304 ORGANIC EVOLUTION CONSIDERED 



most effectual check to conduct that would lead to 

 destruction, and is a consequent means of salvation. 

 The office of pain is not to destroy, but to save. Its 

 introduction, therefore, into the plan of nature ought 

 not to be regarded as due to moral obliquity on the 

 part of the Creator; it is but a part of the universal 

 plan which works general good. 



But it is urged that the ignorant suffer. This seems 

 to be a necessity due to the establishment of general 

 laws in nature, and such laws, we have seen, are nec- 

 essary for the existence of man. Besides, if the 

 ignorant were exempt from the penalties of nature's 

 laws, while those having knowledge were punished 

 for their violation, this would be the highest possible 

 premium on ignorance, and the greatest possible dis- 

 couragement to the acquisition of knowledge. If 

 such were the case, man would feel it to be his inter- 

 est to remain in ignorance — the wheels of progress 

 would be blocked, and man would remain the most 

 ignorant and degraded savage. 



According to the present arrangement of things the 

 Creator has placed the highest possible premium on 

 knowledge, thus introducing a motive that is capable 

 of leading man to the fullest development of all his 

 powers. 



Again, it is objected that the innocent suffer. 

 Children, for example, inherit diseases and tenden- 

 cies towards diseases from their parents. This, of 

 necessity, arises from the fixed laws of inheritance, 

 and we have reason to believe that these laws are 

 beneficent. That the offspring shall closely resemble 

 in structure, and partake of the qualities of the par- 

 ents, is an organic law of the highest importance to 

 man in enabling him to foresee and produce definite 

 results in the propagation of plants and animals. 



The law of inheritance in the human species is cer- 



