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contracted views, somewhat crude opinions result. These 
disciples of the elements are men who study the unintelligent 
so closely, intently, and perseveringly, that, strange to say, 
full of active intelligence themselves, they fail to recognize its 
necessity in the creation of the living intelligence of which 
they form a part. Hence, the miserable, petty, pottering 
creed, that life is a home-manufactured fabric of rough 
materials : more wonderful still, that the manufacturer is an 
inert mass or aggregation of masses. Let us look a little 
into this. 
As far as I can make it out, our materialistic writers and 
lecturers seek to impress upon us the position that vitality is 
to be sought in the inorganic — and found. 
Dr. Odling, in his Animal Chemistry , announces, “That 
all actions of the animal body are traceable to cosmical force ; 
that in living as in dead matter there is no creation of force ; 
and that any explanation of the phenomena of life which recog- 
nizes the agency of vital force is simply no explanation at all.” 
What is meant by all actions of the animal body being 
traceable to cosmical force? There are very strong reasons 
for believing, that every so-called natural force is but a mode 
of undetermined motion : — then life, if a natural force, is a 
mode of undetermined motion; and the power to will and to 
do, a myth ; for as natural forces are not directed to any 
definite end, the willing to do and the doing must be in- 
voluntary — a contradiction in terms. At any rate, vitality is 
denied as an active agent, and is made to be somehow deduced 
from combinations of materiality. 
Again, he says it is u abundantly manifest that the growth 
of a plant and incubation of an egg cannot be performed 
without a direct supply, and the development of animal 
organisms without an indirect supply, of external force.” 
This is no argument in favour of the production of life by 
external forces. The plant and the egg have already life, 
before his external forces are brought to bear upon them. 
The application of warmth and moisture to the one, or warmth 
alone to the other, if only bestowed on the inorganic simili- 
tude of a seed or an egg’, would hardly produce a plant or a 
bird. Life being present, its manifestation is brought about 
by certain external conditions. But the question at issue 
is, life not being present, would it be exhibited by any 
material combinations and applications of external forces ? I 
believe not. 
It is further said by the same author, that “ by a reference 
to systems, and suns, and steam-engines, and mills, and 
telegraphs, I shall endeavour to satisfy you that the same 
