156 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



we have spoken. And so the evolution of living forms 

 on the earth hung on the ordered condition of matter in 

 the earth, on its suitableness for producing and nourishing 

 life, on the ordered condition of matter in the universe, 

 on an amount of order inexpressibly vast. 



If, then, the vegetable and animal world have reached 

 their present condition by evolution, the evidence that 

 mind has been behind the scene, as the first and original 

 cause of, and preparing for, every step and every advance, 

 taking every step, making every advance, is overwhelm- 

 ing. From the foundation to the top stone, from the first 

 and simplest combination to the completed and complex 

 structure, working after the manner of intelligence is 

 seen. Everywhere there shines the hand of inimitable 

 mind. The evolved world is not a daub or a blotch, 

 or as any work done by a man in darkness and ignorance. 

 It is not as if millions of men were to bring stones 

 unknown to each other, and blindly fling them on a field 

 in any direction. No gem of architecture, no building of 

 any kind, rises as the fruit of such work. In the evolu- 

 tion of protoplasm and ovules, in their building up of 

 living forms, there is no irregularity, no bungling, no 

 working as in the dark, no groping, no sign as of an 

 unskilful hand. There is perfect law, there is a regular 

 course and manner of progress, a measured, skilled, 

 trained, onward march to a goal. At no point is there 

 the sign of the hand of chance, but everywhere of mind. 

 It is as in a great ribbon manufactory, where silk threads 

 pass to and fro, and are skilfully mixed for the produc- 

 tion of patterns. It is not the whole matter to know 

 how the threads are arranged, and the modes of working 

 for the production of the pattern. We ask, Why are the 

 threads in their ordered places ? How came they to be 

 so disposed as to form beautiful patterns ? Why are all 



