ON CEEATION OR EVOLUTION. 205 



ment being thus prepared for each coming race. The broad 

 facts of environment referred to are such simple major condi- 

 tions as — 



1. Adequate and not insupportable supply of solar heat. 



2. An atmosphere surrounding the globe, by which heat 



and light are moderated and the proportion of 

 oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen, 

 suited to terrestrial life nre aiforded. 



3. Supply of average raiiifall. 



4. Nutritive material in the crust of the earth for plants, 



however produced. 



5. Inter-relation of plants and animals, as to nutrition 



and respiration. 



6. The seasons. 



7. Alternation of day and night. 



8. Variety of soil and climate. 



9. Varying contour of earth and sea. 



Certain minor "circumstances" which obviously contribute 

 to the higher possibilities of animal life, of man especially — 



1. Specific gravity of animal bodies as compared with 



water which removes the necessiti/ of drowjiing. 



2. Supply of wood and metals contributing to the higher 



efficiency of man. 



3. Preparation of soil by earthworms for increased pro- 



ductiveness. 



If no other than these fore-ordained conditions of life for 

 ■coming millions of beings can be adduced, a very temple of 

 ■design stands out to view, and rebukes a mechanical theory 

 of the universe. 



Design, supremely wise, supremely powerful, is not less 

 manifest in the preparation of the required environments for 

 each succeeding generation of living things, from the dawn 

 of terrestrial life to the age of man, than was human fore- 

 sight and purpose in the purchase by David of the threshing- 

 floor of Oman, and the collection by himself and Solomon of 

 the treasures of Lebanon and Ophir, for that army of work- 

 men who were to fashion, and did fashion the Temple of 

 Solomon to its perfected design. 



Teleology, which thus recognises the harmony between 

 life and its circumstances, the adaptation of environments 

 for organisms, not less than the adaptation of organisms to 

 their enviromnents, will ever furnish a solid mass of indirect 

 evidence for Desi2:n and Creation. 



