CXX

111. If during the time of this writing, the universal motion had somehow slowed, our revolutions around the sun slowed, our rotation on our axis had slowed, our mechanical timers had slowed, and our own bodies compensated to slow down to that rate, then we would have no way of gauging or ascertaining that velocity shift.
112. Time is thus strictly controlled by the cosmic motion and cannot have meaning outside that context. Time travel (86) is not possible when considered outside the context of motion. The secret is not to travel “when” but “where.”
113. The logical extension of this concept is that we are simultaneously at all times. Our consciousness is the only time traveling entity. (8, 20)
114. Law is a convenient codification of a standard of behavior to enable people to interact with each other in an orderly and mutually satisfying way. It is created by the people who it governs and is effective only in so much as it is accepted.
115. The greatest error of governance is to attempt to legislate morals. This is the failure of most religion as well.
116. When law steps beyond the bounds of social structure and interrelative action and attempts to govern thought pattern (or morality), it ceases to be valid as law and one is no longer bound to obedience. Oppression, therefore, is inherently illegal.
117. For every true law that exists there is at least one viable and legal alternative to obedience. Without choice, there is no governance. The test of the validity of a law is the alternative to obedience.
118. Note the first law: “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat . . . [or] thou shalt surely die.” The legal alternative to obedience, however, is explained soon after. “Now lest they put forth their hand and eat of the tree of life and live forever . . .” A second tree offered immortality in the garden as an antidote to the effect of the first tree. To have eaten of it first (nowhere forbidden) would have voided the effect of the first law.
119. The problem with philosophy is that too many people study it and too few do i. Genius is born not in analyzing and categorizing, but in philosophizing.
120. Valid law must prescribe remedy, not punishment. (117, 118)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Verse 119, seeming to be somewhat flip, begins a lengthy section written in pencil. This is the second section in the Book of Wesley written in pencil. It seems that this may be material that Wesley intended to rewrite, was being tongue-in-cheek about, or that he expected to contain a lot of questionable math.