GOD IN NATURE iSg 



of them to build a terrace of twenty-five good dwell 

 ing houses, But this is supposing them to be all 

 alike ; whereas we know that the molecules of albu 

 men are capable of being of various kinds. Each of 

 these molecules really contains eight hundred and 

 eighty-two atoms, namely four hundred of carbon, 

 three hundred and ten of hydrogen, one hundred and 

 twenty of oxygen, fifty of nitrogen, and two of sulphur 

 and phosphorus. 



Now, we know that these atoms may be differently 

 arranged in different molecules, producing consider 

 able difference of properties. Let us try to calculate 

 of how many differences of arrangement the atoms 

 of one molecule of protoplasm are susceptible, and 

 then to calculate of how many changes these differ 

 ent assemblages are capable in a microscopic dot 

 composed of two million four hundred thousand of 

 them. It is scarcely necessary to say that such a 

 calculation, in the multitudes of possibilities involved, 

 transcends human powers of imagination; yet it 

 raises questions of mechanical and chemical grouping 

 merely, without any reference to the additional 



mystery of life. 



Let it be observed further that this vastly complex 

 material is assumed as if there were nothing remark 

 able in it by many of the theorists who plausibly 

 explain to us the spontaneous origin of living things. 

 But Nature, in arranging all the parts of a compli 

 cated animal beforehand in an apparently structure- 



