23 



ness to the usual way by which truth forces herself upon the 

 mind ? for she is far more truly and oftener felt than reasoned 

 out. Lotze may argue as much as he pleases, but his intuitions 

 are evidently rebelling against his logic. The still small voice 

 whispers behind, as it will and must do in time to all, There 

 is a God for all that,^' who made him and all the world. 



It will be desirable to observe, for it seems to have been 

 overlooked by Mr. Lewes, that the notion of creative fiats in 

 all probability arose from the interpretation of theologians of 

 Genesis i. ; and that confirmatory evidences appeared to be 

 unmistakably derived from nature, because, until compara- 

 tively recent times, known species were few and their differences 

 more obvious than their resemblances. I do not think^ there- 

 fore, that the charge of having " inferred that species were ideas 

 in the Divine Mind ^' is so truly applicable to the theologian as 

 opponents seem to suppose ; for it was simply regarded as an un- 

 mistakable doctrine of the Bible. All that the modern theologian 

 has to do, therefore, is to confess that his interpretation of the first 

 chapter of Genesis was inadequate, and requires correction ; and 

 that he has to thank science for having pointed out his mistake. 



Design No. 6. — There is yet another phase of Design, and 

 which forms the subject of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, 

 viz. : " On the Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical 

 Condition of Man,'' by John Kidd, M.D., F.E.S. 



I cannot but think that many adaptations of man and animals, 

 and plants, as well to their sphere of existence, have been much 

 overrated; for, in fact, they are practically greatly limited. The 

 conclusion now arrived at from a study of such adaptations has 

 been expressed by scientific men as follows : — Animals and 

 plants [and I will include man] do not necessarily live where con- 

 ditions may be best suited to them, but where other animals and 

 plants, or physical conditions, will let them live. This is the 

 result of that intense ^' struggle for existence '' which is a uni- 

 versal fact, and covers the sphere of man's existence, as well as 

 that of all other living organisms. It requires but a slight ob- 

 servation, provided the mind free itself from preconceived 

 ideas, to see that no animal or plant is absolutely and perfectly 

 adjusted to its sphere of existence for every day of its life. 

 These adjustments are ever varying round a mean condition 

 of a fair state of comfort and happiness. Averages in this 

 world must be looked for only. A vast amount of very imper- 

 fect adaptations must be taken into account in considering the 

 conditions of life upon this planet. 



I do not think it necessary to enter into many details to 

 establish these facts. Evidences of it can be found in many 

 w^orks, notably The Origin of Species, and TFallace on Natural 



