65 
ww an J na ^ m ^ ria ^ s ^ of possible different refractive indices ? 
What chemistry could Combine the atoms constituting the 
blood into the differing structures of the eye? If formed 
what mechanism could combine these structures with all their 
marvellous adaptation to the purposes of the eye ? Can natural 
selection, ruled only by the stern necessity of destruction to 
the imperfect, answer these queries ? No. Nor yet will the 
laws of vitality alone, superadded to the laws of chemical com- 
bination of the atoms of matter, answer my questions. Mv 
proud intellect can find no rest till it learns the humility 
necessary for all true knowledge. I must admit that the eye 
was not formed without skill in optics ; that the ear was not 
formed without knowledge of sounds. Can atoms of matter 
do all this ? What are these atoms ? How do they act and 
react on one another ? What are their mutual relations ? 
Ihese same relations,” says Sir J. Herschel, “ in which 
they stand to one another are anything but simple ones. They 
involve all the ' ologies J and ail the f ometries/ and in these 
days we know_ something of what that implies. Their move- 
ments, their interchanges, their f hates and loves/ their f at- 
tractions and repulsions/ their f correlations/ their what not 
are all determined on the very instant. There is no hesita- 
tion, no blundering, no trial and error. A problem of dy- 
namics which would drive Lagrange mad, is solved instanter, 
boLvitur ambulando / A differential equation which, alge- 
braically written out, would belt the earth, is integrated in an 
eye Twinkle, and all the numerical calculation worked out in a 
way to frighten Zerah Colbom, George Bidder, or Jedediah 
.Buxton. What can solve such wonders as these ? what 
account for such relations? “The presence o/mind is what 
solves the whole difficulty, so far, at least, as it brings it 
within the sphere of our own consciousness, and into con- 
formity of our own experience of what action is.” 
The most profound investigations into the laws and phe- 
nomena of nature, aided by all the powers of the human mind, 
assisted by all we know of human experience, bring us back, not 
to law but the mind of the Lawgiver, as the only starting-point, 
the only-stand point, from which our reason can exercise itself. 
He that made the eye was skilled in optics. He said, “ Let 
there be light, and there was light.” He alone can say, “ I 
form the light and create darkness.” “I am the Lord, and 
there is none else, there is no God beside me. I girded 
thee, though thou hast not known me.” Shall not we say 
With Job, “ Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled 
m ^i iA c ^ eese ^ Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, 
and hast fenced me with bones and sinews ” ? Shall we not 
