2. _The body electrical._ By this, I mean that which has commonly been termed "nervous influence," "nervous fluid," "nervo-vital fluid," and "nervo-electric fluid." I object, however, to each and all of these designations. They are too restricted and specific. They all seem to imply that it is an agent or influence which appertains especially to the _nervous_ system; whereas the entire organism is under its pervading force. I do not doubt but its chief action is in and through the nervous system; but it also pervades and, as I think, vitalizes the whole body. The nervous system seems to be created as one principal means for its replenishment,[A] and to serve as the medium of its ministrations to the body at large. I choose to term it _electro-vital fluid_, or _electro-vitality_. My reasons for so designating it are the following: (1) It is demonstrably electrical in its nature. (2) It appears to be identified, or at least connected immediately, with the vitalization of the body. (3) I wish, by its name, to distinguish it from _mental_ vitality, or the vitality of _spirit_. Whether, as a peculiar manifestation of the electric principle, it vitalizes by its own nature and action solely, or whether it be _charged_ with another mysterious element--a _life-force_--and vitalizes by ministering the latter to the material organism, I will not positively affirm. Whichever it be, the name I assign to it seems sufficiently appropriate. But I strongly incline to the theory that this electro-vital principle does itself, by virtue of its own nature, vitalize the system. In other words, I am disposed to think that God makes it the _immediate_ agent of vitalization; having constituted it the _vis vitæ_ of both the animal and the vegetable kingdoms. Nor does this idea, as I conceive, necessarily conflict at all with the doctrine of _cell-life_, as maintained by the best physiologists of the present day. I also sometimes style this electro-vital element the _body electrical_, because it is certainly an entity, coëxtensive with and, in greater or less force, wholly pervading the visible, material body. At this point I will take the liberty to introduce, although somewhat digressively, a few thoughts on the DISTINCTIONS OF VITALITY OR LIFE. There are, as I suppose, the following several kinds of life: (1) _Spirit life_; (2) _Moral life_; (3) _Electric life_. (1.) There is _spirit_ life. And here are to be made several subdivisions. [1.] _Uncreated_ spirit life. This is the life of God. Of the nature of the Divine Essence we know nothing; yet that God is a real, living entity, we do know. My own conviction is that the divine essence and the divine life are identical; that God, a spirit, is necessary, infinite, conscious VITALITY--the voluntary Originator of all existencies besides himself. But as to what is the essential nature of this vitality--this eternal spirit-life--we can have no conception, only that this life is God.