faithless men a     
longing for a better land4 ,we may look 

upon the sufferings of this world1 taken
 as a whole1 as an expression of ,god's 
displeasure at sin4 ,how very much is   
such an expression needed6 ,if life were
 nothing but pleasure1 how completely   
men would forget sin and duty and ,god  
and heaven6 ,all the varied experiences 
of joy and sorrow1 of good and ill1 of  
trial and triumph1 are needed for man's 
spiritual discipline4 ,i think you will 
bear me witness that the noblest1       
sweetest1 most beautiful characters are 
found in those who have drunk the cup of
 sorrow to the dregs4  ,i cannot deny   
it1 ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,there is old ,deacon 
,smith4 ,we all know something of his   
history1 ,i suppose4 ,he was a poor boy2
 when he was twelve years of age his    
father died1 and his mother died four   
years later4 ,but he worked his way1    
first to a good education1 and then to  
an honorable position and ample fortune4
 ,then the dishonesty of a partner      
brought him back to poverty too late in 
life for him to recover himself4 ,now in

 his old age he works for a small salary
 in the office of another4 ,but he is as
 cheerful and as grateful as if he had  
all that heart could wish1 and had never
 in his life suffered a pang4 ,i think  
he verily believes that everything which
 has befallen him has been an expression
 of ,god's love for him4 ,he sheds no   
tears except for the griefs of others4  
,i think he truly rejoices with those   
that rejoice and weeps with those that  
weep4 ,as for faith in ,god1 ,i suppose 
he would go into a lion's den as calmly 
as did ,daniel4 ,if every professor of  
religion were like him1 ,i am sure that 
nobody could say a word against the     
gospel4 ,i freely confess that ,deacon  
,smith's character has affected me more 
than all the arguments ,i have heard in 
favor of ,christianity4  ,as to that1   
,mr4 ,hume1 replied ,mr4 ,wilton1 we    
have both of us1 doubtless1 seen men who
 would hate a man the more bitterly in  
proportion as he should show himself    
,christlike4 ,and as to every           

church-member being like ,deacon ,smith1
 we could hardly expect such a character
 to be nurtured in a day or a year4     
,deacon ,smith has become what he is by 
a lifetime of severest spiritual        
discipline and patient endeavor4 ,such  
characters are wrought out only by a    
discipline of every form of trial4 ,this
 world is constituted as it is for the  
purpose of giving just such a discipline
 of effort and patience4  ,this         
explanation brings us1 however1 only to 
the vestibule of the great mystery of   
suffering in the work of recovering man 
from the ,fall4 ,the ,captain of our    
salvation1 who put himself in man's     
place and took upon himself all human   
conditions1 was made perfect through    
suffering4 ,the full preparation for his
 work as the ,saviour of man called for 
a discipline of pain4 ,i shall not      
attempt to explain this experience of   
,christ1 but salvation brings the       
believer into a state of profoundest and
 most mysterious union with ,christ4    

,the believer must walk in the footsteps
 of ,jesus4 ,as ,christ first came into 
a condition of sympathy with man1 so    
must man come into a condition of       
sympathy with him4 ,the believer must   
share and repeat1 in a feebler way1 of  
course1 the experiences of the ,lord    
,jesus4 ,he must fill up that which is  
behind of the sufferings of his         
,saviour4 ,by this union with ,christ in
 the discipline of pain the ,christian  
is prepared for a union of blessedness4 
',if we suffer1 we shall also reign with
 him4' ,how broad and deep this union of
 the believer with ,christ may be1 ,i   
cannot tell4 ,i am not able to measure  
this idea4 ,it seems to me like one of  
,god's infinite thoughts1 revealed in   
its dimness to overawe the souls of men 
by its shadowy sublimity--seen only     
enough to suggest how much vaster is    
that which remains unseen--an iceberg1  
one part standing out and nine parts    
sunk in the unfathomed sea4 ,it is a    
thought to be felt and experienced      

rather than weighed and measured by     
human logic4 ,this is all that ,i have  
to say upon this subject4 ,do these     
views commend themselves to you1 ,mr4   
,hume8  ,i do not know1 was the reply2  
,i want to revolve the subject in my own
 mind4 ,i have received some new ideas1 
but ,i judge that a man needs experience
 in this matter as well as thinking4 ,if
 ,i had ,deacon ,smith's experience of  
life1 ,i could form a better opinion4   
,as much as this ,i can see to be       
true--that provision for bodily pain is 
a safeguard to the happiness and life of
 men1 and that a world which should     
anticipate every human want1 leaving    
nothing to be struggled after and       
nothing to be endured1 would have a     
disastrous influence upon human         
character4 ,i will admit that the       
provision for pain is wise and good4    
,one other point1 continued ,mr4        
,wilton1 we ought to notice before      
leaving this subject4 ,the word of ,god 
says1 ',we know that all things work    

together for good to them which love    
,god1' but it says no such thing of     
those who do not love him4 ,the         
afflictions of this life work out for   
the righteous 'a far more exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory4' ,the ministry 
of pain is a ministry of love only to   
those who submit to ,christ4 ,to those  
who kick at ,god's mercies the best     
blessings turn to evils and curses2 to  
the faithful in ,christ the greatest    
griefs and calamities become choice     
blessings4 ,a submissive heart and the  
agency of the ,holy ,spirit are needed  
to sanctify pain4 ,it is a great mistake
 to think that all men are made better  
by afflictions4 ,only the few get good  
from the discipline of life4 ,with many 
persons troubles only stir up the worst 
passions till they rage like caged      
tigers4  ,this last remark1 ,mr4        
,wilton1 has thrown a flood of light    
upon this subject4 ,but it seems strange
 to me to find myself saying this4 ,i   
see how it is that so large a part of   

the pains of life is found in the end to
 accomplish no good4 ,the evil remains  
evil4 ,do you think that my long trial  
of doubt and unrest and pain of heart   
can ever be blessed to my good8  ,that  
it can be so blessed to your good and to
 the good of many others ,i have no     
doubt2 but whether it will be1 ,i cannot
 tell4 ,that depends upon yourself1 upon
 your coming through ,christ to ,god as 
your heavenly ,father4 ,it is my earnest
 prayer that from your unrest of spirit 
deep peace in ,christ may break forth2  
and many others unite in the same4  ,i  
certainly hope1 said ,mr4 ,hume1 that my
 life may not come to nothing4 ,it seems
 as if something better than a few years
 of mingled pain and pleasure1          
overshadowed by most painful doubt and  
darkness and followed by a plunge into  
nothingness1 must be possible for me4   
,god give you grace1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 
earnestly1 to forget the things which   
are behind1 and reach out your hands    
toward the worthiest destiny6 ,but      

remember that there is a destiny more   
terrible than to cease to be1 there is a
 death deeper and darker than the grave4
      ',there is a death whose pang     
,outlasts the fleeting breath2     ,oh1 
what eternal terrors hang       ,around 
the second death6'  ,mr4 ,wilton did not
 think it best to attempt to draw out   
,mr4 ,hume farther at that time4 ,he saw
 that he appeared to be under the       
guidance of the ,holy ,spirit1 and hoped
 that he would soon experience the new  
birth by which old things pass away and 
all things become new4 ,he knew that    
time is an element even in the          
operations of the ,spirit1 and he feared
 to shake the bough too roughly lest the
 fruit should fall untimely only to     
wither in his hand4 ,happily1 the       
superintendent's bell brought the       
conversation at that point to a natural 
conclusion4     ,,chapter ,x4           
,,transportation ,,of ,,heat4   ,to-day 
we come to that subject which we should 
have looked at a week ago1 if that ,i   

hope not unprofitable discussion of the 
uses of trials and the ministry of pain 
had not prevented4 ,we must now examine 
the arrangement for softening the rigors
 of winter and toning down the heat of  
summer4 ,the general principle is that  
in summer the earth receives an excess  
of heat1 while in winter the opposite is
 true4 ,these extremes are mitigated by 
transferring heat from summer to winter4
 ,how is this accomplished8 ,any one who
 has thoughts upon this subject may     
answer4  ,i have some thoughts1 said    
,ansel1 but whether right or wrong1 ,i  
cannot tell4 ,i should think heat might 
be carried from summer to winter in the 
same way as from day to night4  ,what   
are some of those means for transferring
 heat which seem to you to operate the  
same in the annual as in the daily      
changes of temperature8  ,one is the    
absorption and radiation of heat1 and   
another is the evaporation of water and 
the condensation of vapor4  ,you are    
right1 said ,mr4 ,wilton4 ,the effect of

 these operations in the equalization of
 the annual extremes of heat is in no   
wise different from their effect upon   
the temperature of day and night1 but   
from summer to winter their effect is   
vaster and more impressive4 ,during the 
summer1 sea and land1 and 'all that in  
them is1' are receiving heat and rising 
in temperature4 ,the heat of summer     
penetrates and warms the earth nearly a 
hundred feet in depth4 ,into the sea    
heat penetrates still deeper4 ,how vast 
the amount of heat required to warm the 
whole surface of the earth and sea to   
such depths6 ,by withdrawing so much    
heat from active use the intensity of   
the summer temperature is softened4     
,during the colder months the land and  
sea slowly radiate their heat4 ,we can  
hardly over-estimate the effect of this 
alternate absorption and radiation of   
heat4 ,so great is the effect of this   
stored up heat that the sea and the     
great lakes never freeze even in the    
coldest winter weather1 except in the   

polar regions1 and the temperature must 
fall far below freezing and continue for
 a long time below the freezing point   
before the earth begins to freeze4 ,the 
great bodies of water1 remaining always 
at a temperature above thirty-two       
degrees1 are especially important in    
warming the wintry air4 ,in the coldest 
weather they seem like steaming caldrons
 throwing up their warm vapor4 ,it is   
the absorption and radiation of heat    
alone which prevent the temperature of  
the atmosphere from rising or falling   
suddenly to the highest or lowest point 
possible4 ,the sun breaks forth in all  
its splendor at noonday in summer3 what 
if the sun were to remain stationary1   
shining thus in his strength for days   
and months8 ,everything would be        
consumed with heat4 ,but why do not the 
glowing rays of the sun raise the       
temperature at once to the highest      
possible point8 ,because the earth and  
sea and every object upon the earth     
absorb the heat1 storing it up and      

holding it in reserve4 ,on the other    
hand1 when the sun sets and his heat is 
withdrawn1 why does not the temperature 
fall suddenly to the lowest possible    
point8 ,because the heat held in store  
is slowly radiated and the change of    
temperature rendered gradual4  ,in this 
work of absorbing and radiating heat    
every object1 earth1 air1 and sea1 does 
its appropriate share4 ,but water stands
 chief1 and performs the largest        
service4 ,its high specific heat enables
 it to hold in store the largest        
calorific treasure1 and causes it to    
change its temperature more slowly4     
,the formation and condensation of vapor
 also operate in the same manner as in  
the transitions of day and night4       
,during the summer the higher average   
temperature makes it possible for a much
 larger amount of vapor to be formed    
than in winter4 ,you remember that at   
eighty degrees vapor equal to thirteen  
inches of water can sustain itself1     
while at thirty-six degrees the elastic 

force of vapor is equal to the pressure 
of only two inches and two-fifths of    
water1 and at four degrees to           
three-fifths of an inch4 ,if the mean   
summer temperature at any place were    
eighty degrees1 it would be possible for
 more than one foot of water to be held 
in the form of vapor4 ,in the formation 
of this vapor heat would be consumed    
sufficient to boil more than five and a 
half feet of ice water4 ,if the mean    
winter temperature at the same place be 
thirty-six degrees1 more than           
three-fourths of this vapor must be     
condensed and give out its latent heat  
to warm the air4 ,it is not to be       
supposed that the full amount of vapor  
which can support itself does commonly  
exist1 but the difference between the   
average amount of vapor in summer and in
 winter must be very great4 ,i suppose  
this difference often amounts to four or
 six inches of water4 ,if we suppose it 
to be four inches1 an amount of heat is 
transferred from summer to winter       

sufficient to boil twenty-two inches of 
ice water4 ,in estimating the effect of 
this we must consider that this heat is 
not given out gradually and regularly   
for three months1 but whenever there is 
a sudden fall of temperature vapor is   
condensed1 latent heat becomes sensible1
 and the suddenness and intensity of the
 fall are diminished4 ,we need also to  
bear in mind that every open body of    
water is sending up its clouds of vapor 
constantly4 ,the open lakes1 and        
especially the sea1 are like a seething 
caldron2 and thus immensely more vapor  
is condensed during the winter months   
than is brought over from summer to     
winter4 ,much of the vapor formed in    
winter is to be set to the account of   
summer1 for it is the summer's heat     
absorbed by the water1 which maintains  
its temperature and enables it to throw 
up such clouds of vapor1 even in        
midwinter4 ,but this comes in more      
properly at another place1 and we will  
leave it for the present4  ,there is    

another transition experienced by water 
by which heat treasured up in summer is 
made available for softening the rigors 
of winter4 ,who will suggest it8  ,it is
 the freezing of water1 said ,mr4 ,hume4
 ,in the process of crystallization one 
hundred and forty degrees of latent heat
 become sensible4  ,and this1 continued 
,mr4 ,wilton1 is no inconsiderable      
matter4 ,every pound of water frozen    
upon the surface of our lakes and       
rivers1 every pound of water frozen in  
the wet earth1 every pound of water     
frozen as snow or sleet in the air1     
gives out as much heat as would boil an 
equal amount of water at seventy-two    
degrees4 ,have you never heard of       
setting tubs of water in cellars to keep
 vegetables from freezing8  ,i have1    
replied ,peter4 ,i visited my           
grandfather two years ago1 and his      
cellar sometimes froze4 ,i asked him why
 he put tubs of water in his cellar1 but
 he could not tell me1 only he said that
 he knew that tubs of water in his      

cellar did keep his vegetables from     
being nipped with the frost4  ,can you  
tell us1 ,peter1 why tubs of water set  
in a cellar should have this effect8  ,i
 suppose that when the water begins to  
freeze it begins to give out its latent 
heat4  ,that is one part of the reason4 
,the water is drawn from the well at    
perhaps fifty degrees2 it must lose     
eighteen degrees of heat before it      
begins to freeze1 and all the heat which
 the water loses the air of the cellar  
gains4 ,and then1 as you said1 as soon  
as the water begins to freeze latent    
heat begins to become sensible4 ,every  
pound of water frozen sets free heat    
enough to raise a pound of water through
 one hundred and forty degrees4 ,but why
 do not the vegetables begin to freeze  
as soon as the water8  ,i don't know4   
,water holding salt or other minerals in
 solution freezes at a lower temperature
 than pure water4 ,for this reason the  
juices of vegetables and fruits and the 
sap of trees may be cooled below        

thirty-two degrees without freezing4 ,on
 this account the water set in cellars  
tends to prevent vegetables from        
freezing2 the water begins to freeze at 
thirty-two degrees1 while potatoes and  
turnips may be cooled a little lower    
than thirty-two degrees without harm4   
,in this manner the buds of trees are   
sometimes warmed and protected by the   
coating of ice which forms around them4 
,the drops of water1 falling through the
 sleety air1 touch upon the twigs of    
trees and freeze upon them1 an icy coat 
embracing them all around4 ,in freezing1
 the water gives out one hundred and    
forty degrees of heat1 a part of which  
goes to the air and a part to the twig4 
,this reminds me1 said ,ansel1 of what  
the ,irishman said on being told that   
snow contains heat1 that 'it would be a 
blessed thing for the poor if one could 
tell how many snowballs it would take to
 boil a tea-kettle4'  ,it might be      
difficult to use snowballs to boil the  
tea-kettle1 but the heat given out in   

the formation of the snowflakes is      
doubtless employed quite as usefully for
 the poor as if used in preparing their 
tea4 ,you have all noticed that before a
 snow-storm1 or perhaps during the early
 part of the storm1 the temperature     
generally becomes milder1 and you have  
often heard the remark1 ',it is too cold
 to snow4' ,men have learned that the   
coming of a snow-storm is attended by a 
warming of the air4 ,this popular       
impression is philosophical1 yet few    
understand its philosophy4 ,a foot of   
snow falls1 equal to two or three inches
 of water4 ,in the condensation of the  
vapor which formed this snow one        
thousand degrees of latent heat become  
sensible1 and then in the congelation of
 the clouds into snowflakes one hundred 
and forty degrees of heat are evolved4  
,this softening of the rigors of winter 
is1 ,i think1 as great a blessing to the
 poor as the heating of the tea-kettle4 
,let us make an estimate of the amount  
of heat set free in the production of   

one great snow-storm4 ,two feet of snow 
falls1 equal1 we will suppose1 to five  
inches of water4 ,in the condensation of
 the watery vapor one thousand degrees  
of heat are evolved1 and in the         
congelation one hundred and forty       
degrees--an amount of heat which would  
boil three feet of cold spring water4   
,in every square mile there are         
#bg1hgh1djj square feet1 and a square   
mile of water three feet in depth would 
contain #hc1fbe1bjj cubic feet4 ,the    
production of such a snow-storm sets    
free for every square mile of surface   
heat which would boil more than         
#hj1jjj1jjj of cubic feet of spring     
water4 ,such a storm sometimes extends  
over a region of country a thousand     
miles square1 that is1 over a million of
 square miles4 ,in the production of one
 such storm--a very heavy and extensive 
storm1 ,i have supposed--heat is        
generated which would boil eighty       
millions of millions                    
7#hj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj7 of cubic feet of  

spring water--an amount altogether too  
vast for our comprehension4 ,to         
accomplish this result by combustion    
would require more than #ejj1jjj1jjj of 
tons of anthracite coal--an amount at   
least three times as great as the yearly
 product of all the coal-mines of the   
world4 ,and this is but one heavy storm4
 ,the amount of rainfall in the ,united 
,states may be thirty-six inches or     
forty or forty-five inches4 ,supposing  
the average rainfall of the whole earth 
to be twenty-four inches--an estimate   
very far below the truth--we have this  
result3 ,there are1 in round numbers1   
two hundred millions of square miles of 
surface1 more than five and a half      
quadrillions 7#e1ege1fhj1jjj1jjj1jjj7 of
 square feet and more than eleven       
quadrillions of cubic feet of water4    
,the condensation of this amount of     
vapor would boil more than sixty        
quadrillions of cubic feet of ice water4
 ,one pound of anthracite coal burned   
under the most favorable circumstances  

will boil sixty pounds of ice water4 ,to
 boil sixty quadrillions of cubic feet  
of ice water would require sixty        
quadrillions of pounds of coal--thirty  
billions of tons--not less than         
twenty-five tons to every inhabitant of 
the globe4 ,at this rate a very few     
years would exhaust the coal-fields of  
the world4 ,calculations like these are 
useful in showing upon how stupendous a 
scale the ,creator carries on his       
operations4 ,but we must remember that  
these works are carried on1 not to amaze
 men1 but to benefit them4 ,the works go
 on silently and unseen1 challenging no 
attention from fools1 receiving no      
thought except from the patient student 
of ,nature1 and eliciting no thankful   
recognition save from a few reverent    
worshipers4  ,but ,i have been led away 
from a point which ,i had in mind4      
,while considering the effect of heat in
 expanding bodies1 ,i reminded you that 
water presents a marked peculiarity1 and
 promised to speak of it more fully4    

