276 ORGANIC EVOLUTION CONSIDERED 



earth, in which is much the greater part of dry land, 

 is nearer the sun in winter than in summer, and that 

 the reverse is true of the "southern hemisphere, in 

 which most of the water exists, is a wise provision 

 for preventing those extremes of temperature which 

 would occur if the sun were in aphelion in our win- 

 ter and in perihelion in our summer. 



Also, the various seasons of the year are well 

 adapted to the growth of vegetation and to the wel- 

 fare of animals. The seasons are due to inclination 

 of the earth's axis to the ecliptic, and their length is 

 determined by the time required for the earth to 

 revolve round the sun. 



The wonderful chemical laws to which atoms are 

 subject — the law of combination according to atomic 

 weights, and the law of multiple proportions, show 

 the infinite wisdom and power of the Creator. Each 

 atom of matter is stamped with power that is definite 

 and invariable, so that it acts with absolute precision 

 in all that it does. Thus the primary building mate- 

 rials of the universe show that they are the workman- 

 ship of an Infinite Intelligence. Can the chemist 

 who understands the great multitude of ways in 

 which elements combine according to well-known and 

 invariable laws doubt that behind these laws there is 

 a ruling Intelligence? I have already sufficiently con- 

 sidered these laws in the chapter on Matter. 



If we consider the kinds and relative quantities of 

 simple substances that are found in the earth, with 

 reference to the existence of living beings, and finally 

 of man upon the earth, I think that the evidences of 

 design are unmistakable. 



It is evident that many material conditions must be ~ 

 fulfilled before it is possible for any living thing with 

 which we are acquainted to exist, and vastly greater 

 must be the number, of such conditions before a 



