a journey in other worlds-第41章

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but　the　earth　has　scarcely　been　habitable　since　the　sun　was　last
in　its　present　position　in　its　orbit　around　Cosmos。　　The　curve
that　our　system　follows　is　of　such　radius　that　it　would　require
the　most　precise　observations　for　centuries　to　show　that　it　was
not　a　straight　line。
　　　
〃We　call　this　the　universe　because　it　is　all　that　the　clearest
eyes　or　telescopes　have　been　able　to　see；　but　it　is　only　a
subdivisionin　fact；　but　a　system　on　a　vaster　scale　than　that　of
the　sun　or　of　Sirius。　　Far　beyond　this　visible　universe；　my
intuition　tells　me；　are　other　systems　more　gigantic　than　this；
and　entirely　different　in　many　respects。　　Even　the　effects　of
gravitation　are　modified　by　the　changed　condition；　for　these
systems　are　spread　out　flat；　like　the　rings　of　this　planet；　and
the　ether　of　space　is　luminous　instead　of　black；　as　here。　　These
systems　are　but　in　a　later　stage　of　development　than　ours；　and　in
the　course　of　evolution　our　visible　universe　will　be　changed　in
the　same　way；　as　I　can　explain。
　　　
〃In　incalculable　ages；　the　forward　motion　of　the　planets　and
their　satellites　will　be　checked　by　the　resistance　of　the　ether
of　space　and　the　meteorites　and　solid　matter　they　encounter。　
Meteorites　also　overtake　them；　and；　by　striking　them　as　it　were
in　the　rear；　propel　them；　but　more　are　encountered　in　frontan
illustration　of　which　you　can　have　by　walking　rapidly　or　riding
on　horseback　on　a　rainy　day；　in　which　case　more　drops　will　strike
your　chest　than　your　back。　　The　same　rule　applies　to　bodies　in
space；　while　the　meteorites　encountered　have　more　effect　than
those　following；　since　in　one　case　it　is　the　speed　of　the　meteor
minus　that　of　the　planet；　and　in　the　other　the　sum　of　the　two
velocities。　　With　this　checking　of　the　forward　motion；　the
centrifugal　force　decreases；　and　the　attraction　of　the　central
body　has　more　effect。　　When　this　takes　place　the　planet　or
satellite　falls　slightly　towards　the　body　around　which　it
revolves；　thereby　increasing　its　speed　till　the　centrifugal　force
again　balances　the　centripetal。　　This　would　seem　to　make　it
descend　by　fits　and　starts；　but　in　reality　the　approach　is　nearly
constant；　so　that　the　orbits　are　in　fact　slightly　spiral。　　What
is　true　of　the　planets　and　satellites　is　also　true　of　the　stars
with　reference　to　Cosmos；　though　many　even　of　these　have
subordinate　motions　in　their　great　journey。　　Though　the
satellites　of　the　moons　revolve　about　the　primaries　in　orbits
inclined　at　all　kinds　of　angles　to　the　planes　of　the　ecliptics；
and　even　the　moons　vary　in　their　paths　about　the　planets；　the
planets　themselves　revolve　about　the　stars；　like　those　of　this
system　about　the　sun；　in　substantially　the　same　plane；　and　what
is　true　of　the　planets　is　even　more　true　of　the　stars　in　their
orbits　about　Cosmos；　so　that　when；　after　incalculable　ages；　they
do　fall；　they　strike　this　monster　sun　at　or　near　its　equator；　and
not　falling　perpendicularly；　but　in　a　line　varying　but　slightly
from　a　tangent；　and　at　terrific　speed；　they　cause　the　colossus　to
rotate　more　and　more　rapidly　on　its　own　axis；　till　it　must　become
greatly　flattened　at　the　poles；　as　the　earth　is　slightly；　and　as
Jupiter　and　Saturn　are　a　good　deal。　　Even　though　not　all　the
stars　are　exactly　in　the　plane　of　Cosmos's　equator；　as　you　can
see　they　are　not　there　are　as　many　above　as　below　it；　so　that　the
general　average　will　be　there；　and　as　all　are　moving　in　the　same
direction；　it　is　not　necessary　for　all　to　strike　the　same　line；
those　striking　nearer　the　poles；　where　the　circles　are　smaller；
and　where　the　surface　is　not　being　carried　forward　so　fast　by　the
giant's　rotation；　will　have　even　more　effect　in　increasing　its