,this is the place for us to look at    
this singular and beautiful peculiarity 
of water4 ,what is the general principle
 touching the effect of heat upon       
bodies8  ,heat expands bodies and cold  
contracts them1 answered ,ansel4  ,water
 both illustrates this rule and presents
 some very interesting apparent         
exceptions4 ,it contracts by cold like  
other bodies till it reaches the        
temperature of thirty-nine and a half   
degrees2 it then begins to expand1 and  
expands regularly till it falls to      
thirty-two degrees2 at that point it    
freezes1 and in freezing it expands at  
once about one-ninth of its bulk4 ,if   
the cooling process be continued1 the   
ice produced contracts like any other   
solid4 ,this peculiarity of the         
interrupted and unequal expansion of    
water is of the utmost importance in the
 affairs of our world4 ,consider the    
result if the water were to contract by 
cold as do other bodies down to the     
freezing point and below it4 ,water is  

cooled from the top by contact with the 
cold air4 ,as the upper film of water   
cooled it would sink and a new stratum  
be brought to the surface2 that in turn 
would be cooled and sink1 and thus the  
cooling process would go on with the    
utmost rapidity till the whole body of  
water should be reduced to the freezing 
temperature4 ,then congelation would    
begin1 and the first particles of ice   
formed would sink to the bottom1 and as 
fast as the water became frozen at the  
top the ice would sink4 ,in this manner 
a solid body of ice would be formed at  
the bottom of our lakes and rivers1     
while the surface would remain unfrozen 
in contact with the cold air till the   
whole body of water became a compact    
mass of ice4 ,great lakes turned to     
solid ice would not be thawed during the
 whole of the summer1 for the water     
warmed from the top would not sink1 but 
would form a warm stratum of water upon 
the surface1 while1 below1 the solid ice
 would lie hardly feeling the summer    

heat4 ,nay1 more2 in the higher         
latitudes it would seem as if the very  
ocean must be turned to solid ice1 never
 to be melted till the end of time4 ,by 
the singular expansion of water below   
thirty-nine and half degrees and its    
great expansion in congelation1 these   
disastrous consequences are prevented4  
,our lakes are cooled even in winter    
only to thirty-nine and a half degrees2 
below this temperature the colder water 
is lighter and remains upon the surface2
 ice floats upon the surface4 ,the top  
becomes ice1 but the great mass of the  
water remains at thirty-nine degrees1   
and the inhabitants of the waters live  
on unharmed4 ,spring comes1 and the ice1
 being upon the surface1 is soon melted1
 and the unbound waves begin again to   
ripple forth their unconscious joy4  ,do
 you look upon this irregular expansion 
and contraction of water1 asked ,mr4    
,hume1 as a real exception to the rule  
that heat expands bodies8  ,not at all4 
,in freezing1 a new force comes in and  

asserts itself--the force of            
crystallization2 or1 more exactly1 as   
the force of heat diminishes the force  
of crystallization becomes predominant1 
and throws the atoms into new positions 
and new relationships4 ,to this new     
arrangement of atoms is due the         
expansion in freezing4 ,ice contracts   
and expands by cold and heat the same as
 any other solid4 ,the attraction of    
crystallization begins1 doubtless1 to   
throw the atoms into their new and      
crystalline arrangement at the          
temperature of thirty-nine and a half   
degrees4  ,we must remember that the    
heat which is set free in the           
condensation of vapor and in the        
freezing of water is absorbed in the    
formation of vapor and the melting of   
water4 ,as much heat is taken from      
summer as is conferred upon winter4 ,the
 summer is cooled as much as winter is  
warmed4 ,the formation of vapor is a    
cooling process4 ,water is prevented    
from rising above the boiling point by  

the formation of vapor4 ,perspiration   
cools us by the evaporation to which it 
gives rise from the whole surface of our
 bodies4 ,and the higher the            
temperature1 the more rapid the         
evaporation1 and the more vigorous the  
cooling process4  ,we might look at     
other appliances for transferring heat  
from summer to winter1 but they belong  
in principle to another department4 ,we 
have now looked at some of the means for
 transferring heat in time4 ,the heat is
 treasured up at the heated noonday1 to 
be brought out for use during the cool  
hours of night2 it is garnered from the 
excessive heats of summer to supply the 
deficiencies of winter4 ,it is laid up  
in store to-day to be expended at any   
future time when needed4 ,the transfer  
is a transfer not in space1 but in time4
 ,we must hereafter examine those       
arrangements by which heat is           
transported through space4 ,some of     
these arrangements exert an influence   
upon day and night and upon summer and  

winter1 and thus throw further light    
upon the subjects already discussed4    
,already more than once topics have been
 suggested and their full consideration 
put off till some more fitting time4 ,in
 our next lesson we must begin the      
examination of these new principles4 ,we
 have before spoken of the vicissitudes 
of days and seasons and years4 ,we shall
 now have to do with the vicissitudes of
 zones and lands and seas1 of deserts   
and mountain ranges4 ,the elements      
become vaster1 the stage is broader1 and
 the movements more sublime4  ,i am glad
 that you are so well interested in     
these great and beautiful works of      
,god's wisdom and power1 but ,i hope    
that you do not forget that the         
crucified ,christ is pre-eminently the  
power of ,god and the wisdom of ,god4   
,these natural works are but the husk of
 which salvation from sin by ,christ is 
the kernel4 ,these outward things are   
wonderful and beautiful for the setting1
 but the gem1 the royal precious stone1 

the ,koh-i-noor1 the 'mountain of       
light1' for which the setting was made1 
is the true knowledge of the true ,god  
and of his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,during 
the past few weeks you have heard others
 asking1 ',what shall we do to be       
saved8' ,i should be greatly guilty if  
,i allowed you to think earth1 air1 and 
sea1 with all their silent and solemn   
movements1 more important than our      
spiritual attitude toward ,god the      
,father and ,christ the ,saviour4 ,are  
you1 ,samuel1 in your interest in       
studying ,nature1 forgetting ,christ and
 the souls of men8  ,i hope not1 and ,i 
think not4 ,during the three years since
 my baptism ,i have never felt so much  
my obligation to ,christ as now4 ,i     
never felt before so deep a desire that 
my friends should repent and believe in 
,jesus4 ,i think the love of ,christ    
constrains me4 ,i have not felt before  
that my work was very important2 ,i have
 been expecting to work more earnestly  
by and by2 but lately ,i have felt that 

,christ gives me something to do now for
 which he holds me responsible4  ,what  
have you tried to do for ,christ8  ,i   
have been praying for some of my young  
friends1 and especially for ,ansel and  
,peter4 ,and then ,i felt that ,i must  
talk with them as well as pray for them4
  ,and can you1 my young friends1 be    
careless about your own salvation while 
,samuel is so anxious for you8 ,are you 
contented to live 'having no hope and   
without ,god in the world'8 ,is your    
happiness here and hereafter more       
important to ,samuel than to yourselves8
  ,we are interested1 said ,ansel4 ,we  
have been talking together about being  
,christians1 but we don't know what to  
do4  ,they said1 broke in ,samuel1 that 
they wished ,i would ask you to preach a
 sermon and tell them what they must do 
to be saved4 ,they wished to go on with 
these lessons1 but they thought that    
perhaps you would be willing to preach a
 sermon just upon that subject4  ,you   
know that ,i often speak of that        

subject1 and when persons have come to  
the inquiry-meeting ,i have told them   
what they must do4 ,but ,i know that    
there must needs be 'line upon line4'   
,if ,ansel and ,peter wish it1 ,i will  
devote a sermon to the subject1 and make
 it as plain as ,i can4 ,hardly anything
 gives me more pleasure than to explain 
the way of salvation when ,i know that  
my hearers are interested4  ,we do wish 
to have you preach upon that subject1   
and ,i am sure that you will have a     
great many interested hearers besides   
,ansel and myself4  ,but1 ,samuel1 did  
you not pray for ,mr4 ,hume also1 and   
talk with him8  ,i prayed for him1 but  
,i was afraid to speak with him4 ,i have
 tried to pray for him a double portion 
because ,i could not speak with him4    
,tears gathered in ,mr4 ,hume's eyes2   
the thought came to him that his        
unbelief had raised a barrier between   
himself and both ,god and his people4   
,this pious young man was afraid to come
 to him lest he should meet the scornful

 arguments and cold derision of a proud 
unbeliever4 ,he felt humbled--he1 a     
subtle1 well-read unbeliever1 and       
,samuel a pious lad yearning for the    
salvation of his soul1 but daring only  
to pray in secret for him4  ,have not   
you1 ,mr4 ,hume1 been treating ,christ  
and the ,holy ,spirit as ,samuel feared 
that you would treat him8  ,perhaps so1 
he answered4 ,i am sorry that ,samuel   
did not come to me freely4 ,i think he  
need not be afraid of me now4 ,i also   
hope you will preach the sermon which   
,ansel and ,peter wish to hear4  ,mr4   
,wilton assured them that he would do as
 they wished unless the ,spirit clearly 
drew him to some other subject4 ,i      
always look1 he said1 to the ,holy      
,spirit for direction in my preaching4  
',when he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is     
come1' said ,jesus1 'he will lead you   
into all truth4' ,this was fulfilled    
pre-eminently1 ,i suppose1 in the       
inspired men who laid the foundation of 
the ,church1 but the ,spirit still      

dwells in believers and leads those who 
love and follow ,christ4 ,the preacher  
of the gospel can do nothing without the
 power of the ,spirit of ,god4  ,and ,i1
 kind reader1 will give you the outline 
of the sermon if the ,spirit bids him   
preach it4     ,,chapter ,,xi4  ,,an    
,,effective ,,sermon4   ,mr4 ,wilton    
preached the sermon spoken of at the    
close of the last chapter the next      
,lord's ,day morning4 ,the more he      
thought upon the matter and inquired the
 mind of the ,spirit1 the more he felt  
that for a purpose the ,spirit was      
calling him to unfold again the         
authority of ,god and the conditions of 
salvation4 ,he gave notice of his       
subject1 and invited all good men to    
pray that he might be able1 like a good 
and wise steward of the mysteries of    
grace1 to bring forth out of the        
treasure-house things new and old1 and  
that the word might prove as a nail     
fastened in a sure place by the ,master 
of assemblies4 ,much prayer was offered1

 and the people came together in a      
spirit of unwonted solemnity and        
earnestness4  ,mr4 ,wilton prayed to the
 glorified ,redeemer for his blessing3  
,o thou exalted ,christ1 we assemble in 
thy name and by thine authority4 ,thou  
hast bidden us not forsake the          
assembling of ourselves together for thy
 worship and the preaching of thy       
gospel4 ,by thy grace we enjoy another  
of these sacred days4 ,by thy death thou
 didst purchase for thy people eternal  
redemption4 ,thou hast wrought out for  
them a great and glorious salvation4    
,for thy great love wherewith thou hast 
loved us thou didst empty thyself of    
divine glories1 and madest thyself a    
servant among servants1 and didst suffer
 in the garden1 and die upon the cross1 
and enter the grave4 ,now thou art      
exalted at the right hand of the        
,father1 a ,prince and a ,saviour1 to   
give repentance and remission of sins4  
,o thou that judgest men1 thy justice is
 great and glorious as thy mercies4     

,years ago we tested thy love1 years ago
 we felt the shadow of thy wrath2 our   
guilt made us afraid and we cried unto  
thee1 and thou forgavest our sins1 and  
didst shed abroad thy peace in our      
hearts4 ,in these recent days thou hast 
brought other sinners to feel their     
guilt4 ,they have seen thee upon the    
cross1 and have been smitten with       
anguish1 and have repented1 and thou    
hast received them4 ,others are bowed   
down2 they mourn2 they feel themselves  
poor and needy2 they confess thy        
justice2 they feel the need of thy      
salvation2 they walk in darkness2 they  
grope and find no light2 they look unto 
thee from a distance2 but they do not   
come to thee1 they do not follow thee4  
,wilt thou not draw them to thyself8    
,wilt thou not bow their pride of heart 
and turn their wills and make their     
hearts tender1 gentle1 and believing8   
,wilt thou not smite the rock1 and cause
 the waters of penitent grief to flow8  
,lay thy cross1 ,o ,jesus1 upon their   

shoulders and upon their hearts1 that   
they may bear it after thee and share   
thy glory4 ,open thou their eyes that   
they may see eternal destinies and look 
upon thy divine glories1 thy beauty1 and
 thy tenderness4 ,let them follow thee  
and trust in thee1 strengthened and     
comforted by thy rod and thy staff4 ,o  
,christ1 for thine eternal love with    
which thou hast loved us1 reach down    
thine arm mighty to save and lift us up4
 ,lord1 save or we perish4 ,and speak   
thou by thy servant to-day1 and cause   
all that hear to recognize the message  
not as his1 but as thine4  ,he read as  
his text ,acts xvi4 #cj3 ,sirs1 what    
must ,i do to be saved8  ,he briefly    
recited the arrest1 imprisonment1 and   
release of ,paul and ,silas4 ,the       
salvation for which the jailer cried out
 was not deliverance from the dangers of
 the earthquake1 nor from the           
displeasure of the ,roman governor4     
,this was the bitter cry of a soul      
sinking under a load of guilt and       

trembling at the thought of ,god's      
impending wrath4 ,some of you can       
appreciate his feelings and his fears4  
,your sins against ,god and ,christ and 
the ,holy ,spirit have risen up before  
you2 they stare you in the face2 they   
condemn you4 ,you feel your guilt--not a
 light and trifling fault1 but guilt    
deep and dark1 such as creatures made in
 the image of ,god incur by rebellion   
against the blessed and holy ,creator4  
,the ,holy ,spirit has recited the      
divine law in your ears4 ,your          
consciences have heard that voice and   
echoed its condemnation4 ,you desire to 
escape that divine displeasure2 you     
desire to have the fires of guilt that  
burn in your consciences quenched4 ,you 
cry out1 ',men and brethren1 what shall 
we do8' ,the answer must be drawn from  
many parts of the ,holy ,scriptures4    
,understand1 in the first place1 that   
you are not to be saved by searching out
 some plan of salvation for yourselves4 
,ask for the old paths4 ',he that       

entereth not by the door1 but climbeth  
up some other way1 the same is a thief  
and a robber4' ',other foundation can no
 man lay than that is laid4' ',there is 
but one name given under heaven among   
men by which we must be saved4'         
,understand also that it is useless to  
attempt to save yourselves by making    
yourselves righteous4 ,you have tried1  
,i doubt not1 to make yourselves better4
 ,perhaps you have resolved that you    
would not come to ,christ till you can  
present yourselves in some degree worthy
 of his care4 ,have you succeeded in    
getting rid of your sins8 ,can you blot 
out your past sins8 ,can you erase the  
record which stands written in the book 
of remembrance on high8 ,the law of ,god
 written in this ,bible condemns you2   
,god condemns you2 you are condemned    
already for not believing in the name of
 ,god's only begotten ,son1 the ,lord   
,jesus from heaven4 ,can you change that
 condemnation by your feeble1 fickle    
resolutions to reform8 ',can the        

