104 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



The whole world of sight and sense and action predicates 

 God, and argues the wisdom and goodness of God. The 

 complicate interplay of the forces of Nature, the wonder- 

 ful adaptation of the functions of animal life, the develop- 

 ments by cells, the orderly and helpful transmutations of 

 energy, send unfailingly the observant mind to thoughts of 

 the Maker and Ruler, God. «' He that planned the ear, 

 shall he not hear? or he that made the eye, shall he not 

 see ? " " For the invisible things of Him from the creation 

 of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the 

 things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." 

 By Paley, a hundred years ago, this argument from design 

 for those who think and read in English was put wiUi 

 singular clearness and force. And the marvelous forward 

 strides made since in Natural Science, with the numerous 

 discoveries lighted upon in the investigations aroused by 

 the modern theory of Evolution, have furnished tenfold, 

 more of data than Paley had for inferring from design the 

 existence of the designer. It may not be amiss to remind 

 Christian folk that the hypothesis of Evolution is now upon 

 trial and under experiment. It may go up higher into the 

 law of Evolution, explaining all forms of existence and 

 modes of sequence — even human animal life. If so, all 

 right. It will be found not only not to militate against 

 either the Holy Bible or the Christian Creed, but ev'^n to 

 contribute to our deeper reverence for the God who makes 

 the glories and immensities of the Universe to be but His 

 unfoldings out of the simplicity and energy of a cell. It 

 may go down into the darkness of an exploded hypoth- 

 esis. If so, yet in the studies it has induced and the truths 

 it has searched out, it will have proved itself exceedingly 

 beneficial to mankind. 



Marks of design everywhere apparent argue the existence 

 of the designer, God. Wisdom and goodness in the things 

 designed argue these to be the attributes of Him design- 

 ing. Nor is the argument to be refused because of things 

 of evil seen and known, like thistles, nettles, thorns, rep- 



