In the beginning the Univercoelum was a boundless, undefinable ocean of liquid fire, understood as the original condition of matter. It was an undifferentiated eternity of motion, without beginning or end. Matter and force existed as one inseparable whole, an Eternal Sun, a vortex the power wherein was the Great Positive Mind, of which that vortex was the perfect and spontaneous substance. It was impossible for matter to exist without a principle of inherent production; it was impossible for this Internal Positive Power to subsist without matter as its vehicle; and in order that matter might pass from the formless to the state of forms there was action necessary on the part of the Great Positive Power. Matter was developed thereby until it became an external negative to the Positive Power within it; and thus positive and negative were established in matter. Thus was inaugurated the law of universal motion, and so also in the beginning God created the forms that are now manifested universally.
The great ocean of matter and movement constituted a mighty sun or vast centre of worlds, which emanated heat and light, producing a nebulous zone in the immen-
sity of space. The laws of attraction, repulsion and condensation at work herein set up in their turn an incalculable number of local centres or suns, from which were created 1 planetary systems, each revolving about its particular controlling centre. The first ring of converging formations so commenced and was so at last completed. But incessant evolution from the great centre produced a second orbit or circle of corresponding suns and systems. A third, fourth and fifth zone appeared in succession, all consisting of solar and planetary worlds. There was in fine a sixth circle of formations, the constituents of which, not being as yet consolidated, are suns only, pursuing their various orbits in the form of blazing comets. The great centre from which all these systems of systems emanated remains an inexhaustible fountain, the everlasting parent of all things. It is still an ocean of undulated and indefinable fire, the holy emblem of perfection. It displays, throughout the immensity of
space, correspondences of its inherent nature and breathes forth worlds unnumbered with an everlasting spontaneousness, developing its attributes in successive degrees and orders throughout the vast Univercoelum and the boundless duration of eternity. It should be understood also that the nebulous zone—formed in time unimaginable by incessant emanation of light and heat from the Great Sun—not only approximates to that which produced it originally but expands through infinite space far beyond the sixth circle of suns. The suns of the first circle, being fire inconceivable, were too light and undifferentiated to consolidate like other centres; but the light thrown forth by them was capable of becoming less rare than their own composition, and thus a hardened or consolidated combination was produced in each of their planets, though their interior constitution is still fiery. The suns of the second circle are yet more rare than the first but have less fire and greater heat, and their planets condensed gradually into earthy compositions, though unlike anything that we understand as terrestrial in nature. The suns and planets of the second circle are immeasurably vaster than those appertaining to the fifth, to which our own system belongs, while those of the first circle are of still more inconceivable dimensions. The suns of the third circle have less heat and more light than the former. While they are nearer to a state of condensation, they are not actually condensed. The material formation of their planets is still so refined that no substance known on earth bears any resemblance thereto. The suns of the fourth circle have still less heat and light than those of the former, while their planetary worlds are less numerous and less also in magnitude, though they cannot be calculated or comprehended. They are also of denser constitution than any so far described, and some of their formations begin to resemble the appearance of our own globe. The fifth circle of suns has relatively less heat and light. They have brought into
existence an immense number of planets and satellites, and our own solar system may stand as a general representative of all included herein. As regards the sixth circle, it contains no fire, less light and more electricity than all others. The orbits of its various suns embrace space incalculable. As the suns of the first circle came forth from the Great Sun, so were the succeeding circles evolved one from another in perfect harmony. It follows that there is one only general evolution, one infinite production from one eternal origin. The vast deep of materials—in ceaseless motion and activity—out of which all systems were developed, bears testimony to future corresponding emanations from the same inexhaustible fountain. That which has been so far produced from this living vortex is comparable in its totality to a single atom in comparison with that which is yet to be. The Great Sun of all suns emanated heat, light and electricity, evolved one from another, as three principles that are mediums and connecting links of universal motion and activity. The fountain from which they sprang into existence was an emanation from the interior—and from qualities existing therein. The great body was an atmosphere surrounding the centre or sun within. The ever-controlling influence and active energies of the Divine Positive Mind brought all effects into being, as parts of one vast whole. It will continue to create new worlds until every particle that composes the cosmic world has become the very essence of organic life; until this has attained in man the perfection of spiritual essence; and until the influence of man upon all that is below humanity has brought all into that state which is celestial. Then will the Grand Mind be the positive to that great negative formed by the perfection of all things else in being; and then Deity and Spirit will subsist only.1 Thereafter,
between these two, will be brought forth new worlds, in the epoch of another beginning. It becomes evident in this manner that the internal and invisible is the one reality and that this is eternal truth, essential nature of Eternal Mind, the attributes of which, expressed in the cosmos and its harmony, are wisdom, goodness, justice, equity and mercy. Within and without, principle and form of being, Infinite Mind and its vesture, which is the cosmic world—these are the two modes of universal being. As the outer must be and is an emanation from the inner or centre, so that which encompasses the centre is not opposed thereto. Disorder and confusion may seem to reign everywhere, but in reality there are perfect harmony, union and reciprocity. There is correspondence everywhere, in virtue of an immutable law, affording to the human mind an indestructible basis on which to rest a correct understanding
of the nature of all effects and from which to behold the unspeakable grandeur of the end—of that end where the cosmic world, by virtue of inherent powers, shall be so refined and perfected as to be a counterpart of the Great Power which brought all things into being. As parts of the great whole, humanity should be actuated by those perfect principles shown forth in the law of the universe, conforming to which it would be truly in correspondence therewith. All motion would be such as to produce good results; all parts would work together; and harmony would reign in all. The whole, thus existing, would receive the tranquillising influence of Divine Law, the essence of which is the perfection of goodness and truth. Opposites would be henceforth unknown, for real knowledge would cast out their false appearance and destructive influence for ever. The truth of all truths, the reality of all realities, the foundations of happiness and peace would be medicine for all souls. The human race would be itself as a great sun, like the Central Sun of the cosmos, the vesture of its Eternal Parent and a reflection of His Divine attributes. Then would all be filled with that spontaneous reciprocity which would banish from the face of the earth the strife of exclusive interests, with every quality and principle which responds to the name of antagonism. By their expulsion from within our own selves there would manifest the truth of that which has been affirmed already, that true opposites do not exist in Nature, while their very appearances would be swallowed up in the flood of light and knowledge.
There is one thing more that should be understood in respect of the cosmos, and it is this—that the term boundless is not applicable to the universe of organised matter,1 when this is taken by itself, but only to the unorganised universe, the ocean of perpetually forming material, which is indeed infinite. The Divine Sensorium is the centre of the organised cosmos.