speed；　since　it　will　be　like　attaching　the　driving…rods　of　a
locomotive　near　the　axle　instead　of　near　the　circumference；　and
with　enough　power　will　produce　even　greater　results。　　As　Cosmos
waxes　greater　from　the　result　of　these　continual　accretions；　its
attraction　for　the　stars　will　increase；　until　those　coming　from
the　outer　regions　of　its　universe　will　move　at　such　terrific
speed　in　their　spiral　orbits　that　before　coming　in　contact　they
will　be　almost　invisible；　having　already　absorbed　all　solid
matter　revolving　about　themselves。　　These　accessions　of　moving
matter；　continually　received　at　and　near　its　equator；　will　cause
Cosmos　to　spread　out　like　Saturn's　rings　till　it　becomes　flat；
though　the　balance　of　forces　will　be　so　perfect　that　it　is
doubtful　whether　an　animal　or　a　man　placed　there　would　feel　much
change。
　　　
〃But　these　universesor；　more　accurately；　divisions　of　the
universealready　planes；　though　the　vast　surfaces　are　not　so
flat　as　to　preclude　beautiful　and　gently　rolling　slopes；　are
spirit…lands；　and　will　be　inhabited　only　by　spirits。　　Then　there
are　great　phosphorescent　areas；　and　the　colour　of　the　surface
changes　with　every　hour　of　the　day；　from　the　most　brilliant
crimson　to　the　softest　shade　of　blue；　radiant　with　many　colours
that　your　eyes　cannot　now　see。　　There　are　also　myriads　of　scented
streams；　consisting　of　hundreds　of　different　and　multi…coloured
liquids；　each　with　a　perfume　sweeter　than　the　most　delicate
flower；　and　pouring　forth　the　most　heavenly　music　as　they　go　on
their　way。　　But　be　not　surprised　at　the　magnitude　of　the　change；
for　is　it　not　written　in　Revelation；　'I　saw　a　new　heaven　and　a
new　earth；　for　the　first　heaven　and　the　first　earth　were　passed
away'？　　Nor　can　we　be　surprised　at　vastness；　sublimity；　and
beauty　such　as　never　was　conceived　of；　for　do　we　not　find　this　in
His　word；　'Eye　hath　not　seen；　nor　ear　heard；　neither　have　entered
into　the　heart　of　man；　the　things　which　God　hath　prepared　for
them　that　love　Him'？　　In　this　blissful　state；　those　that　feared
God　and　obeyed　their　consciences　will　live　on　forever；　but　their
rest　can　never　become　stagnation；　for　evolution　is　one　of　the
most　constant　laws；　and　never　ceases；　and　they　must　always　go
onward　and　upward；　unspeakably　blessed　by　the　consciences　they
made　their　rule　in　life；　till　in　purity　and　power　they　shall
equal　or　exceed　the　angels　of　their　Lord　in　heaven。
　　　
〃But　you　men　of　finite　understanding　will　ask；　as　I　myself　should
have　asked；　How；　by　the　law　of　hydrostatics；　can　liquids　flow　on
a　plane？　　Remember　that；　though　these　divisions　are　astronomical
or　geometrical　planes；　their　surfaces　undulate；　but　the　moving
cause　is　this：　　At　the　centre　of　these　planes　is　a　pole；　the
analogue；　we　will　say；　of　the　magnetic　pole　on　earth；　that　has　a
more　effective　attraction　for　a　gas　than　for　a　liquid。　　When
liquids　approach　the　periphery　of　the　circle；　the　rapid　rotation
and　decreased　pressure　cause　them　to　break　up；　whereupon　the
elementary　gases　return　to　the　centre　in　the　atmosphere；　if　near
the　surface；　forming　a　gentle　breeze。　　On　nearing　the　centre；　the
cause　of　the　separation　being　removed；　the　gases　reunite　to　form
a　liquid；　and　the　centrifugal　force　again　sends　this　on　its
journey。〃
　　　
〃Is　there　no　way；〃　asked　Bearwarden；　〃by　which　a　man　may　retrieve
himself；　if　he　has　lost　or　misused　his　opportunities　on　earth？〃
　　　
〃The　way　a　man　lays　up　treasures　in　heaven；　when　on　earth；〃
replied　the　spirit；　〃is　by　gladly　doing　something　for　some　one
else；　usually　in　some　form　sacrificing　self。　　In　hell　no　one　can
do　anything　for　any　one　else；　because　every　one　can　have　the
semblance　of　anything　he　wishes　by　merely　concentrating　his　mind
upon　it；　though；　when　he　has　it；　it　is　but　a　shadow　and　gives　him
