of matter in the present world which remains the same at all temperatures, and in all circumstances, which no chemical, or mechanical agencies can alter? a substance which remains unchanged in the very heart of the ice around the poles, and in the focus of a volcano; which remains untouched by the most powerful reagents which the chemists can apply, and by the mightiest forces which the mechanician can bring to bear upon it? It seems to me that modern science does render the existence of such a substance probable, though not cognizable by the senses. It is the luminiferous ether, that attenuated medium by which light, and heat, and electricity are transmitted from one part of the universe to another, by undulations of inconceivable. velocity. This strange fluid whose existence and action seems all but demonstrated by the phenomena of light, heat, and electricity, and perhaps, too, by the resistance experienced by Encke's, Biela's, and Halley's comets, must possess the extraordinary characteristic above pointed out. It must exist and act wherever we find light, heat, or electricity; and where do we not find them? They penetrate through what has been called empty space; and, therefore, this ether exists there, propagating its undulations at the astonishing

second. They

rate of two hundred thousand miles per emanate in constant succession from every intensely heated focus, such as the sun, the volcano, and the chemical furnace; and, therefore, this strange medium is neither dissipated nor affected by the strongest known heat. Both light and heat are transmitted through ice; and, therefore, this ether cannot be congealed. The same is true of glass, and every transparent substance, however dense; and even the most solid metals convey heat and electricity with remarkable facility; and, therefore, this ether exists and acts with equal facility in the most solid masses as in a vacuum. In short, it seems to be independent of chemical or mechanical changes, and to act unobstructed in all possible modifications of matter.

And, though too

evanescent to be cognizable by the senses, or the most delicate chemical and mechanical tests, it possesses, nevertheless, a most astonishing activity.

"Now, I am not going to assert that the spiritual body will be composed of this luminiferous ether. But, since we know not the composition of that body, it is lawful to suppose that such may be its constitution. This is surely possible, and that is all which is essential to my present argument." He pro

ceeds to show that, "admitting its truth," certain conclusions follow, as, for instance, that "the spiritual body would be unaffected by all possible changes of temperature," and be "unharmed by chemical and mechanical agencies," &c. (Ch. ix.)

We learn from a subsequent page, that this theory is not properly his own, but was suggested by another'; and that "a similar view" had also been previously presented by Mr. Isaac Taylor in his "Physical Theory of Another Life." But what strikes one as so astonishing is this,—that such a view of the subject should for a moment be entertained by such a man as Dr. Hitchcock, and more especially, seeing that he has even laboriously sought to prove the materiality of that

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new earth" which man is hereafter to inhabit; and to establish, in short, its identity, so far as its substance or matter is concerned, with the present earth which is now inhabited by him. We shall presently see what the teaching of Scripture is upon the subject; but the nature and analogies of the case ought surely to have prevented the adoption of such a view as that which this theory presents. A material earth calls for a

By Townsend, in his work "Facts in Mesmerism."

material body. We see this necessary connection between the present earth and its present material inhabitants; but of what use would it be to bodies composed of "luminiferous ether"? They may reside in "empty space," one would suppose, as well as on a solid globe like this; nay, we see not why they should not dwell" in airy nothing" and find therein "a local habitation and a name." But the idea is too extravagant to be soberly discussed, and it would not have been noticed here at all, except for the purpose of showing what has actually been put forth by men of eminence and men of science, and that too at a most recent date; and to justify, moreover, the remark before made, that, notwithstanding all that has been said and proved in these Essays with regard to the material nature of man's future inheritance, it was still necessary to show that his resurrection body will be essentially material, and therefore in harmony with it. The case may also serve as a warning to all who, like the writer, are engaged in the investigation of subjects of this kind, how they ever allow empty speculation to fill the place of proofs derived either from the facts of Nature, or from the words of Revelation. When we have these to guide us we may

proceed with confidence, but without them we can do nothing.

In the present case, however, we are not left without a guide, nor without positive data to reason upon. The Scriptures abound in references to the subject, and in positive declarations upon it, and these all alike imply THE MATERIALITY OF THE FUTURE

BODY.

There are a few passages, however, which are supposed not to do this, but rather to teach the contrary, and to a misapprehension of their meaning is doubtless, in a great measure, to be attributed the very prevailing idea that the resurrection body will be a kind of spiritual substance, very different, if not essentially so, from that of our present material frames. following is the leading text of the kind: "It is

The

sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Cor. xv. 44.) On this a recent author1, who stood deservedly high in the world of science, remarks: "If there be one point clear in their (the Apostles') declarations, it is that the resuscitated

Professor Baden Powell, "Essays on the Spirit of the Inductive Philosophy," p. 294.