THE ARGUMENT CUMULATIV E. 57 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE ARGUMENT CUMULATIVE. 



Were there no example in the world of contrivance 

 except that of the eye, it would be alone sufficient to sup- 

 port the conclusion which we draw from it, as to the neces* 

 sity of an intelligent Creator. It could never be got rid of, 

 because it could not be accounted for by any other supposi 

 tion which did not contradict all the principles we possess 

 of knowledge — the principles according to v/hich things do, 

 as often as they can be brought to the test of experience, 

 turn out to be true or false. Its coats and humors, con- 

 structed as the lenses of a telescope are constructed, for the 

 refraction of rays of light to a point, which forms the proper 

 action of the organ ; the provision in its muscular tendons 

 for turning its pupil to the object, similar to that which is 

 given to the telescope by screws, and upon which power of 

 direction in the eye the exercise of its office as an optical 

 instrument depends ; the further provision for its defence, 

 for its constant lubricity and moisture, which we see in its 

 socket and its lids, in its glands for the secretion of the mat- 

 ter of tears, its outlet or communication with the n©se for 

 carrying off the liquid after the eye is washed with it ; these 

 provisions compose altogether an apparatus, a system oi 

 parts, a preparation of means, so manifest in their design, 

 so exquisite in their contrivance, so successful in their issue, 

 so precious, and so infinitely beneficial in their use, as, in 

 my opinion, to bear down all doubt that can be raised upon 

 the subject. And what I wish, under the title of the pres- 

 ent chapter; to observe, is, that if other parts of nature were 

 inaccessible to our inquiries, or even if other parts of nature 

 presented nothing to our examination but disorder and con- 

 fusion, the validity of this example would remain the same. 

 If there M'ere but one watch in the world, it would not be 

 less certain that it had a maker. If we had novor in our 