no　pleasure。　　Thus　no　one　can　give　any　one　else　anything　he
cannot　obtain　himself；　and　if　he　could；　since　it　would　be　no
sacrifice　on　his　part；　he　would　derive　no　great　moral　comfort
from　it。　　Neither　can　any　one　comfort　any　one　else　by　putting　his
acts　or　offences　in　a　new　light；　for　every　one　knows　the　whole
truth　about　himself　and　everybody　else；　so　that　nothing　can　be
made　to　appear　favourably　or　unfavourably。　　All　this；　however；　is
supposing　there　is　the　desire　to　be　kind；　but　how　can　spirits
that　were　selfish　and　ill…disposed　on　earth；　where　there　are　so
many　softening　influences；　have　good　inclinations　in　hell；　where
they　loathe　one　another　with　constantly　increasing　strength？
　　　
〃Inasmuch　as　both　the　good　and　the　bad　continue　on　the　lines　on
which　they　started　when　on　earth；　we　are　continually　drawing
nearer　to　God；　while　they　are　departing。　　The　gulf　may　be　only
one　of　feeling；　but　that　is　enough。　　It　follows；　then；　that　with
God　as　our　limit；　which　we　of　course　can　never　reach；　their
limit；　in　the　geometrical　sense；　must　be　total　separation　from
Him。　　Though　all　spirits；　we　are　told；　live　forever；　it　occurs　to
me　that　in　God's　mercy　there　may　be　a　gradual　end；　for　though　to
the　happy　souls　in　heaven　a　thousand　years　may　seem　as　nothing；
existence　in　hell　must　drag　along　with　leaden　limbs；　and　a　single
hour　seem　like　a　lifetime　of　regret。　　Since　it　is　dreadful　to
think　that　such　unsoothed　anguish　should　continue　forever；　I　have
often　pondered　whether　it　might　not　be　that；　by　a　form　of
involution　and　reversal　of　the　past　law；　the　spirit　that　came　to
life　evolved　from　the；　mineral；　plant；　and　animal　worlds；　may
mercifully　retrace　its　steps　one　by　one；　till　finally　the　soul
shall　penetrate　the　solid　rock　and　hide　itself　by　becoming　part
of　the　planet。　　Many　people　in　my　day　believed　that　after　death
their　souls　would　enter　stately　trees；　and　spread　abroad　great
branches；　dropping　dead　leaves　over　the　places　on　which　they　had
stood　while　on　earth。　　This　might　be　the　last　step　in　the　awful
tragedy　of　the　fall　and　involution　of　a　human　soul。　　In　this　way；
those　who　had　wasted　the　priceless　opportunities　given　them　by
God　might　be　mercifully　obliterated；　for　it　seems　as　if　they
would　not　be　needed　in　the　economy　of　the　universe。　　The　Bible；
however；　mentions　no　such　end；　and　says　unmistakably　that　hell
will　last　forever；　so　that　in　this　supposition；　as　in　many
others；　the　wish　is　probably　father　of　the　thought。〃
　　　
〃But；〃　persisted　Bearwarden；　〃how　about　death…bed　repentances？〃
　　　
〃Those；〃　replied　the　spirit；　〃are　few　and　far　between。　　The　pains
of　death　at　the　last　hour　leave　but　little　room　for　aught　but
vain　regret。　　A　man　dies　suddenly；　or　may　be　unconscious　some
time　before　the　end。　　But　they　do　occur。　　The　question　is；　How
much　credit　is　it　to　be　good　when　you　can　do　no　more　harm？　　The
time　to　resist　evil　and　do　that　which　is　right　is　while　the
temptation　is　on　and　in　its　strength。　　While　life　lasts　there　is
hope；　but　the　books　are　sealed　by　death。　　The　tree　must　fall　to
one　side　or　the　　other　there　is　no　middle　groundand　as　the
tree　falleth；　so　it　lieth。
　　　
〃This；　however；　is　a　gloomy　subject；　and　one　that　in　your　heart
of　hearts　you　understand。　　I　would　rather　tell　you　more　of　the
beauties　and　splendours　of　spaceof　the　orange；　red；　and　blue
stars；　and　of　the　tremendous　cyclonic　movements　going　on　within
them；　which　are　even　more　violent　than　the　storms　that　rage　in
the　sun。　　The　clouds；　as　the　spectroscope　has　already　shown；
consist　of　iron；　gold；　and　platinum　in　the　form　of　vapour；　while
the　openings　revealed　by　sun…spots；　or　rather　star…spots；　are　so
tremendous　that　a　comparatively　small　one　would　contain　many
dozen　such　globes　as　the　earth。　　I　could　tell　you　also　of　the
mysteries　of