CHEMICAL COMBINATION 35 



again. In short, in every possible variety of conditions 

 the affinities of the same elements are found to be in the 

 same line, to move at the same moment, to continue union 

 within the same range. How impressive is this uniform 

 action ! How marvellous is it that the force should in 

 every atom of the two or more elements entering into 

 combination, be so exactly measured, as that multitudes 

 so vast should be moved with the same simultaneousness, 

 that in every case the conditions of action stand exactly 

 at the same point, and that they combine one and all to 

 show the same perfection of likeness in the compound 

 molecules. Whence then agreement in action so perfect ? 

 To what can we ascribe uniformity so universal and 

 extensive ? Not surely to the multitudes of atoms them- 

 selves ; not to any thing or any ground of being in them ; 

 no, not to multitudes, but to one, to one mind, to 

 one conscious mind capable of producing agreement so 

 wonderful, of creating uniformity so matchless. 



The atoms of each element have many chemical 

 affinities. Oxygen combines with almost all the others, 

 though there are some for which its affinity is weak. 

 Hydrogen enters into a great many unions. Carbon 

 forms a multitude of compounds which are of first import- 

 ance in the economy of nature. Chlorine combines with 

 all substances. Bromine unites with most metals at 

 ordinary temperatures. Iodine and fluorine have similar 

 affinities. Oxygen, in its nature, form, and force, is thus 

 adjusted with this exquisitely nice adjustment to more 

 than sixty different kinds of atoms, differing in nature, 

 form, and force from it and from each other. It might 

 have been adjusted to one and no second. Every addi- 

 tional adjustment is an added contingency. It is as if 

 it had been made, and in the making of it all the atoms 

 of all the elements were kept in view ; and as if they had 



