294 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



meval dog were intentionally guided, in order that the 

 greyhound, for instance, that perfect image of symmetry 

 and vigour, might be formed, no shadow of reason can be 

 assigned for the belief that the variations, alike in nature, 

 and the result of the same general laws, which have been 

 the groundwork through Natural Selection of the formation 

 of the most perfectly adapted animals in the world, man 

 included, were intentionally and specially guided. How- 

 ever much we may wish it, we can hardly follow Professor 

 Asa Gray in his belief that ' variation has been led along 

 certain beneficial lines,' like a stream ' along definite and 

 useful lines of irrigation.' " 



" If we assume that each particular variation was from 

 the beginning of all time pre-ordained, the plasticity of 

 the organization, which leads to many injurious deviations 

 of structure, as well as that redundant power of reproduc- 

 tion which inevitably leads to a struggle for existence, and, 

 as a consequence, to the Natural Selection and survival of 

 the fittest, must appear to us superfluous laws of nature. 

 On the other hand, an omnipotent and omniscient Creator 

 ordains everything and foresees everything. Thus we are 

 brought face to face with a difficulty as insoluble as is that 

 of free-will and predestination." 



Before proceeding to reply to this remarkable passage, it 

 may be well to remind some readers that belief in the 

 existence of God, in His primary creation of the universe, 

 and in His derivative creation of all kinds of being, in- 

 organic and organic, do not repose upon physical pheno- 

 mena, but, as has been said, on primary intuitions. To 

 deny or ridicule any of these beliefs on physical grounds 

 is to commit the fallacy of ignoratio elenchi. It is to com- 

 mit an absurdity analogous to that of saying a blind child 



