CiiAP. I. COMBINATION OF RELATIONS. 131 



Ilim before whom Man can only ))ow in grateful acknowledgment of tlio pre- 

 rogatives he is allowed to enjoy in this world, not to speak of the promises of a 

 future life. 



I have intentionally dismissed many jjoints in my argument with mere questions, 

 in order not to extend unduly a discussion which is after all only accessory to 

 the plan of my work. I have felt justified in doing so because, from the point 

 of view under which my subject is treated, those questions find a natural solution 

 which must present itself to every reader. We know what the intellect of Man 

 may originate, we know its creative power, its power of combination, of foresight, 

 of analysis, of concentration ; we are, therefore, prepared to recognize a similar 

 action emanating from a Supreme Intelligence to a boundless extent. We need, 

 therefore, not even attempt to show that such an Intellect may have originated all 

 the Universe contains ; it is enough to demonstrate, that the constitution of the 

 jihysical world, and more particularly the organization of living beings in their connec- 

 tion with the ph3'sical world prove, in general, the existence of a Supreme Being, 

 as the Author of all things. The task of science is rather to investigate what has 

 been done, to inquire, if possible, how it has been done, than to ask what is possible 

 for the Deity, as we can know that only by Avhat actually exists. To attack such 

 a position, those who would deny the intervention in nature of a creative mind, 

 must show, that the cause to which they refer the origin of finite beings is by 

 its nature a possible cause, which cannot be denied of a being endowed with the 

 attributes we recognize in God. Our task is therefore completed, as soon as we 

 have proved his existence. It would, nevertheless, be highly desirable that every 

 naturalist, who has arrived at similar conclusions, should go over the subject anew, 

 from his point of view and with particular reference to the special field of his 

 investigations ; for so only can the whole evidence be brought out 



I foresee already that some of the most striking illustrations may be drawn 

 from the morphology of the vegetable kingdom, especially from the chariicteristic 

 succession and systematical combination of different kinds of leaves in the forma- 

 tion of the foliage and the flowers of so many plants, all of which end their 

 development by the production of an endless variety of fruits. The inorganic world, 

 considered in the same light, woidd not fiiil to exhibit also unexpected evidence 

 of thought, in the character of the laws regulating the chemical combinations, the 

 action of physical forces, the universal attraction, etc., etc. Even the history of 

 human culture ought to be investigated from this ])oint of view. But 1 must 

 leave it to abler hands to discuss such topics. 