,ethiopian change his skin or the       
leopard his spots8 then may ye also do  
good that are accustomed to do evil4'   
,be assured also that it does not belong
 to you to change your own hearts4 ',ye 
must be born again2' 'except a man be   
born again he cannot see the kingdom of 
,god4' ,but that second birth comes not 
of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 
nor of the will of man1 but of ,god4    
',ye must be born again1 but ye must be 
born of the ,spirit4' ,notice that the  
word saved is in the passive voice4     
,sinners do not save themselves2 they   
must be saved by another2 they must be  
saved by one able to save1 by one       
almighty to save1 from the wrath of ,god
 and from sin1 by one able to do for    
those who trust in him all that they    
need to have done in order to make their
 salvation complete and glorious4       
,christ is able to do this4 ,the        
crucified and risen ,christ is exalted a
 ,prince and ,saviour1 to give          
repentance and remission of sins4 ,the  

word of ,god says1 ',to give1' and he   
rejoices to give4  ,on one point we must
 pause and dwell with special clearness4
 ,every anxious sinner must not only    
feel his guilty and lost condition1 but 
he should also thoroughly understand    
what he means when he asks what he must 
do to be saved4 ,he should see to it    
that he wants that salvation which      
,jesus gives4  ,in the ,scriptures the  
sinner who would be saved is called upon
 to return to ,god4 ,he has gone astray4
 ,he must retrace his steps4 ,what is   
meant by this8 ,i mean that man's sin   
consisted at first and consists to-day  
in saying1 ',i will1' and ',i will not1'
 in opposition to the will and command  
of ,god4 ,god said1 ',thou shalt not2'  
man said1 ',i will4' ,god says1 ',thou  
shalt2' sinners say1 ',i will not4' ,if 
a sinner is to be saved from sin1 this  
opposition must cease4 ,when ,god says1 
',thou shalt not1' the sinner must      
reply1 ',i will not1' and when ,god     
says1 ',thou shalt1' the sinner must    

answer1 ',i will4' ,the sinner's 'will' 
and 'will not' must agree with ,god's   
'shall' and 'shall not4' ,in place of   
your self-will you must put ,god's will2
 that is1 repentance1 a turning about1 a
 returning to ,god4 ,but remember1      
salvation1 if it be real and thorough1  
is not submission for an hour1 a day1 or
 a year1 but submission for ever and    
ever4 ,it is submission without         
condition and without limits4  ,the     
sinner says1 ',this is a hard saying1'  
this utter and boundless denial of      
self-will and selfishness4 ,but is it   
hard that the creature should yield to  
the ,creator1 that ignorance should     
yield to wisdom1 that selfishness should
 yield to love1 that sin should yield to
 holiness1 that poor1 lost1 wretched1   
fallen man should yield to the eternal  
and ever-blessed ,god8 ,it is only by   
yielding that his will is brought into  
sweet harmony with the will of ,god1 and
 that he can be a sharer of the divine  
blessedness4  ,your views on this point 

should be clear and distinct4 ,if you   
wish only to be saved from the penalty  
of your sins1 you do not desire the     
salvation which ,jesus gives4 ,he saves 
his people1 not in their sins1 but from 
their sins4 ,if1 however1 you really    
wish for his full and glorious          
salvation1 you will desire that your    
will may be wholly subdued to the will  
of ,god4 ,you will be found ready to    
unite in the memorable prayer of the    
,lord ,jesus1 ',not my will but thine be
 done4' ,salvation implies the giving up
 of self-will and a reverent submission 
to the will of ,god4  ,other sinful     
passions oppose the grace of ,god1 but  
chiefly as helpers and supporters of    
self-will4 ,pride and vanity strengthen 
self-will4 ,turbulent fleshly lusts urge
 on and back up self-will4 ,fear of man1
 fear of danger1 and unbelief are but   
props of self-will4 ,when 'my ,lord     
,will-be-will' submits1 the town of     
,mansoul returns to her rightful        
allegiance4  ,the question at issue     

between ,god and the sinner1 the        
question of self-will or submission1 is 
often contested around the performance  
of some single definite duty4 ,the ,holy
 ,spirit often presents to the convicted
 sinner's conscience some single duty   
and presses its performance4 ,that duty 
is a test of the feelings and desires of
 the sinner's heart4 ,so the ,spirit    
understands it1 so the sinner often     
understands it4 ,as1 in the garden of   
,eden1 ,god gave to ,adam a test        
command1 so does he now press upon the  
conscience of convicted sinners test    
duties to show them what they are4 ,that
 which is required may be important1    
exceedingly important1 in and of itself1
 or it may be in itself of very little  
consequence1 but in every case the duty 
is all-important and its performance    
absolutely essential1 because the       
,spirit has laid it upon the sinner's   
conscience4 ,it will show whether he    
wishes for salvation from sin or not4   
,i used to hear a ,christian relate an  

experience like this4 ,while the ,spirit
 of ,god was striving with him and      
conviction of sin was heavy upon him1 he
 felt a clear impression that he ought  
to go to his barn1 and there at one     
certain place upon the hay-mow kneel and
 pray4 ,his self-will rose in rebellion1
 chiefly1 it would seem1 because it was 
laid upon his conscience as a duty4 ,but
 his distress grew upon him4 ,he went to
 his barn and stood at another place and
 tried to pray1 but no light or peace   
came2 his sense of his sins grew        
heavier4 ,how could it be otherwise8 ,he
 went to the spot where he thought that 
he ought to go1 and stood and prayed4   
,still no peace came1 but increasing    
sense of sin4 ,at length he thought1    
',why should ,i not8 ,why not give up my
 own will8 ,why not pray that ,god's    
will may be done8' ,he yielded1 he      
kneeled at the place where he had       
thought he ought to kneel1 and there he 
first felt peace before ,god4 ,this was 
a singular experience4 ,perhaps a man   

more intelligent and better taught in   
the ,sacred ,scriptures would never have
 such a thing pressed upon his          
conscience4 ,but the battle of self-will
 is commonly fought around some single  
definite duty4 ,that duty may be a      
confession of wrong done to a neighbor1 
or conversation with an impenitent      
associate1 or a public confession of sin
 before the great congregation4         
,whatever it may be1 it shows the sinner
 his heart and leads him to decide to   
follow his own will just as he had      
always been accustomed to do1 or it will
 lead him to pray earnestly that he may 
be enabled in everything to bow his will
 to the will of ,god4 ,he will want the 
full salvation which ,jesus in his grace
 brings men--salvation from the penalty 
of sin and deliverance from its power4  
,i draw no bow at a venture and speak   
not doubtfully when ,i say some of you  
are standing face to face with duties   
pressed upon you by the ,holy ,spirit4  
,your self-will1 supported by pride1 and

 fear of man1 and unbelief1 and ,satanic
 temptation1 refuses to yield4 ,the yoke
 of ,christ seems to you like bondage4  
,the cross is supremely heavy4 ,you draw
 back from it1 and refuse to bear it4 ,i
 cannot take away the cross which the   
,spirit bids you bear4 ,i dare not do   
it2 ,i will not do it4 ,as the messenger
 of ,christ1 ,i repeat the voice of the 
,spirit and lay the duty1 whatsoever it 
may be1 upon your consciences4 ,do you  
really and honestly wish to be saved    
from sin8 ,then you will yield to the   
,spirit's kind and gracious movings2 you
 will yield humbly but heartily4 ,if1   
however1 you want something else than   
the salvation which ,jesus gives1 what  
can you expect but perplexity1          
difficulty1 darkness8 ,i beseech of you1
 deal truly and faithfully with         
yourselves on this point4  ,to those who
 wish really to be saved ,i have good   
news to proclaim4 ,there is a ,saviour  
such as you need4 ,trust in ,jesus as   
your ,saviour4 ,place the whole work of 

your salvation in his gracious hands4   
,christ saves sinners just such as you  
are4 ,the faith which you are but to    
exercise is nothing else than your      
confidence1 by which you entrust        
yourselves to him4 ,faith has no saving 
virtue in itself1 but it is the hand by 
which the sinner takes hold of ,christ4 
,with this duty few of you will have any
 great difficulty4 ,when once you wish  
to be saved from sin and are ready to   
submit to the will of ,christ1 you will 
have no reluctance to take him for your 
,saviour4 ,you believe that ,christ is a
 divine ,saviour4 ,if saved at all1 you 
expect to be saved by him who died on   
,calvary4 ,hardly for the world would   
you resign your opportunity of coming to
 ,christ and receiving his grace4 ,you  
believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the 
,son of the living ,god1 the great      
sacrifice for sin4 ,it remains that you 
should gladly accept what he offers and 
follow him as loving1 trusting          
disciples4  ,follow the ,spirit1 and you

 will be led to ,jesus and will come    
speedily to the joy of salvation2 resist
 the ,spirit1 and you grope in boundless
 darkness and fall upon the dark        
mountains4  ,in the ,holy ,scriptures   
the question of the text is asked and   
answered many times4 ,hardly any two    
answers are alike4 ,are there different 
conditions and different duties required
 of different men8 ,by no means4 ,but   
the ,holy ,spirit adapted the answer to 
the different spiritual states of the   
various inquirers4 ,the answer is made  
to each questioner's heart4 ,a          
self-righteous young man came to ,jesus 
asking1 ',good ,master1 what good thing 
shall ,i do that ,i may inherit         
everlasting life8' ,jesus answered1     
',keep the commandments3 thou shalt do  
no murder2 thou shalt not commit        
adultery2 thou shalt not steal2 thou    
shalt not bear false witness2 honor thy 
father and thy mother2 and thou shalt   
love thy neighbor as thyself4' ,the     
young man answered1 ',all these have ,i 

kept from my youth up2 what lack ,i     
yet8' ,jesus said1 ',if thou wilt be    
perfect1 go sell that thou hast1 and    
give to the poor1 and thou shalt have   
treasure in heaven1 and come1 follow    
me4' ,the young man went away sorrowful4
 ,jesus knew his self-righteousness1 and
 gave him answers which opened that     
young man's eyes to see himself4 ,he    
gave him a test command1 and the young  
man's revulsion from that duty showed   
that1 notwithstanding his self-confident
 claim to righteousness1 his riches     
filled all his heart4 ,if your hearts   
are filled with the love of the world1  
you must put your possessions out of    
your hearts and follow ,jesus4          
,nicodemus also came making the same    
inquiry4 ,he must have asked something  
like this1 for ,jesus answered such a   
question4 ',ye must be born again2 ye   
must be born of the ,spirit1' said      
,jesus4 ,nicodemus was looking for a    
legal salvation by outward formal       
services1 but ,christ gave him to       

understand that salvation involves a    
great spiritual renovation wrought by   
the ,holy ,spirit1 by which men old in  
sin become new creatures and enter the  
kingdom of ,god as little children4 ,he 
taught him thus that salvation was only 
from ,god4 ,if any of you are looking   
for a cloak of self-righteous religious 
duties which you can put on1 be assured 
that true religion springs from a work  
of ,god wrought in the heart4 ,you must 
be born again by the power of the ,holy 
,spirit4 ,you must become new creatures 
in ,christ ,jesus4  ,on the day of      
,pentecost the great company of men 'out
 of every country under the whole       
heaven1' while listening to ,peter's    
pungent address1 cried out1 ',men and   
brethren1 what shall we do8' ',repent   
and be baptized1 every one of you1 in   
the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 for the   
remission of sins1' answered ,peter4    
,here were men who had a hand in        
crucifying ,christ1 or if they had no   
active share in that deed of darkness1  

they had consented to his death2 they   
were partakers of the crime2 very likely
 they had cried1 ',crucify him1 crucify 
him4' ,they saw their sin1 and were     
pricked in the heart4 ,well might they  
repent of their rejection and           
crucifixion of their promised ,saviour1 
the ,son of ,god1 from heaven4 ,others  
were devout men who had come to         
,jerusalem to worship4 ,like ,simeon    
they may have waited long for the       
consolation of ,israel4 ,how easy for   
them to enroll themselves among the     
followers of ,christ6 ,all alike are    
commanded after repentance to put on    
,christ by baptism4 ,that burial with   
,christ was the symbol of their dying   
and living again--of their dying unto   
sin and living again unto ,god4 ,the    
same duties are enjoined upon you4      
,repent of your long rejection of the   
grace of ,god and his ,son ,jesus       
,christ1 and before ,god and men devote 
yourselves to his service by a public   
confession of ,christ in baptism4  ,the 

jailer of ,philippi was taken in the    
midst of his sins4 ,he was holding the  
servants of ,christ in his dungeon4 ,he 
knew for what offence they had been     
seized1 and he made himself a partner in
 the crime of persecuting them by the   
zest with which he thrust them into the 
inner prison and made their feet fast in
 the stocks4 ,his conscience was ill at 
ease4 ,then came the earthquake's shock1
 and he felt as if called to stand face 
to face with his ,judge4 ,his soul was  
pierced through and through with a sense
 of guilt4 ',what must ,i do to be      
saved8' he cried in the bitterness of   
his conviction4 ',believe on the ,lord  
,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be       
saved1' answered ,paul4 ,this is the    
answer to all of you who are well       
convicted of sin and have given up all  
self-righteous hopes4 ,christ saves you4
 ,look to ,christ1 ask ,christ2         
whosoever comes to him he will in no    
wise cast out4 ,will you not come to    
him8 ,will you not trust his promises   

and commit yourselves to his hands to be
 saved8 ,he waits to bless you4 ,he     
delights to be gracious4 ,to save       
sinners he lived among men1 and died and
 has ascended4 ,his hands are full of   
gifts4 ,he comes to you1 and stands and 
knocks at the door of your hearts4 ,will
 you bolt the door8 ,there is joy in    
heaven over repenting sinners4 ,this    
alone of all earthly transactions       
carries joy to ,christ and the angels4  
,accept of ,christ1 and earth and heaven
 will throb with a common joy4  ,these  
words were listened to with most earnest
 attention1 for at that time ,christ and
 heaven were realities in the minds of  
men1 and salvation was a living issue4  
,mr4 ,wilton spoke as an earnest man1   
without cant or circumlocution1 pressing
 upon men of thought and conscience the 
great concerns of eternity4 ,the full   
result of this discourse will be known  
only when the opening of the books at   
the last day shall reveal it1 but the   
beginning of the result was seen in the 

evening prayer-meeting4 ,when the       
invitation was given for anxious persons
 to make known their feelings1 both     
,ansel and ,peter arose1 and confessing 
in few words that the ,spirit of ,god   
had been striving with them1 and that   
they had been resisting the ,spirit1    
said that now they were determined to   
resist no more1 and asked ,christians to
 pray for them that they might be able  
to submit fully to the ,lord ,jesus and 
trust entirely in him4 ,then there was a
 pause4 ,mr4 ,wilton was just on the    
point of rising to close the meeting    
when ,mr4 ,hume rose to his feet4 ,after
 a sudden start of surprise1 a deep hush
 passed over the congregation1 and in   
the midst of deepest silence ,mr4 ,hume 
said3  ,i have been more than merely an 
impenitent man3 ,i have been an         
unbeliever2 ,i have been an infidel4 ,i 
have not only tried to disbelieve the   
,holy ,scripture1 but ,i have actually  
disbelieved4 ,i have thought myself     
wiser than the word of ,god4 ,i do not  

mean that ,i have enjoyed peace1 that my
 conscience has been at rest1 and that  
,i have been happy in my unbelief4      
,three months ago ,i began to grow more 
than usually discontented with myself4  
,questions which ,i counted settled and 
put to rest for ever came back to       
trouble me4 ,a hundred times a day the  
questions came1 ,what if there be a ,god
 who holds me responsible8 ,what if     
there be a future life and a judgment   
day8 ,what if ,christ be the ,son of    
,god8 ,why such questions should haunt  
me day and night ,i could not tell4 ,i  
have learned to believe that the ,spirit
 of ,god was speaking to me4 ,this      
restlessness brought me to the church   
for half a day4 ,if my object was to    
gain rest in unbelief1 ,i could not have
 done worse4 ,my old arguments were     
unavailing to break the force of the    
truths preached4 ,the questions which   
had been sounding in my ears and echoing
 in my heart began to change to solemn  
affirmations3 ',there is a ,god2'       

',there is a day of judgment2'          
',appointed unto man once to die1 and   
after that the judgment2' ',christ is   
risen4' ,texts of ,scripture learned in 
my boyhood and forgotten long years ago 
came back fresh to my memory4 ,but ,i   
will not stop to rehearse to you all my 
struggles of mind for two months past4  
,for a few weeks you have seen me here4 
,i determined that ,i would try to find 
,christ if he manifests himself to men  
in these latter days4 ,for two weeks ,i 
have tried to pray1 but ,i have found no
 satisfaction4 ,christ has not          
manifested himself4 ,my darkness has    
grown deeper and deeper4 ,i have        
sometimes almost determined to abandon  
all thought of ,christ and throw myself 
back again upon my former unbelief4 ,but
 ,i could not lay down the subject4     
,since ,i began to try to pray ,i have  
felt1 faintly at first1 like the whisper
 of a suggestion1 but becoming clearer  
and stronger1 like a voice from heaven1 
that ,i must in this congregation       

confess my former state and the feelings
 which ,i have had4 ,it seemed to me    
that ,i could not do this4 ,it seemed   
easier to die than to stand up here and 
confess that my belief1 which ,i had    
pressed upon others and had boasted of  
as better than the gospel1 had given me 
no peace4 ,to-day ,i have been made to  
understand that the ,spirit of ,god has 
set me face to face with this           
confession4 ,i have seen what it means  
to be saved--that my self-will must die 
or ,i must bid adieu to ,christ and     
hope4 ,i cannot live and die hopeless4  
,i cannot rest my head upon unbelief4 ,i
 confess to you that all my thoughts    
have been wrong4 ,my beliefs and my     
unbelief have done me no good4 ,my whole
 life has been enmity and opposition to 
the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i will try to oppose
 the ,spirit no more4 ,i know not what  
the ,spirit may lay upon me1 ,i know not
 how soon ,i may break my resolution1   
but ,i now feel that ,i want to be saved
 from sin1 and cannot do otherwise than 

follow the ,spirit though ,i dwell in   
darkness for ever4 ,if ,christ reject me
 ,i cannot complain1 but if you think   
there is hope for one who has so        
despised the grace of ,god1 ,i entreat  
you to pray for me4  ,it is needless to 
say that from scores of family altars   
and closets supplications went up to    
,god that night for the salvation of    
,mr4 ,hume and ,ansel and ,peter1 and   
men prayed especially that ,mr4 ,hume1  
who for years had been such a tower of  
strength to the ungodly and the dread of
 ,christians1 might be saved for the    
glory of ,christ and the confounding of 
unbelievers4 ,those prayers were heard4 
,when the report of that meeting and    
that confession went out through the    
community1 unbelievers were silent4 ,it 
was as if the ,god of battles had       
emptied his quiver into the hearts of   
his enemies4     ,,chapter ,,xii4       
,,transfer ,,of ,,heat ,,in ,,space4    
,we now turn our attention1 said ,mr4   
,wilton1 to a new theme4 ,in the        

