NATURAL THEOLOGY. H7 



can be divided. If it could be imagined tbat a single 

 example was possibly accidental ; that there happens 

 by chance, to be a muscle to straighten the arm — and 

 another to bend it, how are we to believe this of two 

 hundred and fifty examples ; or that all the muscles 

 happen accidentally to be paired ? 



T. What is, if possible, a more wonderful evi- 

 dence of design, it is said, the flexor muscles, (so na- 

 med from a Latin word, signifying to bend,) have 

 fibres of greater strength and more numerous than 

 those of the extensors, or the muscles which merely 

 extend and recover the limb ; — and that the flexors 

 which have to make the principal effort, are fastened 

 to better advantage, for the exertion of their power. 

 B. What manifest purpose and intelligence ! 

 When we bend the arm, it is generally to lift 

 a weight, but never when we straighten it ; and 

 hence we require stronger flexors than extensors ; 

 and the superior strength of the former is not owing, 

 it seems, to exercise, but to the original structure of 

 the muscle. There are more strands to the rope. 



T. What part of the contrivance of a muscle is 

 the tendon, or the white, leathery string in which the 

 muscle usually terminates ? 



A. Besides that the tendon is much more firm 

 and tough than the muscle, and therefore more fit for 

 fastening to the bone, for which purpose it is employ- 

 ed ; the muscle or fleshy part can be placed in any 

 situation which is most convenient, and its motion be 

 communicated by means of the tendons, like so 

 many wires and strings to any part where the motion 

 may be wanted. Thus, there are many tendons 



