THE LESSON OF EVOLUTION 27 



system after it was formed, then it is impossible to 

 form any opinion on the chemical composition of the 

 planets. 



If, however, we were to suppose for the moment 

 that the chemical composition is uniform throughout 

 the solar system, it would not help us much, for the 

 proportions which would be suitable for the earth 

 would not be suitable for a planet which was either 

 larger or smaller than the earth. This is evident 

 from the fact that the ratio of the surface to the 

 volume varies with the size of the planet. Indeed, 

 from physical considerations alone, we may feel sure 

 that at the present time 'living protoplasm could not 

 exist in any part of the solar system, except on the 

 surface of the earth. 



We have, therefore, in the composition, size, and 

 position of the earth overwhelming evidence of design. 

 And as we can prove that carbon existed in the 

 Archean era before life appeared, and that gold, iron, 

 and copper existed long before man, we must also 

 allow that the results of evolution had been foreseen 

 and provided for. 



Next let us examine the principal concatenation of 

 events which led up to the production of civilised 

 man. The human hand and foot were developed from 

 organs adapted for climbing trees ; and it was necessary 

 that the early Primates should take to trees at once, 

 before their limbs became specialised for terrestrial 

 life. To induce them to climb trees fruit and birds 

 must have been in existence ; for succulent fruits have 

 been developed through the agency of birds. So that 

 the previous existence of birds and flowering plants, 

 which alone form succulent fruits, was necessary for 