vicissitudes of day and night and of    
summer and winter heat is transferred in
 time4 ,we now are to look at the       
arrangements by which heat is           
transferred in space4 ,but since the    
transfer of heat in space requires more 
or less of time1 the means employed are 
such as suffice to accomplish both      
objects4 ,heat is treasured up and      
carried away to distant regions1 and    
delivered up for use as occasion        
demands4  ,in a previous lesson the     
inclination of the earth's axis was     
spoken of4 ,by this means the northern  
hemisphere of the earth is turned       
somewhat toward the sun during one half 
of the year1 and receives a             
correspondingly larger portion of heat1 
while during the other half of the year 
the southern hemisphere is turned toward
 the sun and is warmed4 ,this           
inclination of the earth's axis to the  
plane of its orbit gives us the change  
of seasons4  ,the change of seasons is  
manifestly designed for the welfare of  

man4 ,along with the genial warmth of   
summer1 fruits and grains and the       
comforts of life are carried far toward 
the poles1 into regions which otherwise 
would be desolate with perpetual frost4 
,but these extremes need to be softened2
 otherwise1 the violence of the changes 
would prove destructive rather than     
beneficent4 ,the severity of these      
annual changes of temperature is        
ameliorated by some of the grandest     
movements and arrangements upon our     
globe4 ,these arrangements we have in a 
very imperfect way already examined4    
,but there are other inequalities of    
temperature besides those of day and    
night1 summer and winter4 ,passing from 
the equator toward the poles1 every     
degree of the earth's surface passed    
over causes the sun to sink one degree  
from the zenith toward the horizon1 and 
gives a corresponding lower temperature1
 till within the polar circles for a    
part of the year the sun is entirely    
hidden and winter reigns without a      

rival4 ,the temperature of the sea      
differs from the temperature of the     
land2 the sun comes nearer to one       
hemisphere than the other1 and remains  
longer north of the equator than south4 
,these and many other differences upon  
the earth give to different parts of the
 world every possible variety of        
temperature and climate4 ,these         
differences of temperature upon sea and 
land1 from zone to zone and from        
hemisphere to hemisphere1 are equalized 
or ameliorated by many agencies1 but    
chiefly by a transfer of heat in space1 
a transfer of heat from place to place4 
,i do not need to tell you that while we
 in the northern hemisphere are enjoying
 the warmth of summer the southern      
hemisphere is enduring the severities of
 winter1 and in turn1 when winter comes 
to us1 summer smiles upon the nations   
that live south of the equator4 ,you    
also remember that the orbit of the     
earth is not an exact circle1 but an    
ellipse1 that is1 what is sometimes     

called in common language a long circle4
 ,for this reason the earth is three    
millions of miles nearer the sun in one 
part of its orbit than when in another  
part4 ,can you tell us1 ,peter1 at what 
season of year the earth is nearer the  
sun8  ,in midwinter1 or about the first 
of ,january4 ,i have always remembered  
it because it seemed so strange to me1  
when ,i learned it1 that the sun should 
be nearest the earth at the coldest     
season of the year4  ,yes1 one is       
reminded by it of the humorous argument 
that the sun must emit cold instead of  
heat1 because when we are at the point  
of the earth's orbit which is nearest   
the sun it is winter1 and the higher one
 ascends upon mountains toward the sun1 
the colder he finds it4 ,but this       
nearness of the sun while south of the  
equator would naturally give the        
southern hemisphere a warmer summer than
 the northern4 ,for this there is a     
beautiful compensation4 ,the earth      
passes through her orbit more rapidly   

when nearer the sun1 and that half of   
her orbit is also smaller1 so that1 as  
the result of this1 the sun remains     
north of the equator about eight days   
longer than in the southern hemisphere4 
,the sun is nearer while in the southern
 hemisphere1 but the summer is shorter4 
,that which the southern hemisphere     
gains in distance it loses in time1 and 
that which the northern loses in        
distance it gains in time4  ,the        
nearness of the sun while south of the  
equator1 the shortness of the summer1   
and the corresponding distance of the   
sun and length of the winter would tend 
to give the southern hemisphere great   
extremes of heat and cold1 a short and  
hot summer and a long and cold winter4  
,for this also there is a most          
interesting compensation in the         
comparative amount of land and water    
north and south of the equator4 ,much   
more than one-half of the dry land lies 
in the northern hemisphere4 ,this would 
tend to give the northern hemisphere    

extremes of heat and cold4 ,south of the
 equator there is comparatively little  
land and much water1 which tends to give
 the southern hemisphere evenness of    
temperature4 ,the inequalities of the   
earth's orbit and the earth's motion in 
its orbit we find counterbalanced by the
 arrangement of land and water upon the 
earth's surface4  ,in connection with   
this we may notice still another        
compensation in the elevation of the    
lands by which the burning heat of the  
torrid zone and the rigors of the colder
 zones are more or less diminished4 ,the
 greater the elevation of any region of 
country1 the cooler must be its climate4
 ,physical geographers like ,baron von  
,humboldt and ,guyot have made          
calculations which show that those grand
 divisions of the earth which lie in the
 hot regions of the earth are most      
elevated above the sea level4 ,south    
,america lies higher than ,north        
,america1 ,asia is more elevated than   
,europe1 and ,africa is more elevated   

than ,asia4 ,the continents rise as they
 approach the equator and sink toward   
the sea level as they come nearer the   
poles4 ,as these colder lands approach  
the water level their valleys sink      
beneath the sea1 their coast lines      
become deeply indented with bays and    
gulfs1 and lakes abound4 ,thus the      
warmer waters of the sea are            
interspersed among the cooler lands1 and
 the temperature of the lands is raised4
 ,the very elevation of the continents  
and the configuration of the lands have 
a providential relation to the          
temperature and climate of the world4   
,we cannot suppose that arrangements    
like these1 so aptly fitted to the needs
 of man1 came by chance4 ,in the        
unmeasured ages past1 while this earth  
was in preparation for man1 ,god had the
 beneficent end in view2 nay1 in the    
very beginning1 the whole plan and its  
beautiful completion was had clearly in 
mind4 ,millions of ages ago the great   
,creator tenderly considered the comfort

 and well-being of the human race1 the  
latest born of his creatures1 in these  
last ages4  ,as a general statement1 the
 torrid zone receives an excess of heat1
 while the frigid zones receive too     
little1 and the temperate zones1 lying  
between1 receive1 at different times and
 places1 sometimes too little and       
sometimes too much4 ,the providential   
arrangements for equalizing temperature 
are1 then1 chiefly arrangements for     
conveying heat from the overheated      
tropical regions and scattering it over 
the temperate and polar regions4 ,first 
among these means we will notice the    
trade-winds1 or1 as for the sake of     
brevity they are often called1 'the     
trades4' ,will you tell us1 ,samuel1 how
 winds are caused8  ,the air is heated  
at some place and expands2 it becomes   
lighter and rises1 while the colder air 
around rushes in to fill its place4     
,you use the words which are commonly   
employed in explaining the origin of    
winds1 and very likely your idea is     

right1 but the language needs a little  
correction4 ,the warm air does not rise 
of its own accord1 so to speak1 but is  
pressed upward4 ,the warm air is        
expanded2 it presses outward and upward2
 the same weight of warm air occupies   
more space than cold air2 the warm air  
rises and overtops the surrounding air1 
and then flows off in order to reach the
 common level4 ,the column of warm air  
is lighter than the cooler air1 and     
cannot balance it2 consequently1 the    
cold air sinks down1 pressing the warm  
air upward4 ,in this manner an ascending
 current of warm air is formed1 and also
 currents of cold air flowing from every
 direction toward the warm centre4      
,these currents continue until the      
temperature of the air is equalized4    
,the atmosphere is commonly believed to 
be forty-five or fifty miles in height1 
though some men have estimated its      
height as very much less than this1     
while others believe it to be six or    
seven hundred miles in height4 ,are we  

to suppose that the column of heated air
 reaches to the top of the atmosphere8  
,i think not1 answered ,mr4 ,hume4 ,the 
rarefaction of the lower part of the    
column renders the whole column lighter 
than the air around1 and the warm air1  
as we know by the movements of the      
clouds1 after rising a little way1      
spreads off in every direction1 forming 
upper currents corresponding to the     
currents below1 but moving in the       
opposite direction4  ,only a few days   
ago1 remarked ,peter1 ,i saw in the same
 part of the sky clouds moving in       
exactly opposite directions1 and others 
which seemed to be standing still4 ,i   
knew how one layer of clouds might be   
moving north and another layer moving   
south1 but ,i did not understand why    
some should be standing still4  ,do you 
imagine1 ,peter1 that the upper and     
lower currents of air1 moving in        
opposite directions1 come sharply       
together1 the one sliding against the   
other8  ,i think not1 said ,peter4      

,supposing1 then1 as is certainly true1 
that a stratum of still air lies between
 the upper and lower winds1 does not    
that explain how certain clouds might be
 standing still while the others were   
moving8  ,i might have thought of that  
myself4  ,but how does this carry heat  
from the warmer region to the colder    
regions around8 asked ,ansel4 ,i see how
 the colder air coming in would cool the
 warm region1 and how the warm ascending
 air would carry away the excess of     
heat1 but how do the cooler regions get 
the advantage of this heat8  ,that is   
just what ,i was on the point of        
explaining4 ,do you remember what was   
said about the production of cold by    
expansion and of heat by compression8   
,i remember that if air be rarefied by  
removing pressure from it1 its          
temperature falls3 ,i think you said    
that a part of its sensible heat becomes
 latent2 and if air be compressed1 its  
temperature rises4 ,i have seen         
experiments with the air pump and       

condenser to prove this4  ,that         
principle explains the transfer of heat 
by winds4 ,if the heated air rose to the
 upper regions1 and there radiated its  
heat1 nothing would be gained2 the heat 
would be simply radiated into space4    
,but as the warm air rises pressure is  
more and more removed from it2 it       
expands2 its sensible heat becomes      
latent and is thus kept from radiation2 
its temperature falls1 but not from loss
 of heat4 ,this rarefied air forms the  
upper current flowing away from the     
heated centre4 ,in due time this air    
must come to the surface of the earth   
again4 ,whenever this takes place the   
air is brought again under pressure2 it 
is compressed1 and its latent heat      
becomes again sensible4 ,heat is thus   
transferred from the warmer region to   
the colder in a latent condition1 so    
that it cannot be lost4 ,we must now    
apply this to the trade-winds4 ,what are
 the trade-winds1 ,mr4 ,hume8  ,they are
 regular winds blowing from a little    

north and south of the tropics of       
,cancer and ,capricorn south-west and   
north-west toward the equator4  ,these  
winds are called trade-winds1 continued 
,mr4 ,wilton1 on account of their great 
advantage to trade or commerce4 ,the    
regular and steady sweep of these winds 
bears the merchantmen rapidly and safely
 on their way4 ,the formation of 'the   
trades' is easily explained4 ,by the    
intense heat of the sun under the       
equator the air is greatly expanded and 
rarefied2 the heated air rises along the
 whole line of the equator2 from both   
sides the cooler air presses in1 is     
heated1 and rises2 thus steady winds are
 formed from the tropics1 or a little   
beyond the tropics1 toward the equator4 
,if the earth had no rotation upon its  
axis1 these winds would blow directly   
toward the equator1 exactly south and   
north4 ,the rotation of the earth gives 
the trade-winds their oblique1          
south-west and north-west direction4    
,suppose that a single particle of air  

at the tropic of ,cancer starts upon its
 journey toward the equator4 ,at its    
starting it has the same motion eastward
 as the surface of the earth at that    
place1 that is1 about nine hundred and  
fifty miles per hour4 ,but as it moves  
on southward the degrees of longitude   
become longer and the motion of the     
earth's surface becomes more rapid1 till
 at the equator its motion is one       
thousand and forty miles per hour4 ,but 
the particle of air we are watching is  
not fastened to the earth's surface1 and
 as the earth moves more rapidly the    
nearer we come to the equator1 the      
particle of air falls behind1 that is1  
the air moves southward and eastward1   
but the earth moves eastward more       
rapidly than the air1 so that the air   
falls behind and seems to be moving     
westward4 ,the result is that the air   
upon the earth's surface moves          
south-west4 ,that which takes place with
 a single particle takes place with the 
whole body of the air1 and that which   

takes place north of the equator takes  
place south of it also1 producing       
north-west winds4 ,on reaching the      
equator the winds from the north and the
 south meet and stop1 forming the       
equatorial calms1 and mingling together1
 they rise into the higher regions4 ,in 
rising1 the air bears away heat from the
 torrid zone1 and this heat1 rendered   
latent by the expansion of the air1 is  
carried north and south by the upper    
currents as far as the limits of 'the   
trades4' ,in due time these upper       
currents descend and their latent       
becomes sensible heat1 and is used in   
raising the temperature4 ,mr4 ,hume1 can
 you suggest any method by which we can 
estimate the amount of heat which is    
carried north and south by the return   
trades8  ,i know of no method1 except to
 estimate the amount of heat necessary  
to raise that flood of air which pours  
in from the temperate zones to the      
equatorial heat4 ,that immense amount of
 heat must1 nearly all of it1 be carried

 away to the temperate regions4  ,this  
is the general explanation of the       
trade-winds4 ,you must understand1      
however1 that1 in certain regions and   
under certain conditions1 the trades are
 liable to interruption or change of    
direction4 ,desert regions within or    
near the tropics give rise to local     
winds which overpower the trades4 ,in   
,southern ,asia1 while the sun is north 
of the equator1 the land becomes so much
 hotter than the sea under the equator  
that the trade-wind is overpowered and  
reversed1 forming a wind which blows to 
the north-east instead of the           
south-west4 ,but this is only a         
beautiful flexure1 so to speak1 of a    
general arrangement for the greater     
advantage of a particular region4 ,by   
this means the summer winds of ,southern
 ,asia come from the sea4 ,northern     
winds would have been dry4 ,prevailing  
northern winds would have made the whole
 of ,southern ,asia a desert2 but the   
south-west monsoons come from the       

,indian ,ocean laden with vapor1 and    
render ,southern ,asia a very garden for
 fertility4  ,the next great agency for 
equalizing temperature between the      
torrid and temperature zones is the     
formation and condensation of vapor4    
,this comes in here1 because it depends 
for its efficiency upon the agency of   
winds4 ,more than once this method of   
conveying heat from place to place has  
been hinted at1 but deferred till we    
came to the proper place to speak of    
winds4  ,the trade-winds1 passing over  
from a colder to a warmer climate1 are  
constantly accumulating vapor4 ,under   
the equator the annual evaporation from 
the surface of the ocean is set down at 
fifteen feet1 or half an inch daily4    
,the formation of this vapor consumes   
heat which would boil more than eighty  
feet of ice water4 ,the vapor thus      
formed is borne upward by the ascending 
current of heated air4 ,on reaching the 
higher regions a portion of it is       
condensed and forms a belt of clouds    

around the earth4 ,this belt of clouds  
along the equator is known as the       
'cloud-ring4' ,this cloud-ring shields  
the belt of calms from the burning rays 
of the sun and sends down almost        
incessant rains4 ,but does not that     
condensation which forms the cloud-ring 
set free latent heat1 and thus intensify
 the great heat of the equator8 ,latent 
heat becomes sensible1 but it is given  
out into the ascending current of air1  
and serves only to give it another lift 
till by expansion of the air it again   
becomes latent4 ,the heat is simply     
transferred from the vapor to the air4  
,the vapor which remains uncondensed is 
borne away on the wings of the return   
'trades' to the south and to the north1 
and in due time is condensed and returns
 to the earth as rain2 the heat which is
 given out by its condensation1 wherever
 and whenever it is condensed1 is given 
over as latent heat to the keeping of   
the air1 and is passed back for use     
whenever the air descends to the earth4 

,vapor gathered from sea or land is     
everywhere exerting this equalizing     
influence upon temperature4 ,does the   
temperature rise in any place8 ,vapor is
 formed4 ,every moist body begins to    
give up its moisture1 and the excess of 
heat is employed in turning this water  
into vapor4 ,this is the method by which
 perspiration cools man or beast2       
whether it be insensible perspiration   
from the invisible pores of the skin1 or
 perspiration standing in beady drops   
upon the face of the toiling laborer1   
vapor is formed and heat is carried     
away4 ,have you not noticed on close1   
muggy days when nothing dries1 showing  
that very little vapor is forming1 that 
perspiration seems to have no cooling   
effect8 ,it oozes from the skin1 but    
does not evaporate1 and hence does not  
carry off the surplus heat4 ,animals    
like dogs and oxen1 that do not become  
wet with perspiration1 do not bear heat 
well2 they soon pant and loll1          
attempting to get rid of the excessive  

heat through the moist breath and open  
mouth4  ,the sum-total of heat          
transferred by this agency is too great 
for comprehension4 ,look at the ,amazon 
rolling to the ocean a flood broad as an
 arm of the sea4 ,that great river is   
brought from the ,atlantic ,ocean on the
 shoulders of the trade-wind4 ,as the   
vapor is slowly lifted by the rise of   
the land from the sea level to the      
summits of the ,andes1 it is condensed1 
and falls as rain4 ,well is it for      
,south ,america that the ,andes were    
thrown up on the western coast1 for the 
winds west of the mountains are dry as a
 pressed sponge1 and the most of that   
narrow slope is barren and desolate4    
,south ,america would be a desert if the
 ,andes ran along the eastern coast4    
,look at the ,mississippi1 and the great
 rivers of ,europe1 and the matchless   
rivers of ,southern ,asia4 ,all the     
rivers of the world represent only the  
wastage of the rain which falls upon the
 land after supplying the wants of the  

vegetable kingdom and keeping the lands 
moist4 ,all this water is lifted into   
the air by heat1 and every movement of  
vapor is a movement of heat4 ,every     
particle of vapor goes freighted with   
heat4 ,every cloud driven across the sky
 represents the transfer of heat1 and   
every transfer is in the direction of   
equalization4 ,everywhere the tendency  
is to equilibrium4 ,nature has no       
processes for transferring heat from    
colder to warmer regions4  ,we may form 
a conception of the amount of heat      
transferred by the agency of vapor by   
estimating the amount of heat-force     
required to evaporate the water which   
forms our rain-clouds and lift them into
 the upper regions4 ,according to a     
calculation of ,mr4 ,allen1 late of     
,providence1 to evaporate one-eighth of 
an inch of water daily from that belt of
 the surface of the earth lying within  
the tropics1 and raise it five thousand 
feet high1 requires #d1gjj1jjj1jjj      
horse-power1 or one hundred and thirty  

times the effective force of the whole  
human race1 reckoning it at #bej1jjj1jjj
 able-bodied men4 ,but the actual       
evaporation from the sea within the     
tropics is believed to be about half an 
inch daily--four times as great as ,mr4 
,allen's supposition4  ,i see1 however1 
that our time is nearly exhausted1 and  
,i wish before closing to revert to that
 more important theme upon which ,i     
spoke this forenoon4 ,i do not know how 
the truths preached interested or       
affected you1 nor do ,i now wish to have
 you tell me4 ,i wish only to say that1 
as the sermon was preached at your      
request1 ,i hope it proved applicable to
 you1 and that you will give the truths 
presented earnest attention4 ,consider  
them well1 and make your conclusions    
known this evening4  ,the conclusion    
which the evening made known1 you1      
reader1 have already learned4           
,,chapter ,,xiii4  ,,ocean ,,currents   
,,and ,,icebergs4   ,a week has passed  
since ,mr4 ,hume made his frank         

confession4 ,he went home no lighter of 
heart than before1 yet he felt in some  
respects different1 for he had attempted
 to do what was right in the sight of   
,god4 ,but he did not feel the joy of   
sins forgiven4 ,he had not looked upon  
,christ as a ,saviour for himself4 ,he  
felt that ,god had distinctly set life  
and death before him4 ,his doubts were  
gone2 the spiritual world was a reality2
 ,christ stood at his right hand and    
,satan at his left2 he stood where the  
path of destiny divided1 the one path   
leading up to heavenly seats with       
,christ1 the other leading down to      
darkness and despair4 ,a voice seemed to
 be whispering in his ears1 ,this is the
 last call4 ,he went to his chamber     
determined1 if possible1 to settle the  
question of life or death before he left
 the place and before he slept4 ,he took
 his ,bible1 and on his knees turned and
 read the ,psalms at random4 ,but the   
cloud of darkness only gathered deeper4 
,the words of ,david's penitential      

