196 Natural Theology. 



hydrogen were too strong to be set free from com- 

 bination by the heat of its own combustion, then 

 flame, as now ordinarily obtained, would be impos- 

 sible. But the hydrogen having the power to bring 

 off carbon in the form of gas, and then to drop the 

 particles in the heated flame an instant before they 

 are consumed, we have the light-giving machinery 

 perfect. So far in the production of flame, we are 

 sure of the chemical changes. And if we consider 

 the nature of hydrogen when set free ; the substances 

 with which it is found in combination ; the process 

 by which it secures constant flame ; its affinity for 

 oxygen ; its power of bringing away with it the par- 

 ticles of carbon needed to give light ; its process of 

 burning, by which the particles of carbon are caused 

 to give light till others are ready to take their places, 

 and its harmless product water ; when we consider 

 all these, we not only recognise a substance admi- 

 rably fitted for an important place among the need- 

 ful things bestowed upon man, but its fitness is se- 

 cured by so many distinct conditions, that intelli- 

 gence and wisdom are necessarily inferred from such 

 a provision. Hydrogen being one of the constitu- 

 ents of all organic beings, we naturally seek to learn 

 its fitness for this purpose. There are many things 

 connected with physiology that we do not yet under- 

 stand. But we know it is a law of all animal bodies 

 that their particles shall change. The human body 

 is like the constantly consuming flame. Its parti- 

 cles are dissolving and vanishing, while others, pre- 

 pared from the constant supply of food, take their 



