64 Natural Theology. 



placed, is packed with soft elastic cushions and fas- 

 tened by strings and pulleys to give it variety and 

 rapidity of motion. Its outer case is to cover it 

 when not in use, and protect it when in danger. 

 The delicate fringe upon its border never needs 

 clipping ; and set like a well-arranged defence, its 

 points all gracefully turn back, that no ray of light 

 may be obstructed. Above the projecting brow is 

 another defence to turn aside the acrid fluids from 

 the forehead, while near the eye is placed a gland 

 that bathes the whole organ with a clear, soothing, 

 fluid, to prevent all friction and keep its outward 

 lens free from dust, and polished for constant use. 

 When we consider all this, the perfect adaptation of 

 the eye to our wants, the arrangement of every part 

 of its structure on strict mechanical and optical 

 principles, and all the provisions for its protection, 

 we pronounce the instrument perfect, the work of a 

 Being like man, but raised immeasurably above the 

 most skilful human workman. What shall we say 

 when we learn that this instrument was prepared in 

 long anticipation of its use ; that there is a machin- 

 ery within it to keep it in constant repair ; that the 

 Maker not only adjusted the materials, but that he 

 was the chemist who formed all these substances 

 from the dust of the earth ? We may be told that 

 the architect found this dust ready at hand, existing 

 from all eternity. We may not be able to prove the 

 contrary, nor do we need to for this argument. It 

 is enough for our present purpose to know that the 

 eyes with which we now see, these wonderfully 