,psalm caught his eye3 ,against thee1   
thee only1 have ,i sinned1 and done this
 evil in thy sight4 ,he felt that these 
words of ,david were true in his case   
also4 ,all his long impenitence and bold
 unbelief had been against ,god4 ,by    
night and by day1 for many a long year1 
before the sleepless eye of ,god1 he had
 lifted up his hand1 almost defying the 
holy ,one1 yet the lightning of ,god had
 not smitten him4 ,he wondered as much  
at the long-suffering of ,god as at his 
own dreadful daring of the divine wrath4
 ,he had been taught better things2 he  
was trained to know the ,scriptures and 
to go reverently to the house of ,god1  
but he had turned from ,christ and hope4
 ,he read on3 ,deliver me from          
blood-guiltiness1 ,o ,god1 thou ,god of 
my salvation4 ,he felt that this        
belonged to himself more than to ,david4
 ,david had shed the blood of natural   
life1 but he had destroyed the souls of 
men4 ,he had stood chief among          
unbelievers4 ,he had led young men into 

infidelity4 ,he had seen them drink in  
his unbelief like water1 throw off all  
restraint1 and rush headlong to ruin4   
,he had wrought a work of evil which he 
could never undo1 and for which he could
 make no atonement4 ,what was a         
confession in comparison with the ruin  
he had caused8 ,what could his          
confession do for the young men already1
 perhaps1 among the lost through his    
influence8 ,could his late repentance   
call them back to life and hope8 ,would 
,god forgive and raise to heavenly      
heights a man who had dragged others    
down to hell8 ,would it be possible that
 ,christ should fill his soul with      
blessedness while his victims were      
drinking the wine of the wrath of ,god8 
,a deep horror seized him4 ,the darkness
 of eternal death seemed to enfold him4 
,must he1 then1 after having caught a   
glimpse of life and joy1 be cut off from
 hope and be driven from ,god for ever8 
,this would be just1 but he felt that he
 could not endure it4 ,o thou great and 

holy ,god1 he prayed1 ,i will ascribe   
righteousness to thee though thy        
righteous wrath shall sink me to hell2  
but1 ,o thou merciful ,god1 my soul     
cannot endure thy justice4 ,the         
foretaste of thy wrath fills me with the
 pangs of eternal death4 ,o ,god1 have  
mercy upon me4 ,o ,god1 blot out my     
transgressions4 ,create in me a clean   
heart1 and renew a right spirit within  
me4 ,o ,christ1 whom ,i have despised1  
cast me not from thy presence4 ,help me 
to submit to thee4 ,help me to follow   
thee4 ,spare me that ,i may undo        
something of that which ,i have done    
against thy glory and the souls of men4 
,o ,jesus1 ,i can do nothing to save    
myself4 ,o ,lord1 have mercy on me1 the 
chief of sinners4  ,he read the         
invitations and promises of ,christ1 and
 prayed again4 ,again he read and again 
he prayed4 ,little by little the        
promises of ,christ stirred a feeble    
faith in his heart2 he felt that there  
was still hope for him1 and with the    

determination to cast himself upon the  
sure mercies of ,christ and to devote   
himself to his service1 he threw himself
 upon his bed1 and being wearied almost 
to exhaustion1 soon fell asleep4 ,when  
he awoke it was broad daylight4 ,he had 
slept a sweet1 refreshing sleep4 ,but he
 was refreshed not merely in body4 ,he  
woke to a new world4 ,his heart was     
filled with sweet thankfulness4 ,how    
beautiful1 he said1 is ,god's world6 ,i 
never saw it so before1 but the earth   
and sky seem clothed in glory4 ,but most
 wonderful of all is ,god's goodness to 
me4 ,i have rebelled against him all my 
life1 yet he has loved me and sought for
 my salvation1 and now the sunlight of  
his love has broken through the thick   
clouds of my sin1 and a day of hope and 
joy has dawned upon my life4 ,christ has
 indeed revealed himself4 ,blessed be   
his holy name for ever and ever6 ,what  
shall ,i render unto the ,lord for all  
his benefits8 ,i will take the cup of   
salvation and call upon the name of the 

,lord4 ,i will pay my vows now in       
presence of all his people4 ,i will     
teach transgressors thy ways1 and       
sinners shall be converted unto thee4   
,all this was known to the people1 for  
during the week ,mr4 ,hume had spoken of
 it in private and in public4 ,he had   
told it to ,mr4 ,wilton1 and they had   
rejoiced together4  ,ansel and ,peter   
had also regularly presented themselves 
at every meeting as anxious inquirers   
desiring the grace of ,god4 ,peter had  
also on his knees said from the heart1  
,here1 ,lord1 ,i give myself away1 and  
had received the assurance that his sins
 were forgiven4 ,the ,spirit of ,god    
witnessed with his spirit that he was   
born of ,god4 ,he began at once to use  
all his influence to bring his young    
friends to ,jesus4 ,the addition of two 
such workers as ,mr4 ,hume and ,peter1  
each moving in his own circle of        
acquaintances1 gave a fresh impulse to  
the religious interest1 which was now   
becoming deep and pervasive4 ,especially

 had ,mr4 ,hume's conversion1 so clear  
and positive1 confounded those who had  
sat in the seat of the scornful1 and    
many came in now for the first time to  
see for themselves what it could be that
 had mastered their cold1 clear-headed  
leader in unbelief4  ,but ,ansel still  
walked in darkness4 ,he had talked with 
,mr4 ,wilton1 but no light had entered  
his mind4 ,he said that he thought he   
had submitted in all things to the will 
of ,god4 ,he was becoming impatient that
 ,christ had not come to him as to      
others4 ,this was their condition as    
they came together upon the ,lord's     
,day4 ,they all understood each other1  
and had no need now to ask questions or 
make explanations4 ,mr4 ,wilton believed
 that the study of ,god's works would   
not interrupt the working of the ,holy  
,spirit1 and therefore went on with his 
lesson as usual4  ,we have already      
spoken of the transfer of heat from the 
torrid to the temperate and frigid zones
 by the agency of winds and watery      

vapor4 ,these carry heat chiefly in a   
latent condition4 ,but great movements  
of heat take place in a sensible state4 
,in this transfer of heat1 also1 water  
is the great carrier4 ,the winds and    
vapor go freighted with latent heat     
above1 and the waters and wind go       
freighted with sensible heat below4 ,we 
will first examine the operation of the 
ocean currents4  ,not only do rivers run
 through the lands and hasten to the    
sea1 but in the midst of the oceans     
rivers are flowing in comparison with   
which the ,mississippi1 the ,amazon1 and
 the ,yang-tse-kiang are rippling       
brooklets4 ,the earth is belted by these
 ocean streams traversing the seas4 ,an 
ocean current1 called the ,gulf ,stream1
 issues from the ,gulf of ,mexico       
between the ,florida coast and the      
,bahama islands4 ,it flows northward off
 the coast of the ,united ,states1      
gradually increasing in breadth and     
spreading over the ,atlantic ,ocean4 ,it
 is deflected by the ,new ,england coast

 and the great shoals off ,newfoundland1
 called the ,grand ,banks1 or else by   
another current flowing southward from  
,baffin's ,bay1 and strikes across the  
,north ,atlantic1 bathing the shores of 
the ,british islands and reaching even  
to ,iceland4  ,the general outline of   
the ocean currents is this3 issuing from
 the ,south ,pacific1 a current flowing 
eastward splits upon ,cape ,horn4 ,the  
western portion1 called ,humboldt's     
current1 flows northward along the      
western coast of ,south ,america1 and is
 swallowed up and lost in the great     
equatorial current of the ,pacific4     
,this is a broad current flowing        
westward and covering the entire space  
between the tropics4 ,striking upon the 
eastern shores of ,asia1 this equatorial
 current divides1 one part flowing      
northward along the coast of ,asia1 the 
other finding its way through the many  
islands1 sweeping across the ,indian    
,ocean1 and flowing down the eastern    
shore of ,africa on each side of        

,madagascar4 ,doubling the ,cape of     
,good ,hope1 the current continues in a 
north-westerly direction across the     
,atlantic4 ,striking upon ,cape ,st4    
,roque1 this current again divides2 a   
part flows south and a part pours into  
the ,caribbean ,sea4 ,from the          
,caribbean ,sea it issues as the ,gulf  
,stream1 of which ,i have already       
spoken4 ,this ,gulf ,stream impinges    
upon the western coast of ,europe1 and  
pours partly into the ,north ,sea and   
partly flows south off the western coast
 of ,africa1 completing thus the circuit
 of the ,atlantic4 ,the currents of the 
,indian and of the great ,southern      
,oceans are as yet very imperfectly     
understood4 ,of all the ocean streams   
the ,gulf ,stream is most famous and    
best understood4 ,i shall therefore use 
this as an illustration of the agency of
 ocean currents in conveying heat and   
modifying climate4  ,the waters of the  
,caribbean ,sea are heated by the tropic
 sun to eighty-eight degrees4 ,from     

these heated waters the ,gulf ,stream   
issues salter and warmer1 and of a      
deeper blue1 than the waters of the     
surrounding sea4 ,its greatest velocity 
as it issues from the gulf is a little  
more than three miles per hour4 ,as it  
flows northward its velocity diminishes1
 its breadth becomes greater1 and its   
depth less4 ,it covers thus with its    
warm waters a broad belt of the         
,atlantic ,ocean1 and extends its       
influence to the most northern part of  
,europe4 ,you can judge of the amount of
 heat which is removed from the tropics 
when ,i tell you that the unmeasured    
flood of the ,gulf ,stream would swallow
 up three thousand rivers like the      
,mississippi4 ,this one ocean stream is 
many times greater than all the rivers  
of the world4 ,we feel the warmth of the
 ,gulf ,stream with every wind that     
blows from the sea4 ,to this the        
,british isles owe their mild1 moist    
climate and perennial greenness1 and by 
its influence a winter in ,iceland1 upon

 the ,arctic circle1 is no more rigorous
 than a winter in ,montreal1 twenty-one 
degrees nearer the equator4 ,but what is
 the ,gulf ,stream1 though it be fifty  
fold greater than all the rivers of the 
world1 in comparison with the whole sum 
of the ocean streams8 ,upper currents   
and under currents fill the sea4 ,they  
meet the explorers of the sea           
everywhere4 ,the navigator drops his    
measuring line1 and finds it swept away 
and drawn out by unseen currents4 ,all  
these movements of the waters are in    
favor of the equalization of            
temperature4 ,the cooler waters of the  
frigid and temperate zones are mingled  
with the heated waters of the tropics   
and exchanged for the equatorial waters4
 ,the transfer of heat would not be     
greater if broad rivers of molten lava  
were flowing from the equator to the    
poles4  ,another agency for the transfer
 of heat is the movement of ice1 and    
especially of icebergs4  ,will you not  
tell us1 said ,samuel1 how these ocean  

currents are produced8 ,i can understand
 how winds are formed1 but ,i do not see
 that these streams in the sea could be 
formed in the same way4  ,i designed to 
speak of this1 but for the moment it had
 slipped from my mind3 ,i am glad that  
you called my attention to it4 ,i do not
 expect1 however1 to give a full and    
satisfactory account of their origin4   
,if ,i should do this1 ,i should succeed
 where every other man has failed4 ,i   
shall not attempt a full explanation4   
,by some means or other1 the waters of  
the ocean are thrown out of equilibrium1
 and these currents are plainly an      
effort to restore the balance or        
equilibrium of the waters4 ,many        
influences and agencies conspire to     
disturb the equilibrium of the sea4 ,the
 attractions of the sun and moon are    
constantly counteracting the attraction 
of the earth and lifting the waters1 so 
to speak1 above their natural level4    
,the tides produced by these attractions
 of the sun and moon are the immediate  

cause of some of the minor local        
currents4 ,the winds set the waters in  
motion1 tending to pile them up in one  
place and leave the sea below its       
natural level at another4 ,the effect of
 strong winds in piling up the waters1  
even upon our great lakes1 is very      
considerable4 ,a heavy east wind upon   
,lake ,erie has been known to drive the 
waters toward the western end of the    
lake so much as to leave ,niagara ,river
 above the falls almost dry4 ,on the    
other hand1 a heavy west wind drives the
 waters eastward1 and produces almost a 
flood in the river4 ,the influence of   
constant winds like the 'trades' acting 
upon an immense expanse of water must be
 very much greater4 ,unequal evaporation
 tends to destroy the balance of the    
waters4 ,in the colder regions the      
evaporation is very little1 while within
 the tropics it amounts to about half an
 inch daily1 or fifteen feet per annum4 
,the head of the ,red ,sea is two feet  
lower than its mouth on account of      

evaporation4 ,this unequal evaporation  
causes also an unequal saltness1 and    
consequently an unequal weight4 ,the    
fresher and lighter water cannot balance
 an equal bulk of salter and heavier    
water4 ,when once currents are started  
the revolution of the earth upon its    
axis would affect them1 just as the     
rotation of the earth affects the       
trade-winds4 ,now1 all these various    
agencies1 and perhaps many others1      
combine their influence to destroy the  
equilibrium of the waters of the ocean4 
,they unite and interweave their        
influence in a thousand ways beyond all 
human calculation4 ,the result is the   
ocean currents4 ,but how much is due to 
one cause and how much to another in the
 present state of knowledge no man can  
tell4 ,only for a few years have the    
phenomena of ocean currents been made   
the object of scientific observation and
 research4 ,but the effect of ocean     
currents in modifying climate is well   
understood1 and the modification of     

climate means nothing else than the     
transfer of heat4 ,this is all that ,i  
have to say of the rivers of the sea1   
and if there are no more questions1 we  
will now look at the movement of heat   
caused by icebergs4  ,no question was   
asked1 and ,mr4 ,wilton continued3  ,in 
polar regions there must be an immense  
formation of ice4 ,except in the oceans1
 the movements of water are chiefly     
movements of water in the condition of  
ice4 ,only for a small part of the year 
could water exist unfrozen4 ,immense    
regions of the ,antarctic continent seem
 to be covered with one broad glacier4  
,the ice pushes down into the sea until1
 undermined by the dashing of the waves1
 it breaks off1 and enormous fragments  
are launched upon the deep waters4 ,sir 
,james ,ross saw in the southern ocean a
 chain of such icebergs extending as far
 as the eye could reach from the        
mast-head1 many of them from one hundred
 feet to one hundred and eighty feet in 
height and miles across4 ,captain       

d',urville saw one thirteen miles long  
and one hundred feet high4 ,its bulk was
 so vast that though the waves were     
dashing against it not a tremor was     
perceptible4 ,astronomic observations   
could be made from it as if it were     
solid rock rooted in the heart of the   
earth4 ,in the same manner icebergs are 
formed in the northern ocean also4 ,how 
much heat is given out in the freezing  
of water8  ,about one hundred and forty 
degrees1 answered ,peter4  ,in the      
formation of icebergs1 then1 heat is    
given out nearly sufficient to boil an  
equal quantity of cold water4 ,the      
icebergs float away toward the equator4 
,they come down from ,baffin's ,bay till
 they meet the ,gulf ,stream off        
,newfoundland4 ,in the southern         
hemisphere they come ten degrees nearer 
the equator4 ,as they float toward the  
tropics they slowly melt1 and in their  
melting they exact from the air and the 
sea where they melt the same amount of  
heat which they gave up in their        

