"I am driven," says Mr. Holyoake, "to the conclusion that the great aggregate of matter which we call 'nature' is eternal, because we are unable to conceive a state of things when nothing was. There must always have been something, or there could be nothing now. This the dullest feel. Hence we arrive at the idea of the eternity of matter. And in the _eternity_ of matter we are assured of the self-existence of matter, and self-existence is the most _majestic of attributes_, and _includes all others_."[271] "If Natural Theologians were content to stop where they prove a _superior something_ to exist, Atheists might be content to stop there too, and allow Theologians to dream in quiet over their barren foundling."[272] "If I supposed that the Christian meant no more than that something exists independently of Nature, that it may be boundless, that it may be limited, that it may be one, that it may be many beings, if I supposed nothing more than that was meant, then surely I would not occupy your time or my own in discussing a question so barren of practical consequences."--"If we reason about it, unless we take refuge in the idea of a creation which we cannot understand, we must come to the conclusion that _Nature is self-existent_, and that attribute is so majestic,--the power of being independent of any ruler,--the power of being independent of the law of other beings,--seems so majestic as fairly to be supposed to _include all others_; for that which has power _to be_ has power _to act_, for the power to be is the most majestic of all forms of action."[273]