Has man obtained any help from heaven?
VI.
IF we have a theory, we must have facts for the foundation. We must have corner-stones. We must not build on guesses, fancies, analogies or inferences. The structure must have a basement. If we build, we must begin at the bottom.
I have a theory and I have four corner-stones.
The first stone is that matter—substance—cannot be destroyed, cannot be annihilated.
The second stone is that force cannot be destroyed, cannot be annihilated.
The third stone is that matter and force cannot exist apart—no matter without force—no force without matter.
The fourth stone is that that which cannot be destroyed could not have been created; that the indestructible is the uncreatable.
If these corner-stones are facts, it follows as a necessity that matter and force are from and to eternity; that they can neither be increased nor diminished.
It follows that nothing has been or can be created; that there never has been or can be a creator.