freezing4 ,if they melted at the same   
place where they froze1 there would be  
no transfer of heat4 ,but they are      
formed in the polar regions2 they give  
out their heat in the frigid zone1 while
 they melt and absorb a like amount of  
heat from the temperate zones4 ,in this 
manner the polar regions are exchanging 
with the temperate zones ice for water4 
,they borrow water1 rob it of its latent
 heat1 and send it back in the form of  
ice4 ,the temperate zones supply the    
needed heat and bring the ice back to   
the form of water1 when the polar       
regions again borrow it1 seize upon its 
heat1 and again send it back in the form
 of ice mountains4 ,the effect is the   
same as if thousands of railroad trains 
were transporting water to the frigid   
zones1 leaving it there to freeze and   
give up its one hundred and forty       
degrees of latent heat1 and bringing it 
back in the form of ice4 ,let us        
estimate the bulk of one such iceberg as
 that seen by ,captain d',urville4 ,it  

was thirteen miles long and one hundred 
feet high1 and we will suppose that it  
was four miles broad4 ,standing out from
 the water one hundred feet1 it must    
have sunk at least eight hundred feet   
below the surface4 ,this would give us  
the enormous bulk of                    
7#a1cjd1gji1abj1jjj7 one trillion three 
hundred and four billions seven hundred 
and nine millions one hundred and twenty
 thousand cubic feet of ice4 ,the       
burning of one pound of coal will       
generate heat sufficient to melt about  
five and a half cubic feet of ice4 ,to  
melt one such iceberg would require more
 than one hundred and eighteen millions 
of tons of anthracite coal4 ,this is the
 amount of heat given out in the polar  
region by its freezing4 ,this is the    
amount of heat transported from the     
warmer to the colder regions4 ,but what 
is one iceberg to the thousands which   
drift yearly from the frigid zones      
toward the tropics8  ,but even this     
hardly represents the entire transfer of

 heat by the agency of icebergs4 ,the   
icebergs are formed from the snows of   
polar storms1 and these are formed from 
the condensation and freezing of vapors4
 ,in the process of condensation one    
thousand degrees of heat are given out4 
,every iceberg represents a transfer of 
heat sufficient to boil more than six   
times its weight of ice water4  ,one    
marked illustration of the effect of    
icebergs we ought to notice4 ,down      
through ,baffin's ,bay icebergs are     
constantly floating4 ,they are borne on 
southward till1 in the still waters of  
the ,grand ,banks1 between the polar    
current and the ,gulf ,stream1 they     
float around and melt and disappear4 ,to
 these melting icebergs the chilliness  
and unfailing fogs of the ,grand ,banks 
are due2 and not only this1 but the very
 existence of the ,banks is supposed to 
be due to the deposit of sediment1 sand1
 earth1 and stone brought by polar ice4 
,i have spoken only of the polar        
glaciers and the icebergs formed by     

their pushing off into the sea4 ,but the
 same transfer of heat is taking place1 
on a very much smaller scale and within 
narrow limits1 by the glaciers of the   
,alps and every other mountain glacier4 
,the glaciers are nothing else than     
rivers of ice4 ,snow falls upon the     
mountain tops and valleys of the        
mountain sides from age to age4 ,the    
snow slowly changes to the structure of 
ice1 and by its enormous weight flows   
down through the gorges of the mountain 
sides1 till in the warmer vales below it
 melts and disappears4 ,we have not time
 to go into a full examination of all   
the interesting phenomena of glaciers1  
but this one point you will notice and  
remember3 these rivers of ice--for they 
flow like rivers--cool the valleys and  
tend to warm the mountain tops2 of      
course upon the tops of the mountains   
there can be no accumulation of heat1   
because1 standing out into the eternal  
coldness of space1 and swept by winds   
for ever1 and exposed by the thinness of

 the air to a rapidity of evaporation   
unknown at the sea level1 heat is caught
 up and borne away in a moment4         
,illustration3 ,,transportation of      
,,heat4  ,page #bhh4   ,this closes this
 department of our theme4 ,i might have 
gone much more into details and given   
you great stores of particular facts and
 figures1 but they would have added     
nothing to your understanding of the    
subject1 and we can hardly afford to    
devote our ,lord's ,day to mastering the
 details of the natural sciences4 ,we   
have now looked at some of the methods  
by which the extremes of heat and cold1 
in day and night1 in summer and winter1 
and in the tropics and polar regions1   
are mitigated4 ,the same principles     
operate upon the smallest and upon the  
largest scale4 ,if there is need for me 
to attempt in a formal way to awaken in 
you admiration for the wisdom and       
goodness of ,god shown in all these     
beneficent arrangements for equalizing  
temperature1 our study has been largely 

in vain4 ,we have only to remember that 
all these contrivances are the ,lord's  
designs4 ,he created the world2 he      
endowed matter with its qualities and   
forces1 and he gave it these qualities  
and forces for the purpose of using it  
as he has used it4 ,he planned all those
 contrivances by which he secures the   
comfort and the good of man1 and the    
fact that these natural agencies are    
fitted for moral uses in recovering     
sinners to holiness and blessedness is  
but the culmination of its adaptation to
 the uses of man4  ,this1 however1 does 
not complete our course of study4 ,a few
 other points will demand our attention 
for two or three more lessons4 ,but     
while we go on with our studies of      
,nature1 remember that the physical was 
created for the sake of the spiritual2  
the spiritual is more important4 ,let us
 not subvert the divine order and sink  
the high purpose of the creation to mere
 material agencies and contrivances4 ,to
 know ,god is greater and better than to

 understand ,nature4 ,that we might know
 and enjoy and glorify the ,creator was 
the object of our creation4 ,we cannot  
express it in better language than that 
employed in the old catechism3 ',the    
chief end of man is to glorify ,god and 
enjoy him for ever4' ,that term 'for    
ever' includes the present life as well 
as the future4 ,we ought to know1 enjoy1
 and glorify ,god to-day4 ,i hope that  
another week may find ,ansel with some  
happy experience in this matter4        
,,chapter ,,xiv4                        
,,combustion4--,,coal-,,beds4   ,another
 ,lord's ,day comes1 and no change has  
taken place with the class which calls  
for mention4 ,ansel still walks in      
darkness1 ready indeed on every occasion
 to manifest his concern for the        
salvation of his soul1 diligent in      
reading the ,scriptures1 frequent in    
prayer1 and giving yet no indication of 
a flagging of his avowed purpose to     
follow ,christ1 but he receives no      
comfort and peace4 ,a painful and       

distressed interest is becoming more and
 more concentrated upon him4 ,what will 
be the end of his groping in darkness8  
,this cannot last always4 ,unless the   
hindrance1 whatever it be1 which        
prevents the exercise of faith1 be seen 
and removed1 ,ansel will probably soon  
go back to his former careless state1   
and1 it may be1 become tenfold more     
obdurate than before4 ,he will be       
likely1 on the one hand1 to become      
self-righteous from his supposed effort 
to come to ,jesus1 and1 on the other1   
discouraged and despairing1 feeling that
 for him effort is vain and salvation   
unattainable4 ,while he remains in this 
state the very lapse of time is         
dangerous4 ,all feel concerned for him1 
but no questions are asked1 and the     
lesson goes on as usual4  ,the method of
 transferring heat which we are now to  
examine is wholly different in principle
 from any which we have as yet          
considered4 ,i refer to the production  
of heat by combustion4 ,the transfer of 

heat by combustion cannot be compared   
for vastness with those great movements 
of heat which have before claimed our   
attention1 yet for the comfort and      
well-being of the human race combustion 
is exceedingly important4 ,without that 
command of heat which combustion gives1 
man could not rise at best above the    
savage state1 and in fact could hardly  
exist upon the earth4 ,we smile at the  
,grecian myth that ,prometheus stole    
fire from the gods and brought it to men
 in his reed staff1 but fire is         
certainly worthy of being counted one of
 ,god's great gifts4 ,but whence comes  
the heat of combustion8 ,is it a new and
 original generation of heat1 or is it  
merely a transfer8 ,will some one       
explain this8  ,i don't think that ,i   
can tell1 said ,samuel4 ,i remember the 
principles you have given us about the  
nature and production of heat1 but ,i do
 not know how to apply them to          
combustion4  ,i did not suppose that you
 would be able to explain all the       

phenomena of ,nature at sight1 yet the  
production of heat by combustion is not 
difficult to be understood4 ,the burning
 of wood and coal is chiefly the union  
of oxygen with carbon4 ,the oxygen of   
the air unites with the carbon of the   
combustible4 ,the attractive force      
between oxygen and carbon is very       
strong4 ,when they unite1 the atoms of  
oxygen dash against the atoms of carbon 
with great violence4 ,as they dash one  
upon another their motion is lost1 but  
by the laws of transmutation of forces  
that lost motion reappears as heat2 that
 is1 the motion of the atoms as they    
fall the one against the other is       
changed to that vibration of the atoms  
which we call heat4 ,the atoms of       
carbon1 in their separation from oxygen1
 may be compared to weights suspended1  
ready to fall4 ,let once the cord be    
cut1 and the weight falls and dashes    
against the earth2 its motion in falling
 is lost1 and reappears as heat4 ,so    
carbon is suspended1 so to speak1       

waiting to unite with oxygen4 ,but how  
is the weight raised8 ,how is carbon    
brought into this state of suspense1    
waiting to dash upon oxygen and develop 
heat8 ,that is not its natural state4   
,carbonic acid is found everywhere      
mingled in small proportions with the   
atmosphere4 ,this carbonic acid is      
nothing else than carbon and oxygen     
united in the proportion of one atom of 
carbon to two atoms of oxygen4 ,this is 
the natural state of carbon4 ,this      
carbonic acid is the food of plants2 it 
is this which supports all vegetable    
growth4 ,the carbonic acid is absorbed  
by the leaves of plants and trees1 and  
in the hidden laboratory of the leaf1 by
 what process is one of the undiscovered
 secrets of ,nature1 the carbon is      
separated from the oxygen1 the oxygen is
 discharged through the pores of the    
leaf1 and the carbon is carried into the
 circulation to build up the fabric of  
the woody fibre4 ,that which the most   
skillful chemist in the world cannot do1

 except by indirect processes and at a  
high temperature1 the leaves are doing  
directly at the ordinary temperature4   
,vegetable growth is a deoxidizing      
process4 ,to accomplish this an enormous
 force is requisite4 ,to separate carbon
 and oxygen1 a force is demanded which  
is able to overcome their powerful      
attraction4 ,how shall we estimate the  
strength of this force8 ,in order that  
they may unite1 as in the explosion of  
gunpowder1 solid rocks are torn asunder4
 ,the attraction of carbon and oxygen is
 strong enough to tear great rocks in   
twain4 ,it is this attraction which     
sends the cannon ball and the shell like
 meteors of death upon their errands of 
destruction4 ,this great force must be  
overcome2 carbon must be separated from 
oxygen and built into trees4 ,this is   
the lifting up of the weight4 ,but      
whence comes the force necessary to     
accomplish this8 ,from the sunbeam4 ,the
 heat of the summer's sun1 employed as  
force1 is used to deoxidize carbonic    

acid4 ,heat is used1 and used up1 in    
lifting the weight which in its fall    
shall generate again a like amount of   
heat4 ,the combustion of wood produces  
the same amount of heat as was needful  
to separate its carbon from the carbonic
 acid of the air4 ,vegetable growth is  
thus a cooling process2 heat is         
withdrawn from use as heat1 and is      
employed as force4 ,as force it has     
nothing to do with temperature4 ,the    
summer's heat1 employed in vegetable    
growth1 reappears in the blazing billets
 of the kitchen fire4 ,heat is condensed
 and solidified1 so to speak1 and placed
 under man's control4 ,in this          
solidified form heat may be laid up in  
store or transported at pleasure4  ,the 
grandest application of this principle  
is seen in the formation of the         
coal-beds4 ,at some early period in the 
unmeasured ages past1 the temperature of
 the earth must have been much higher   
than it now is2 the air was filled with 
moisture1 and carbonic acid abounded4   

,as a consequence1 there was an enormous
 vegetable growth4 ,this1 as we have    
seen1 is a heat-consuming process4 ,the 
heat is withdrawn from the air and      
employed in deoxidizing the carbonic    
acid4 ,this vast vegetable              
growth--enormous ferns and coniferous   
trees--fell1 and was swept by rivers or 
by floods into valleys1 or the beds of  
lakes1 or the sea2 the sediment of the  
waters covered it1 and there1 shut up   
from the air and subjected to a heavy   
pressure1 this vegetable mass underwent 
a slow transformation4 ,peter1 have you 
ever seen a coal-pit8 ,i do not mean a  
coal mine1 but that which               
charcoal-burners call a coal-pit4  ,i   
have seen them many a time4  ,tell us1  
then1 how wood is burned to coal without
 being burned up4  ,the wood is set on  
end1 closely packed in the shape of a   
mound1 and then covered with earth4     
,fire is kindled in the middle of the   
pile1 and just enough air admitted      
through air-holes at the bottom to keep 

up a slow burning4 ,it burns just fast  
enough to heat and dry the wood without 
burning it up4  ,the same process1 said 
,mr4 ,wilton1 went on in the formation  
of the coal-beds1 but very much more    
slowly4 ,under the pressure of earth and
 water the vegetable deposits lie       
smouldering1 not for a few days1 but    
probably for ages1 till nothing but the 
carbon remains1 and that pressed into a 
solid mass heavy as stone4 ,veins of    
coal are found interspersed with layers 
of earth and rock1 layer above layer1   
and these layers are commonly not level1
 but more or less inclined and sometimes
 broken4 ,this shows that a deposit of  
driftwood was made1 then a deposit of   
sand or clay1 then another deposit of   
vegetable material and another layer of 
earth4 ,at length1 by internal          
convulsions1 the whole surface was      
raised from beneath the waters1 and in  
due time the coal-veins were laid open1 
and the coal brought out for the use of 
man4 ,then the force so long pent up and

 held in suspense is set free2 the      
stored-up heat of the geologic ages is  
brought out for use4 ,the excess of heat
 in that ancient period is handed down  
to these later times4 ,how sublime this 
transfer of heat6 ,it carries us back1  
in imagination1 to the 'heroic ages1' so
 to speak1 of the history of creation4  
,by other methods heat is treasured up  
for a day or a year3 by this method it  
is kept in store for myriads of ages4   
,we see that the same natural forces    
were working in those early ages as     
to-day1 and the same benevolent ,creator
 was arranging the affairs of the world 
for man's advantage4 ,the sunbeam which 
streamed upon the earth long ages before
 man was created is to-day smelting     
ores1 driving machinery1 dragging       
ponderous trains of loaded cars1 and    
ploughing the seas with freighted keels4
 ,this seems like a fairy-story or a    
dream1 but instead of that it is the    
soberest of philosophic and scientific  
truth4  ,we ought also to notice the    

internal heat of the earth4 ,this has   
been handed down from the day of        
creation1 it would seem1 till the       
present4 ,no new principle is seen in   
the earth's internal fires1 but a       
sublime illustration of the storing up  
of heat in a hot body and its slow      
radiation4  ,the origin of the internal 
heat of the earth we can only           
conjecture4 ,perhaps ,god created the   
various elements separate1 uncombined1  
and allowed them then to combine        
according to their natural affinities4  
,this sublime conflagration of all the  
elements of the earth would generate the
 highest temperature which could be     
produced by combustion4 ,the elements   
would melt with fervent heat2 everything
 which could be vaporized by heat would 
be turned to vapor4 ,then radiation of  
heat would begin4 ,vapors would sink to 
fluids and fluids turn to solids2 a hard
 crust would be formed on the surface of
 the globe through which the heat of the
 still molten mass within would be      

slowly conducted and escape4 ,upon this 
internal heat the earth depends in no   
small degree for its temperature4 ,the  
heat generated perhaps upon the day of  
creation helps now to render the earth  
habitable4  ,that the earth was once in 
a fluid state and has lost a portion of 
its heat by radiation is indicated by   
several facts4 ,it is one of the        
received beliefs among geologists that  
at some period in the past the          
temperature of the earth was much higher
 than it now is4 ,the animals and plants
 which flourished during the ages when  
the coal-fields were deposited show that
 sea and land were warmer than at       
present4 ,it is believed that the change
 of temperature has taken place on      
account of the cooling of the earth from
 radiation4 ,the rate of radiation is so
 slow1 however1 that no farther sensible
 change of temperature can take place   
for thousands of generations4  ,the form
 of the earth also indicates that it was
 once fluid4 ,the earth is an oblate    

spheroid1 a flattened sphere1 and has   
that degree of flatness which a fluid   
mass would assume if revolving at its   
present rate4 ,the earth swells at the  
equator and rises thirteen or fourteen  
miles above the sea level at the poles4 
,the waters of the ocean move freely and
 take the same form as if the whole     
globe were fluid1 and the solid parts of
 the earth have the same degree of      
convexity1 which shows that it took its 
form from its own rotation upon its axis
 while in a fluid state4 ,this would    
also show that in the primal ages1 when 
the earth was in a plastic or fluid     
state1 it had the same rate of rotation 
as at present4  ,the lifting up of the  
mountain ranges also is best explained  
by supposing that the earth was once    
molten4 ,the earth cooled1 a crust was  
formed1 and by farther cooling and      
contraction of the molten mass within   
the crust wrinkled and formed mountain  
chains4 ,thus the higher temperature of 
the geologic ages1 the form of the earth

 as if it were a revolving fluid mass1  
and the corrugation of its              
surface--these1 joined with its present 
internal heat1 point to the fact that it
 was once molten and fluid to its       
surface4 ,the benefits of this heat laid
 up in store on the day of creation we  
still enjoy4  ,before the class is      
dismissed1 said ,mr4 ,hume1 ,i should   
like to say a few words4  ,i have       
nothing farther to say to-day1 answered 
,mr4 ,wilton1 and we should be glad to  
hear you now4 ,say on4  ,i wish only to 
say that these lessons have led me to   
such thoughts of ,god's wisdom and      
goodness as ,i never had before4 ,of    
course it is not strange that this      
should be the case with me4 ,i now look 
at everything with new eyes4 ,it is not 
merely this one element of heat in      
,nature that moves my admiration1 but ,i
 have been led to consider a thousand   
things in which the goodness of ,god is 
shown4 ,my thoughts of the divine       
goodness are as fresh and interesting to

