XII.] THEOLOGY AND EVOLUTION. 271 



parts of the building, the pieces which are the most suitable, 

 owing to the shape they happen to have broken into. After- 

 ward, alluding to this illustration, he says : 16 " The shape of 

 the fragments of stone at the base of our precipice may be 

 called accidental, but this is not strictly correct, for the 

 shape of each depends on a long sequence of events, all 

 obeying natural laws, on the nature of the rock, on the lines 

 of stratification or cleavage, on the form of the mountain 

 which depends on its upheaval and subsequent denudation, 

 and lastly, on the storm and earthquake which threw down 

 the fragments. But, in regard to the use to which the 

 fragments may be put, their shape may strictly be said to 

 be accidental. And here we are led to face a great difficulty, 

 in alluding to which I am aware that I am travelling beyond 

 my proper province." 



" An omniscient Creator must have foreseen every conse- 

 quence which results from the laws imposed by Him ; but 

 can it be reasonably maintained that the Creator intention- 

 ally ordered, if we use the words in any ordinary sense, that 

 certain fragments of rock should assume certain shapes, so 

 that the builder might erect his edifice ? If the various 

 laws which have determined the shape of each fragment 

 were not predetermined for the builder's sake, can it with 

 any greater probability be maintained that He specially 

 ordained, for the sake of the breeder, each of the innumera- 

 ble variations in our domestic animals and plants many 

 of these variations being of no service to man, and not 

 beneficial, far more often injurious, to the creatures them- 

 selves ? Did He ordain that the crop and tail-feathers of 

 the pigeon should vary, in order that the fancier might 

 make his grotesque pouter and fantail breeds? Did He 

 cause the frame and mental qualities of the dog to vary, in 

 order that a breed might be formed of indomitable ferocity, 

 with jaws fitted to pin down the bull for man's brutal sport ? 

 16 " Animals and Plants under Domestication," vol. ii., p. 431 