 me as my impressions of his            
righteousness and holiness are          
startling4 ,for years ,i have tried with
 might and main to look upon the dark   
side of the world and to exaggerate its 
physical evils4 ,i have searched for    
disorder and want of adaptation4 ,as    
long as ,i misunderstood the purpose of 
the creation1 ,i thought ,i was         
successful in impugning the wisdom of   
the arrangements of this physical world4
 ,while ,i supposed that the earth must 
needs be the ,creator's masterpiece in  
beauty and pleasantness and all manner  
of perfections1 designed just to give   
sensual pleasure to its inhabitants1 ,i 
could find1 or thought ,i found1 many   
faults in the ,creator's work4 ,now ,i  
withdraw all my former charges4 ,my eyes
 are opened4 ,the rougher elements of   
man's life will henceforth have a new   
meaning to me4 ,i see that ,god seeks   
not so much present pleasure for men as 
their holiness4 ,he lays a solid        
foundation for their happiness4 ,he     

seeks to render men blessed by bringing 
them into likeness and union with       
himself4 ,these are new views to me1 and
 ,i thank my heavenly ,father that this 
new light has dawned upon me4 ,i feel   
now that ,i can bear the ills of this   
life cheerfully1 understanding that the 
,lord is using them as a means of       
spiritual discipline4 ,it seems to me as
 if this lower world and man's lowly    
life were already glorified by a beam of
 light falling from heaven4 ,i hope that
 my young friends have been as much     
profited as ,i have been4  ,i rejoice   
with you1 ,mr4 ,hume4 ',we know that all
 things work together for good to them  
that love ,god4' ,this light has shone  
upon me for many years4     ,,chapter   
,,xv4  ,,economy ,,of ,,heat4   ,in this
 final lesson ,i wish1 said ,mr4        
,wilton1 to bring before you some       
general views of the whole subject of   
the agency and management of heat4      
,when ,jesus had fed the five thousand  
men upon the mountain side by the ,sea  

of ,galilee1 he said to his disciples1  
',gather up the fragments that remain1  
that nothing be lost4' ,the ,christ who 
spoke these words was the same ,christ  
by whom 'all things were created that   
are in heaven and that are in the earth1
 visible and invisible4' ,these words   
inculcate the propriety of saving1 the  
very opposite of extravagance and       
wastefulness4 ,the same prudent economy 
we find in all ,god's works4 ,nothing is
 wasted4 ,god provides bountifully2 he  
is not stinted in his works2 we find    
nothing narrow or mean2 his resources   
are ample for all his undertakings4     
,perhaps a careless observer might      
charge him with prodigality and         
wastefulness4 ,the wilderness rejoices  
in beauty and fertility upon which no   
human eye gazes1 and which supplies no  
human want4      ',full many a gem of   
purest ray serene       ,the dark       
unfathomed caves of ocean bear2         
,full many a flower is born to blush    
unseen1       ,and waste its sweetness  

on the desert air4'  ,rich fruit grows  
ruddy and golden in the autumnal sun    
only to fall and decay4 ,how small a    
part of the seeds which might germinate 
and reproduce the parent plant ever     
fulfill this their legitimate object6   
,but this is not waste4 ,as for the     
beauty with which the unpeopled wastes  
are smiling1 we know not what other     
beings besides man 'grow glad at the    
sight4' ,fruits and grains and seeds    
were appointed as much to nourish the   
animal kingdom as to reproduce plants   
and trees4 ,and that which decays is not
 wasted4 ,the oak lifts high its leafy  
arms and does battle with the tempests  
for a century1 and then having served   
its purpose in ,nature1 if man does not 
call it to the higher mission of serving
 his purposes1 ,nature begins to pull   
down the structure she has reared and   
rebuild the elements in other           
forms--such forms as man perchance may  
need4 ,the fruit that falls and decays  
is not wasted2 it shall blush with      

golden tints in other forms and in other
 years4 ,god pulls down the old that he 
may build the new4 ,the same elements   
appear and reappear in a thousand       
shapes4 ,there is endless change1 but no
 waste4 ,this sentiment1 ',gather up the
 fragments1 that nothing be lost1' which
 is proclaimed throughout all ,nature1  
is uttered most emphatically in the     
management of heat4 ,god has provided   
most bountiful stores of heat1 but has  
left no heat to go to waste4 ,will you1 
,mr4 ,hume1 suggest one of the general  
arrangements for the economical use of  
heat8  ,i think that the arrangement for
 economizing heat which ought to be     
mentioned first is the confinement of   
heat to the locality where it is needed4
  ,will you explain that a little       
farther1 ,mr4 ,hume8  ,all living       
creatures are confined near the surface 
of the earth4 ,they penetrate only a few
 feet into the earth and soar a few     
hundred feet above it4 ,heat is         
therefore confined to the region of the 

earth's surface4 ,it penetrates but a   
little way below the surface1 and when  
warm air rises into the higher regions1 
heat becomes latent4 ,the higher parts  
of the atmosphere are cold1 and in the  
empty spaces of the heavens the         
temperature is we know not how low4 ,god
 has provided for heating only that part
 of the world which needs to be heated4 
,i think you spoke of this in some one  
of the earlier lessons4  ,perhaps ,i    
did4 ,but ,i refer to it again to call  
especial attention to the idea of the   
economical use of heat4 ,who will       
mention another method by which heat is 
economized8  ,no one answered4  ,i asked
 the question1 but did not expect an    
answer4 ,god shows economy in the use of
 heat by accomplishing many different   
results by its agency4 ,i do not mean   
that the same identical heat            
accomplishes different results at the   
same time4 ,the same force cannot       
accomplish two works4 ,as man cannot    
spend his money and at the same time    

keep it1 no more can heat be used and   
not used up in that form4 ,the heat     
which raises the temperature can do     
nothing else at the same time1 and when 
it is employed as force it ceases to    
affect temperature4 ,but by this one    
agency of heat the ,creator brings very 
various works to pass4 ,heat expands    
bodies1 relaxes cohesive attraction1 and
 brings the chemical affinities into    
activity4 ,by this means the elements of
 ,nature are subdued to human uses1     
seeds germinate1 all the processes of   
vegetable life go on1 and digestion and 
nutrition are carried forward in the    
bodies of animals4 ,by the agency of    
heat the winds blow1 the deep waters of 
the ocean circulate1 clouds are formed1 
dew and rain refresh the earth1 rivers  
flow1 and all the activities of life    
fill the world4 ,the employment of one  
agency for the accomplishment of so many
 works indicates economy in the         
expenditure of force and means4         
,moreover1 the same heat appears and    

reappears again and again1 passing from 
the sensible to the latent form and back
 again1 asserting itself alternately in 
raising the temperature and as active   
force4 ,a beam of heat falls upon our   
world3 it is partly absorbed by the     
earth1 and warms it4 ,a part of that    
warmth is used in setting the chemical  
affinities in action in the sprouting of
 seeds2 a part warms the air by         
conduction2 a part is radiated1 and     
being stopped by the vapor in the air1  
warms it2 the heat of the air is partly 
used in the evaporation of water3 the   
vapor formed is condensed and waters the
 earth1 and gives out the heat by which 
it was formed2 that raises the          
temperature of the air2 a part of it is 
used in deoxidizing carbonic acid and   
building up the forests2 the forest tree
 falls by the woodman's axe1 is burned  
for fuel1 and gives out its heat again1 
or if it falls and decays1 the result is
 the same2 the heat given out by        
combustion cooks the laborer's dinner   

and warms his room1 or it goes out      
again1 and is used in preparing food for
 the growing wheat2 that wheat is used  
for food1 and by slow combustion in the 
blood the heat is again evolved1 the    
body is warmed1 and the chemical        
operations of digestion and nutrition   
are maintained2 the heat is radiated or 
conducted from the body into the        
atmosphere1 and again raises the        
temperature and goes to do other work4  
,at last1 so far as our earth is        
concerned1 it escapes into the stellar  
spaces1 and goes to bless other worlds4 
,in all these operations no heat-force  
is frittered away and wasted and lost4  
,this is one of the accepted doctrines  
of physical science4 ,heat is used      
bountifully1 but economically and       
without waste4  ,even the inequalities  
and variations of temperature must be   
counted economy in the use of heat4 ,the
 heat of midday is not needed at all    
hours1 and therefore it is not always   
provided2 the heat of summer is not     

always useful1 and is therefore not     
given2 a higher temperature for a part  
of the year and a part of the day is    
necessary1 and is bestowed4 ,the        
smallest amount of heat is so disposed  
as to accomplish the largest result4    
,keep in mind1 then1 the economical     
aspect of ,god's management of heat4  ,i
 would also have you remember how few   
are the principles involved in all the  
ways and means for transporting heat and
 equalizing temperature4 ,all the       
various phenomena which we have examined
 can be brought under two general       
principles4 ,the first principle or     
method is the heating and cooling of    
bodies4 ,bodies absorb heat2 they part  
with their heat by conduction or        
radiation4 ,if they are heated and      
cooled without change of place1 heat is 
transported in time1 but not in place4  
,if the body be removed from one place  
to another between the heating and the  
cooling or between the cooling and the  
heating1 heat is transported in both    

time and space4 ,this applies alike to  
solids1 liquids1 and gases2 each one is 
a carrier of heat in proportion to its  
specific heat4  ,the second principle or
 method is the transportation of heat by
 the change of sensible to latent heat  
and its restoration to a sensible state4
 ,under this principle there are four   
cases3  #a4 ,heat is employed in the    
evaporation of liquids1 and is restored 
again to use as affecting temperature by
 the condensation of the vapor4  #b4    
,heat is employed in liquifying solids1 
and becomes latent thereby1 and returns 
to the sensible state when the liquid   
solidifies4 ,these two principles find  
their grandest application in the       
changes of water3 of this application ,i
 have chiefly spoken2 but they apply    
also to other bodies--to metals as well 
as to liquids4  #c4 ,heat is rendered   
latent in the expansion of gases from   
removal of pressure1 and latent heat    
becomes sensible by the compression of  
gases4  #d4 ,heat is employed in the    

deoxidation of carbonic acid or other   
combinations of oxygen1 and is evolved  
in combustion4 ,while in the latent     
condition1 heat may be kept without loss
 for an unlimited period of time or     
transported from equator to pole4 ,by   
the various applications of these two   
general principles1 all the different   
methods of equalizing temperature are   
determined4  ,i would have you remember 
also that these processes for           
transporting heat and modifying         
temperature are not confined to the     
regular changes of days and seasons and 
the permanent differences of zones1 but 
apply to every possible difference of   
temperature4 ,one minute the sun shines 
out in full splendor2 the next1 a cloud 
hides his face and cuts off his fervent 
beams2 the methods employed to soften   
the heat of the one minute and the chill
 of the next are the same which equalize
 the temperature of the seasons4        
,evaporation carries off the heat from  
the seething tropics1 evaporation       

carries off the excess of heat from the 
bodies of animals and men4 ,the same    
methods are equally efficient upon the  
grandest and upon the smallest scale4   
,in this connection let me give one or  
two illustrations of the delicacy with  
which general principles adapt          
themselves to the minutest              
circumstances4 ,when the earth is wet1  
it is fitting that evaporation should go
 on rapidly and remove the excess of    
water1 but when the ground is drier1 it 
is fitting that evaporation should be   
checked and the remaining moisture      
spared4 ,this result is secured not     
merely by the lack of moisture at the   
surface1 but also by the decreased      
capacity of the earth for absorbing     
heat4 ,a dark color absorbs heat more   
readily than a lighter color1 and the   
earth becomes1 as a general rule1 darker
 when wet2 and lighter when dry4 ,moist 
earth1 therefore1 receives heat more    
readily than dry earth1 and the         
excessive moisture is the more rapidly  

carried off by evaporation4  ,another   
more interesting illustration is        
presented by the odor of flowers4 ,in   
its place ,i told you that watery vapor 
hinders the radiation of heat from the  
earth4 ,dark heat is absorbed by it4    
,the same is true of other gases1 and   
also of the odors of fragrant           
substances4 ,a bed of flowers fills the 
air around with odors4 ,by these odors  
much of the heat radiated by the earth  
is stopped4 ,by this means the air      
around the blooming flowers is warmed4  
,the invisible fragrance raises the     
temperature and secures for the blooming
 plants a more genial atmosphere4 ,the  
,lord provides for the flowers when most
 of all they need to be cherished by a  
congenial warmth4  ,this completes what 
,i have to say to you upon the subject  
of heat4 ,i might have gone far more    
into particulars1 and extended these    
lessons over six months instead of      
three4 ,we started with the design of   
finding out whether the works of ,nature

 have anything to say about a wise and  
good ,creator4 ,we could not examine the
 whole circle of ,god's works1 and      
therefore chose a single                
department--that of heat4 ,i will leave 
yourselves to decide whether we have    
found marks of divine wisdom and        
goodness1 whether ,nature has had       
anything to say to us about a ,creator4 
,it seems to me1 said ,samuel1 that if  
the works of ,nature do not show ,god's 
goodness and wisdom1 it would be hard to
 tell what works would show them4 ,i    
think ,i shall always1 after this1 look 
upon the earth and sky with more        
interest than ,i have ever felt in them 
before2 ,i shall always look upon them  
as having something to do with ,god4    
,we certainly ought1 said ,mr4 ,wilton1 
to study ,nature in such a manner and   
with such a spirit that we shall be led 
to reverence and worship the ,creator4  
,some very good men are afraid of       
scientific study1 as if there were      
something in it to draw men from belief 

in the ,scriptures and the ,jehovah     
revealed in them2 and it cannot be      
denied that not a few unbelievers have  
tried to find a foundation and a defence
 for their infidelity in scientific     
studies2 but such men are not made      
skeptics by earnest and reverent study  
of ,god's works3 they were unbelievers  
before and aside from physical studies1 
and they only try to glorify their      
rejection of the ,bible and ,christ by  
deifying science and the creation and   
holding them up in opposition to        
inspired revelations4 ,if ever you find 
the works of ,god separating you from   
,god1 you may know at once that you     
misunderstand those works or come to    
them with a wrong spirit4 ',the undevout
 astronomer1' it has been said1 'is     
mad1' and the same might1 with good     
reason1 be said of every undevout       
student of physical science4  ,in       
selecting heat for our examination1 ,i  
did not take the only rich department of
 ,nature's works4 ,the practical chemist

 would find a richer and broader field  
of research1 and so would the anatomist 
and animal physiologist1 the geologist1 
or the physical geographer4 ,i purposely
 chose a comparatively narrow field1 in 
order that our course of study might not
 become wearisome by its length4 ,you   
will find ample scope in the fields of  
natural science for your largest powers1
 and enough to carry your thoughts      
reverently to the great ,creator and    
,governor4  ,in one respect the study of
 ,nature resembles the study of the     
,sacred ,scriptures4 ,it is a           
revelation2 it is an embodiment of      
,god's thoughts2 in it ,god has         
expressed himself2 and ,nature1 by most 
suggestive symbols and types1 teaches   
much more moral truth and spiritual     
sentiment than some men think4 ,in the  
brute creation it gives us1 in          
pantomime1 all the virtues and graces   
and all repulsive vices and cruel       
passions4 ,to this book of ,nature we   
ought to come without prejudice1        

reverently inquiring what is written    
therein4 ,we must study it thoroughly   
and interpret it as we interpret the    
written word1 comparing ,scripture with 
,scripture4 ,it is a great attainment to
 be able to read and understand the     
thoughts of ,god embodied in his works4 
,in another respect1 the book of ,nature
 and the ,sacred ,scriptures have very  
little in common4 ,the ,bible is        
occupied pre-eminently with moral duties
 and spiritual relationship4 ,its great 
themes are sin and salvation4 ,christ is
 the great central truth4 ,one might    
compare the ,scriptures to a picture in 
which one central figure seizes every   
eye1 and by whose radiance the whole    
picture is filled with light1 and that  
central figure is ,christ2 or we might  
compare the ,bible to a sublime         
oratorio1 the glorious symphony of the  
ages2 through it all is heard one       
strain1 sweetly exultant as angel       
voices1 faintly heard at first amid the 
sadness of the fall1 but rising still   

above the terrific bass of ,sinai and   
its ever-repeating echoes1 growing more 
clear and strong upon the harps of the  
prophets1 till its rapturous beauty     
pours itself triumphant along the plains
 of ,bethlehem4 ,in this revelation of  
salvation from the guilt and ruin of sin
 the ,bible stands alone4 ,upon this    
subject ,nature is silent4 ,salvation by
 ,christ is the gem enshrined in the    
,scriptures4 ,but what is the setting   
for this gem8 ,the works of ,god on the 
earth and in the heavens4 ,the prophets 
were men in sympathy with ,nature4 ,how 
,david sung the praises of the divine   
handiwork6--',o ,lord1 how manifold are 
thy works2 in wisdom hast thou made them
 all4' ',the heavens declare the glory  
of ,god and the firmament showeth his   
handiwork4 ,day unto day uttereth       
speech1 and night unto night showeth    
knowledge4 ,there is no speech nor      
language where their voice is not       
heard4' ,how ,christ unfolded the       
deepest spiritual truths by the symbols 

of ,nature6 ,but if the casket be so    
worthy1 what shall be said of the gem   
which is enshrined within8 ,that is the 
pearl of great price4 ,to that book     
which speaks in no doubtful voice of    
deliverance from sin let us turn with   
increasing reverence2 and above all1 let
 us come to him who came to reveal our  
,god1 who came to be as well as to make 
a revelation of ,god1 being himself 'the
 brightness of his glory and the express
 image of his person4' ,i am glad that  
you all now feel that you know him whom 
to know is everlasting life4  ,from     
these words of ,mr4 ,wilton you will    
conclude that ,ansel has at length found
 rest in ,christ4 ,in another brief     
chapter ,i will tell you of his         
experience1 and then bid you adieu4     
,,chapter ,,xvi4  ,a ,,day ,,of ,,joy   
,,and ,,gladness4   ,the reader has     
already learned that after ,ansel had   
confessed himself an anxious inquirer   
and professed himself willing to obey   
,christ1 he remained three or four weeks

 still in darkness4 ,others found peace 
in believing1 but he felt no joyful     
confidence that ,christ had received him
 and forgiven his sins4 ,he sometimes   
felt almost discouraged1 and sometimes  
was tempted to complain of ,god for not 
treating him as favorably as others1 or 
to feel chagrined because others were   
rejoicing1 while he found no light4 ,but
 he fought against these evil thoughts  
and insinuations of ,satan1 and did not 
flag in his private devotions or cease  
to confess himself1 always and          
everywhere1 an anxious inquirer1 still  
in darkness1 but desiring to find the   
grace of ,god4 ,if ever he was tempted  
to push away all concern about salvation
 and return by force to his former      
careless state1 the words of ,christ    
would come to his mind3 ,will ye also go
 away8 and ,peter's answer1 ,lord1 to   
whom shall we go8 for thou hast the     
words of eternal life4 ,the alternative1
 salvation by ,christ or the loss of his
 soul1 stared him in the face4      ,i  

can but perish if ,i go2       ,i am    
resolved to try2     ,for if ,i stay    
away1 ,i know1       ,i must for ever   
die4  ,great interest was felt for him  
and much prayer was offered in his      
behalf1 but he seemed to make no        
progress toward a better state4 ,mr4    
,wilton had talked with him1 but had    
failed to discover what it was that     
hindered his humble acceptance of the   
grace of ,christ4 ,after long and       
anxious musing upon ,ansel's character  
and surroundings and the previous       
conversations which he had had with him1
 ,mr4 ,wilton determined to probe him   
more fully4 ,for this reason he invited 
,ansel to his study1 where the following
 conversation transpired3               
,good-morning1 my young friend2 how do  
you find yourself to-day8  ,i am        
feeling1 ,i think1 very much as when ,i 
was here a week ago4  ,are you becoming 
discouraged and almost ready to give up 
all effort to follow ,christ8  ,i do    
sometimes feel very much discouraged1   

but ,i am not ready to give up my       
interest in religion4  ,have you no more
 enjoyment in reading the ,scriptures   
and in your prayer in secret than you   
had a week ago8  ,i think that ,i am    
trying to do right in doing these       
things1 and ,i enjoy them better than ,i
 should if ,i felt that ,i was doing    
something wrong1 but ,i do not feel as  
,i think a ,christian ought to feel4    
,are your thoughts and feelings and     
opinions about ,christ and salvation the
 same as they were six weeks ago8  ,i   
think they are very different4  ,i am   
glad to hear that2 but can you tell how 
they are different8  ,at that time ,i   
felt that ,i was a sinner1 but was      
fighting against that feeling4 ,i wished
 that ,christ would let me alone1 and   
that the ,holy ,spirit would not trouble
 me4 ,but now ,i very much wish that ,i 
may feel my sins1 and that ,christ may  
come to me and save me4 ,i wish to      
follow the ,spirit4  ,did you expect a  
month ago that at this time you would be

 feeling and acting as you now feel and 
act8  ,no1 sir2 ,i meant then to fight  
it through1 and not let anybody know how
 ,i felt4  ,do you wish now that you had
 fought it through1 as you proposed1 and
 kept all your feelings to yourself8  ,i
 am very thankful that ,i did not keep  
on hiding my feelings4 ,i almost tremble
 to think what the result would have    
been4  ,you have said that you wish to  
spend your life in serving ,christ4     
,does it seem to you a hard and painful 
work--a work that you would get rid of  
if you could--or does working for       
,christ and confessing ,christ before   
men seem attractive8  ,i think his      
service seems pleasant2 there is no     
other life that seems half as pleasant4 
,do you believe that ,christ is able to 
save you8  ,i suppose he is4 ,if he     
cannot save me1 there is no hope for me1
 for ,i cannot save myself4  ,do you    
believe that he is willing to save you8 
,i think he is1 if ,i come to him and   
trust in him4 ,i suppose he is willing  

to save all who come to him4  ,are you  
unwilling to come to him--to trust him  
and submit to him8  ,i don't know2 ,i   
have tried to come to ,christ1 but ,i   
have met with no such change as ,i have 
always supposed that a ,christian ought 
to have4  ,what do you think it is that 
hinders your coming into light and joy  
as others have done8  ,i cannot tell4 ,i
 suppose it must be something or other  
in myself1 but ,i cannot guess what it  
is4  ,i would like to ask you a few     
questions which you may think rather    
close and personal1 and which you may   
find it hard to answer frankly4 ,you    
know the spiritual adviser1 as well as  
the physician1 must first of all find   
out the condition of the patient4  ,i am
 willing to have you ask any questions  
you please1 and ,i will try to answer   
them as well as ,i can4  ,did you ever  
think1 ,ansel1 that you were very       
ambitious8  ,i knew that1 like many     
others1 ,i was a little ambitious1 but  
,i never thought that ,i was very much  

so4  ,perhaps you were more ambitious   
than you thought4 ,you know that you    
would work day and night rather than not
 stand at the head of every class you   
were in4 ,on the play-ground you        
asserted your position as leader in     
every game4 ,did you not carry the same 
idea of being chief into your plans and 
expectations for the future8 ,you were  
ambitious of standing the very first    
whatever course of life you might       
follow4 ,was not this so8  ,i don't     
know3 ,i can't deny it2 ,i think it was4
  ,it is possible1 ,ansel1 that you are 
trying to carry the same ambition into  
the kingdom of ,christ4 ,perhaps you    
have wished in conversion some brilliant
 experience which would draw attention  
to you4 ,tell me how this is4 ,would you
 be satisfied to have a commonplace     
experience1 such as thousands of others 
have1 which would attract no special    
notice8 ,have you not formed an idea of 
the great and brilliant change you must 
pass through1 and are you not refusing  

to take anything else from the ,lord's  
hands8  ,tears gathered in ,ansel's     
eyes1 and his face worked painfully4 ,at
 length he answered3 ,your question is a
 hard one to answer1 but ,i cannot deny 
it2 ,i am afraid it is so4 ,i have heard
 persons tell of the great load of sin  
like a pack on their shoulders1 and of  
the earth seeming as if it would open   
and swallow them up1 of sleepless nights
 and unspeakable anguish1 and then of   
light and joy1 so that they could never 
doubt that they were converted4 ,i have 
been expecting that ,i was to have such 
an experience1 but ,i have not seen it4 
,is it wrong to wish for such an        
experience8  ,it is certainly wrong to  
insist upon such an experience4 ,god    
leads each one to himself in his own    
chosen way4 ,there was but one ,saul1   
whom ,christ met and blinded with the   
dazzling light4 ,as a general rule1 when
 a sinner makes up his mind in what way 
he will be converted1 the ,lord will    
disappoint him4 ,if he fixes in his mind

 that he will not come to an            
anxious-seat1 or will not confess his   
feelings till he can say that his sins  
are pardoned1 or will not do anything   
else1 the ,lord will very likely bring  
him to do the very thing he resolved    
that he would not do4 ,if he attempts to
 bring his ambitious aspirations into   
,christ's kingdom1 he will be           
disappointed4 ',the first shall be last 
and the last first4' ,men become great  
in ,christian service by counting       
themselves the least of all1 and        
humbling themselves to become the       
servants of all4 ,you need to examine   
yourself in this matter4 ,if you have   
looked for something great and          
startling1 be contented with something  
small and commonplace4 ,it is an        
unspeakable privilege to be brought into
 ,christ's kingdom in any manner4 ,it is
 sometimes a great blessing to have a   
very unmarked and plain style of        
conversion4 ,such a convert is compelled
 to look to the truly scriptural        

evidences of a change of heart instead  
of resting upon the evidence1 often     
deceptive1 of a great and sudden        
illumination or a fancied voice from    
heaven4 ,some of the greatest and best  
of men have been unable to tell at all  
the time of their conversion4 ,richard  
,baxter could not tell even the year of 
his change4 ,the best experiences ,i    
have known have been those where the    
converts could tell very little about   
themselves2 they had been doing         
something else besides looking into     
themselves to watch the motions of their
 own thoughts4  ,i will try to do as you
 say4 ,but what kind of evidence am ,i  
to look for8  ,the same kind of evidence
 which you now look for in me or any    
other ,christian4 ,it is not one thing  
to come to ,christ and another thing to 
follow ,christ4 ,the best evidence that 
a sinner has come to ,christ is that he 
actually follows ,christ and serves him4
 ',by their fruits ye shall know them4' 
',bring forth fruits meet for           

repentance1' said ,john the ,baptist4   
,bring forth fruits that show that your 
thoughts about sin1 and about ,christ1  
and about the service of ,christ have   
been changed4 ,look for the same kind of
 evidence in yourself that you would    
look for in any stranger whom you should
 meet4 ,but above all things take the   
words of ,jesus as true and rest on     
them2 consecrate yourself to ,jesus with
 all the heart2 with lowliness of mind  
hold yourself ready for any work or any 
sacrifice2 you will find that evidences 
will take care of themselves4 ,when men 
come into sympathy with ,christ1 when   
they believe his words1 walk with him1  
and talk with him1 and bear the cross   
with him1 when they enter into a        
partnership of service and suffering    
with ,christ1--the ,spirit bears witness
 with their spirits that they are born  
of ,god4  ,i will try to follow your    
advice1 and am very thankful that you   
have spoken about my ambitious spirit4  
,another caution ,i wish to give you4   

,do not think that you1 by any methods  
or by cherishing any spirit1 are to make
 yourself fit to be saved4 ,if you are  
saved at all1 ,christ must take you as a
 sinner1 and a great sinner4 ,if you get
 rid of your spirit of pride1 it will be
 by ,christ's saving you from it4 ,let  
me also suggest to you that which a     
consideration of your associations      
suggested to me1 that you may have      
stumbled at the idea of baptism4 ,you   
must have heard baptism spoken of very  
disrespectfully1 and it is possible that
 you may have learned to look upon it as
 a humiliation and a reproach4 ,you may 
have recoiled from the thought of       
submitting to it4  ,that was my feeling 
once1 but since ,i have been willing to 
have my feelings known ,i have ceased to
 be afraid of what those who despise    
religion may say4  ,be careful now1     
since you feel that your sympathies are 
with the ,christian band1 that your love
 of greatness does not lead you to      
resist the ,spirit4 ,be willing to be   

small4 ,be thankful for small gifts4 ,i 
trust that your present feelings will   
before long give place to a humble      
trust1 a childlike confidence1 and a    
holy boldness in ,christ1 and that your 
usefulness in the kingdom of ,god will  
be all the greater because he now       
requires you in the beginning to trample
 under foot your budding pride and die  
to all human ambitions4  ,when ,ansel   
gave up the idea of a wonderful         
conversion1 a sudden illumination which 
should bring with it something of eclat1
 he found that he could understand the  
,scriptures better and have more        
enjoyment in his religious duties4      
,while he humbled himself1 hoping for   
little1 he found his soul soon filled   
with a deep1 quiet joy4  ,the next      
,saturday afternoon was the regular time
 for the covenant-meeting1 and also1    
according to custom1 for hearing the    
experiences of any who wished to unite  
with the church by baptism4 ,ansel1     
,peter1 and ,mr4 ,hume came1 along with 

others1 to present themselves to the    
church4 ,in regard to ,mr4 ,hume there  
had been much speculation among his     
former comrades as to what course he    
would take4 ,some said3 ,mr4 ,hume will 
never wet the sole of his foot in that  
river4 ,don't you remember how he used  
to laugh at the idea of being plunged in
 the river in honor of a dead man8 ,he  
may talk in meeting1 but it is a very   
different thing to go down into the     
river with the whole hillside covered   
with people4 ,others said3 ,we can't    
tell what has come over him1 but he will
 not go back now4 ,he has gone too far  
to retreat4  ,some even ventured to     
approach ,mr4 ,hume himself with their  
raillery3  ,what do you think now of    
being dipped in the river in honor of a 
dead man8  ,i think that ,i would be    
willing to be baptized a thousand times 
if ,i could recall by that means what ,i
 have spoken against baptism4  ,and     
what1 ,mr4 ,hume1 about the ice water8  
,you know and ,i know1 he answered1 that

 we always respected those who did not  
shrink from cold water for ,christ's    
sake4 ,what effeminacy1 what more than  
effeminacy1 for a resolute man to       
hesitate and tremble at baptism6 ,we    
should be ashamed of such weakness in   
any worldly matter4 ,i have given you   
occasion for all your raillery1 but as  
,i once was a leader in evil1 so ,i wish
 that ,i might lead you to better       
things4  ,ansel1 ,peter1 and the rest   
gave an account of their religious      
experiences1 and last of all ,mr4 ,hume4
  ,what leads you1 asked ,mr4 ,wilton1  
to present yourself to the church1      
asking for baptism8  ,i think that the  
love of ,christ leads me4 ,i have done a
 great deal against ,christ1 and now ,i 
wish1 if possible1 to do something to   
show my love for him4 ,i come to obey   
the word and example of ,christ by being
 buried with him in baptism4  ,they were
 received for baptism1 and the time of  
administration fixed at half-past twelve
 o'clock the next day4  ,the ,lord's    

,day was cold and blustering4 ,many were
 disappointed1 for they hoped that the  
day would prove warm and sunny4 ,but the
 blustering day did not prevent the     
gathering of a great company by the     
riverside4 ,as the congregations left   
the churches they turned their steps    
toward the place of baptism4 ,ungodly   
men turned out1 and those who never came
 to hear the preaching of the gospel    
flocked together to see the gospel      
preached by this symbolic service4 ,the 
word had gone out that ,mr4 ,hume was to
 be baptized1 and this drew together his
 former associates4 ,at the place chosen
 the river swept around in a gentle     
curve and the bank rose up like a       
magnificent amphitheatre2 while just    
above1 the land put out into the water  
and threw the current upon the opposite 
side4 ,here gathered almost the entire  
population of the village to witness    
that simple and solemn service which    
from the days of ,john the ,baptist has 
thrilled so many hearts4 ,the candidates

 came warmly clad1 brought from their   
own homes in a close carriage4 ,gathered
 there1 the little band of ,christians1 
surrounded by so great a cloud of       
witnesses1 first sang the hymn          
commencing3      ,thou hast said1       
exalted ,jesus1       ,take thy cross   
and follow me2     ,shall the word with 
terror seize us8       ,shall we from   
the burden flee8           ,lord1 ,i'll 
take it1       ,and rejoicing follow    
thee4  ,then ,mr4 ,wilton read with a   
voice that reached all the company a few
 passages from the ,new ,testament which
 authorized and commanded that service4 
,after that he prayed that the joyful   
presence of ,christ might attend those  
about to follow him in baptism1 that    
believers might be encouraged1 and      
careless sinners awakened4 ,one by one  
the converts were buried with ,christ1  
and one by one they came up out of the  
water1 forgetting all else in the joy of
 obedience4 ,they sang the words        
consecrated by use at so many           

riversides3          ,oh how happy are  
they         ,who their ,saviour obey1  
,and have laid up their treasure above6 
,tongue can never express         ,the  
sweet comfort and peace     ,of a soul  
in its earliest love4  ,these words     
found a response in many hearts4  ,high 
up upon the river bank were gathered a  
little knot of mocking unbelievers4 ,one
 among them1 seven years before1 had    
publicly professed his faith in ,christ4
 ,for a little time he seemed to be     
treading in the ,lord's ways1 but       
falling among evil associates1 he not   
only neglected ,christian duties1 but   
became a professed unbeliever4 ,he read 
infidel books and loaned them to others4
 ,he sought to sow the seeds of unbelief
 wherever he went4 ,upon this ,lord's   
,day he stood with others profanely     
mocking at the sacred service4 ,with    
shivering1 tremulous accents he         
exclaimed1 ,poor ,harry ,gill is very   
cold2 ,i would not go into the water to 
please any ,christ for five hundred     

dollars4 ,that young man went home with 
deep conviction of sin upon him4 ,two   
days after1 ,mr4 ,wilton was called at  
ten o'clock at night to visit him4 ,he  
was trembling like an aspen leaf with   
his deep anguish of conscience1 and for 
two days and nights his body shook under
 his fear4 ,then little by little faith 
took the place of fear1 and hope smiled 
upon him4 ,he was the next person whom  
,mr4 ,wilton baptized4  ,look in upon   
the ,christian band assembled that      
,lord's ,day evening4 ,upon the faces of
 those who had been baptized there was  
no sign that the service of that day had
 been painful2 if they had done the duty
 as a cross1 the cross must have been   
quickly followed by a crown of joy1 for 
every face was radiant with light4      
,among them was one little girl twelve  
years of age whose face1 as she rose    
from the water1 shone like the face of  
an angel1 and the transfiguration of    
that moment had hardly begun to fade    
away4 ,ansel was peacefully happy1 and  

from the face of ,mr4 ,hume the old look
 of dissatisfaction was all gone2 his   
soul had entered into rest1 and he felt 
at home4 ,every one of them testified   
that it had been the happiest day of his
 life4 ,they declared themselves willing
 for ,christ's sake to be baptized a    
hundred times if he commanded4 ,they had
 already found that in keeping his      
commandments there is great reward4  ,i 
should be glad1 kind reader1 to trace   
with you the ,christian course of these 
disciples through the years that follow4
 ,but we must leave them4 ,i am sure1   
however1 that their course will be      
upward4 ,their experience was not the   
mere effervescence of fickle feeling4   
,the word of ,god germinated in their   
hearts2 they had root in themselves4    
,they believed1 they believed the truths
 of the gospel1 and therefore they felt1
 and therefore they acted4 ,whatsoever  
is born of ,god overcometh the world1   
and believing that they were truly born 
of the ,spirit1 we are confident that he

 which hath begun a good work in them   
will perform it until the day of ,jesus 
,christ4